When I first got into blogging, I never showed my face. I loved being behind the scenes and had a big dream of becoming a fashion writer and stylist, so for whatever reason, I didn’t even think about including personal content on my blog. I shared my thoughts, but writing about myself just wasn’t my focus. 6 months into it, however, things started to change and people wanted to get to know more about ME, the woman behind the blog, and as my blog continued to grow and evolve, I realized that there was something bigger that people wanted from me: my point of view (POV). It didn’t matter where I went, what I wore or even which beauty products I tried, readers wanted to know my true thoughts around my whys, and the more I shared my POV, the more we connected.
Having a clear, authentic POV helped me grow more than anything else when it came to blogging and “influence”. When someone reads a blog post I’ve written, they always know my WHY behind it. It’s not because I was paid to do it or because it was something trendy; I only share things that I love and can speak to why. I know that statement gets used and abused all. the. time. but it’s true: if you can’t clearly explain why you recommend something, why are you even doing it?
Authenticity and a clear point of view is key to growth, especially within a creative space.
You can’t be generic with your content. You can create content that’s evergreen, which means that it can cover something that people will always research (how to do a smokey eye, for example), but there has to be added value that includes YOUR personal POV in order for your audience to connect with it and view you as a trusted source. Being able to hone in on this is what will take whatever you do to the next level, regardless of how big your community is.
So many times, creatives keep their content surface level-there’s no real depth to it, or it’s shared in a way that could’ve been a simple Google search for the reader. Google may be our best friend, but if you want people to view you as an authority on any given subject, you have to dig a little bit deeper and go beyond the surface. If you don’t, people may think that what you create is cute, but it won’t go beyond that. You won’t be able to book clients or be hired by brands; if you do, those instances will be few and far between.
I’ve been blogging for almost 13 years, and while so much about this industry has changed (so many don’t even refer to themselves as bloggers anymore), there are a few things that have stayed the same and helped so many creatives within this space continue to grow. If you truly tap into your authentic self and develop your own POV, you will start to see a difference in how your content (or business) is received.
How do you show up for your community?
