How can you balance authenticity and professionalism in your blog?

Today, the world is your audience via social media platforms. You will have people from all backgrounds/experiences watching you. The key tip I would give is to have that blend of authenticity and professionalism is to not use inflammatory or demeaning language in your content. Authentically share your life experiences, ups and downs professionally but don't go bashing people on the internet- even if you have issues with others. It shows your professionalism and character.

Figure out who your target demographic is. Try to match their tone, while continuing to maintain your personal brand voice. Not everyone is going to connect with you, but that's more than ok. The right people will find you and appreciate your offerings.

Understand who you're writing for, their preferences, and what resonates with them. This knowledge will guide you in delivering content that feels genuine yet professional. Tailoring your content to match their expectations and preferences will allow you to connect with them on a personal level while maintaining a level of professionalism.

One of the best tips I learned about building a personal brand is this: Start by asking several people (excluding family members) to list 3 or more adjectives that come to mind when they think of you. Ask a variety of folks—not just the people who know you best. There will almost always be one or two common words that appear on everyone’s list. Those will give you insights (sometimes surprising ones) into the brand you’ve already started building, knowingly or unknowingly. Use those words as your foundation going forward.

Ask yourself? What image do you want to portray to your audience? What do you want to be known for? How will that image help you achieve your set goals? Say more sales or broaden your reach. Defining and understanding your brand is key to ensuring every piece of content you share has a piece of your brand sprinkled on it. Your beliefs and issues you take a stance on can be conveyed in your brand. This way, identifying what aligns to your brand becomes easier.

Determine the tone and style that align with your brand and resonate with your target audience. Consistency is key! Before you start writing, it's important to understand your brand's personality. Are you formal and authoritative, or more casual and conversational? Defining your brand persona will help you maintain consistency in your tone.

It's easier to be honest and transparent on your blog if you've defined your brand and know your audience. Think of each blog post as one side of a conversation with an acquaintance. You don't know this person well yet, but you're interested in deepening the relationship. Just like in real life, you'll filter what you share to respect your privacy and boundaries. You share your thoughts and opinions in a respectful and genuine manner that you wouldn't mind repeating to a stranger, your parents, or mentors. If anything about your messaging wouldn't ring true to those who know you best, you aren't being authentic.

I find that it's important to remember that blogs and other online content are searchable and part of your online footprint and reputation. One notch to consider on your overshare meter is to ask yourself . . . ?? if what you're sharing will seem negative to future employers OR ?? Make them think twice about hiring you in general, including dragging your previous employer through the mud online. Hiring decision-makers will use Google and Bing to search online for additional information on candidates. Additionally, many ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) can ping your online social media content automatically. So, make sure what you share aligns with your professional brand in the end.

Authenticity shines through when you infuse your unique voice and perspective into your writing. Don't be afraid to showcase your personality, opinions, and thoughts and share personal anecdotes; this helps create a connection with your readers. Being transparent with your readers will help build trust and credibility.

To take your blog from good to great, expand by becoming a thought leader in your niche. How? Simple, by interviewing and profiling others with expertise in your area of focus. Sounds counterintuitive, right? But this not only displays confidence, setting you up as a leader and gatherer of key information, but it leverages others for your marketing and outreach with the ability to exponentially expand your audience.

Write as you talk. It's just that simple. If you have a natural sense of humor, let it shine through in your brand. Every person reading your piece - including CEOs of big companies - will relate. People want to feel like they're having a conversation with you when they read your content. I'm going to disagree with the AI-generated text a bit in this section by saying that yes, you can use slang. And yes, you can use contractions and even jargon, depending on your target audience. Don't be afraid to break some rules in pursuit of your brand voice.

Striking the right tone is essential. Be conversational yet mindful of your language and choice of words. Please don't forget to avoid jargon and unnecessary formality that can alienate your readers. Keep it professional, but don't be afraid to let your personality shine through!

I use a simple formula: Why, should you read this. What, do I want you to know. How, could you take action on this. Share your own views and it’s hard to miss with this approach. If you want more tips to write good blogs, DM me “Blogging”. Then I can share tips from writing ~800 blog posts on LinkedIn.

Consistent Tone and Messaging, Storytelling with Personal Touch so it feels more like it's for the one who's reading & Respectful Engagement. Prioritize delivering quality content that aligns with your expertise and audience's needs rather than chasing fleeting trends, ensuring a balance between relevance and authenticity.

Stay on topic: While being authentic, remember to stay on track and deliver your message clearly. Maintain a professional tone that aligns with your niche or industry, ensuring your blog conveys expertise and credibility. Use storytelling: Storytelling is a powerful tool that allows you to be both authentic and professional. Utilize real-life experiences, case studies, or even client success stories to engage your readers while still being informative and insightful. Proofread and edit: Always proofread and edit your blog posts to maintain professionalism. Ensure that your content is error-free, well-structured, and easy to read. This attention to detail will elevate your blog's credibility.

A few things apart from these that can also be considered include: - Creating a content with purpose that provides information, insights, solutions that create value. - Never underestimate the power of engagements through comments, posts, communities, etc., to establish authenticity, professionalism and credibility through active engagements. - Maintain a consistent identity across all platforms and channels that aligns with the core values, principles, goals and purpose. - Collecting feedback becomes waste if it's not analyzed to revamp your strategies and future approach. Keep refining that approach and make changes in the content, style, tone, or wherever needed as per the requirement.