Personal Blog

A personal blog is an online platform where individuals share their thoughts, experiences, interests, and hobbies. It serves as a personal diary or commentary in a digital format, often written in a conversational and informal tone. The following quote is from Andrew Sullivan, explaining why he blogs. Perhaps you relate!

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      The simple experience of being able to directly broadcast my own words to readers was an exhilarating literary liberation.

      A personal blog allows you to share your creativity and style with an online community. The great thing about starting a personal blog is that you can be a beginner. It doesn't matter if you have years of writing experience or none whatsoever. Many personal blogs are run by people who simply want to share their thoughts with the world.

      Personal Blog Meaning

      The term personal blog refers to a blog that is managed by an individual, rather than a business or an organization. The content of a personal blog is typically centered around the blogger's personal life, interests, and opinions, offering readers insights into their unique experiences and perspectives.

      Here's a one sentence definition of both blog and personal blog.

      A blog is usually written text but often includes pictures, videos, or other artwork to make it look more appealing.

      A personal blog is your own online platform where you can share thoughts, opinions, and stories about yourself.

      Personal blogs are different from other blogs because they are created and hosted by you, and cater to your own personal audience.

      Personal Blog Add New Post Blog StudySmarterFig. 1 - A personal blog is primarily used for non-commercial purposes.

      There are no set rules for a personal blog. You can write as casually and conversationally as you like because this is your blog! Personal blogs are often more informal in tone, unlike a magazine article or a scholarly piece of writing.

      Why Start a Blog

      Many people start a personal blog because they have ideas they want to share. Personal blogs are a great way to connect with other people with common interests.

      Common topics people like to write about:

      • Personal or Inspirational Stories

      • Food and Travel

      • Areas of Expertise

      • Passions and Interests

      • Book or Movie Reviews

      • Documentation of Life Events

      Personal Blog Structure

      If your blog is purely for your own enjoyment or to share some thoughts with family or friends, you can structure your blog however you'd like. Many personal blogs are spaces for individuals to express themselves in an online journal format, so the structure isn't a top priority. If you want to write freeform, go for it! But what if your goals shift? In that case, you'll want to be organized from the start.

      A well-organized piece of writing keeps readers engaged. If your blog is just a giant wall of text, people may get overwhelmed and leave the page.

      Typical Blog Structure

      You can follow a typical essay format in a blog post if you like, but again, personal blogs tend to stay pretty conversational, as if you're talking to someone you know. But if you're struggling to organize your thoughts, try using each of these:

      • Introduction

        • Hook your audience with a quote or a powerful statistic, or bring up a recent news event that people are familiar with. Tie these into what you're talking about in your blog post.

      • Body

        • This is where your readers will learn the purpose of your blog post. If you were planning on telling a story, this is where you would do that. You can make this as many paragraphs as you'd like.

      • Conclusion

        • Here you can revisit your introduction and explain the relationship to your story. Some people like to have a call to action at the end of a blog post. This encourages readers to interact with them. An example would be asking readers to comment if they've experienced something similar.

      Personal blog posts tend to have shorter and more frequent body paragraphs than your average essay. This can make your posts more digestible for your readers.

      Include In Your Blog

      You want to include a few things throughout your blog.

      • About page

        • This is where you can let your readers know a little bit about who you are and why you created your blog. Let people know your areas of expertise and your interests are.

      • Contact page

        • This is especially important if you want to create a following for your blog or use this as a personal portfolio. You could eventually create an email list so people can enter their email addresses directly on your blog and receive notifications whenever you make a new blog post.

      • Links to social media

        • This is optional, but sometimes it can be helpful for people to see things you share on other platforms. If you're using your personal blog as a portfolio, then sharing your LinkedIn account on your blog is a good idea.

      Personal Blog Example

      Personal blogs can showcase your passion. Sharing personal stories is a good way to connect with your readers. Perhaps you have a unique experience that others might find inspirational. Sharing your own stories in a blog can validate others who share your feelings.

      Ideas for personal blogs can revolve around a blogger's life experiences or hobbies. Here are some ideas and examples:

      1. Travel blog: Share experiences and tips from your travels.
      2. Food blog: Document your cooking adventures, restaurant reviews, or unique recipes.
      3. Book review blog: Share your thoughts on the books you read.
      4. Lifestyle blog: Write about a variety of topics, including health, fashion, home decor, and more.
      5. Personal growth blog: Document your journey towards personal development and self-improvement.

      Maybe you are a foodie and like to share your experiences from different restaurants you've been to around the world. You could use your passion for food to create some type of food blog. Or maybe you're an avid reader, so you want to write about books on a book club blog. The point is, there are many reasons to start a personal blog, and all of them are valid! Here is an example of how someone might start a post for their book club blog:

      3 mental benefits to joining a book club

      Hello, fellow word-nerds! This weekend was so busy for me – but in the good kind of way!

      I was finally able to unpack some boxes and set up my reading nook in the new house! I'm so excited! I can't wait to show you guys the new chair I ordered once it arrives.

      The best part about this weekend, though, was my monthly book club. It's always been a safe space for me – a place I can learn and grow as a person. I've come to appreciate the thoughtfulness and insights I get from talking about books with people I know and love. Here are a few things I love about book clubs:

      You'll Learn to Express Yourself

      Not everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts on things -- especially if you're an introvert like me! Everyone takes a turn sharing their thoughts about the monthly book, and it challenges you to think about what you want others to hear from you.

      In my experience...

      Notice the casual tone. Personal blogs are flexible in how they're presented.

      Personal Blog Steps

      Starting a personal blog can seem daunting at first, but it's actually quite easy! Here are some steps to take when you're ready to start your own.

      Personal Blog, A person sitting at a laptop with icons and text of blogging platforms,StudySmarterFig. 2 - There are many blogging options such as travel, food, and lifestyle blogs.

      Key Terms

      First, take note of these to stay on top of your blogging game!

      Hosting is the server that powers your website. Every website in the world uses a hosting site to provide its services or information.

      Domain Name is your online address. This is what you type into the search bar to go to your website and blog.

      SEO means Search Engine Optimization. This is something you can learn if you want to gain more traffic to your personal blog's website.

      Now the action begins.

      Personal Blog Steps

      You can break this into seven steps.

      1. Consider Costs

      Does it cost money to create a personal blog?

      That depends. Paying for a host and domain usually means getting a unique website without the website builder's name attached to your URL. This would be the difference between yourwebsite.wix.com versus yourwebsite.com. You might have to download hosting software if you choose a paid option instead of the free option.

      2. Pick a Host

      There are many to choose from but here are some of the most popular ones. They all have instructions for installation:

      • Bluehost

      • GoDaddy

      • HostGator

      3. Choose a Domain Name

      These are some of the most popular websites where you can register your domain name:

      • WordPress (works well with Bluehost)

      • Squarespace

      • Wix

      • Blogger

      Most of these blogging websites include free domains and hosting for beginners. Again, there are paid options if you want a more professional blog.

      Pick a domain name that feels relevant to you and what you're writing about. Using your name is a common choice, i.e. a free domain would be something like yourname.blogger.com.

      4. Design Your Blog

      If you're entirely new to blogging, don't worry! You can choose from templates on your blogging website if you aren't interested in mastering HTML or other types of code.

      Personal blog. Someone looking at a board of notes. StudySmarterFig. 3 - Consider what appeals to you and your audience when creating a personal blog.

      5. Start Writing

      You know your topic, so get to it! However, you can also write a personal blog based on prompts.

      Personal Blog Prompts

      Every writer draws a blank at times. It's equally true that every writer draws inspiration from other sources. Sometimes that means we need a prompt to help us get our creative thought process going.

      Websites for Prompts

      The amazing thing about the internet is that you can find ideas everywhere you search. But for that very reason, it can become overwhelming, especially if you go down a Google rabbit hole of what to write about. Before you know it, you may have spent more time on research than writing. Try visiting these popular websites first when you need some inspiration:

      • Reddit – r/WritingPrompts

      • Tumblr

      • Pinterest

      • Medium

      • Writers' Digest

      • OneWord

      Using Apps for Prompts

      Phones can often be a distraction when trying to write, but here are some apps that can turn bad habits into inspiration:

      • Prompted Journal

      • Writing Prompts

      • Daily Writing Prompt

      There are other ways to come up with writing ideas, such as taking fifteen minutes to brainstorm ideas you're passionate about. But if you're still feeling overwhelmed by the options, you can use this prompt for your first post: 5 Reasons I Started a Blog. This can help your readers get to know you and establish what readers can expect from your page.

      Personal Blog - Key Takeaways

      • A personal blog is your own online writing platform to share your ideas and thoughts. The thoughts and ideas belong to you, the author.
      • Starting a blog includes finding a hosting website and domain name.
      • Some blog types include food blogs, personal stories, and book reviews.
      • Prompts for personal blogs are encouraged! Some popular websites include Reddit, Tumblr, and Writers' Digest. You can also use apps for prompts.
      • Personal blogs are conversational in tone and writing style.
      Frequently Asked Questions about Personal Blog

      How to start a personal blog?

      The first step to starting a personal blog requires you to register a domain name and a hosting website.

      How to run a personal blog?

      Running a personal blog requires you to have a domain name, a hosting website, and the ability to navigate those websites. Running a blog also requires designing a web page layout and learning how to make regular posts on the platform.

      How do I create a personal blog?

      Creating a personal blog requires you to register a domain name that is unique to you. Next, you can register with a hosting website for a fee. Or you can sign up for a free account. Once you have a domain and host then you can start posting your content from that platform.

      What can I blog about in a person blog?

      A lot of people start a personal blog because they have lots of ideas they’d like to share. Some common topics for personal blogs are: food, travel, your area of expertise, personal or inspirational stories, book or movie review, passions and interests, and documentation of life events.

      What are personal blogs used for?

      There are no set rules for a personal blog. A personal blog is an opportunity to share your creativity and style with an online community. A lot of personal blogs are simply spaces for individuals to express themselves in an online journal format.

      What is a Personal Blog?

      A personal blog is a type of blog that is primarily used for non-commercial purposes. Bloggers use this platform to express personal opinions, share experiences, explore hobbies or interests, and connect with like-minded individuals. They provide a personal touch, offering a glimpse into the blogger's life and mind.

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      Test your knowledge with multiple choice flashcards

      Which of these is not a personal blog example?

      Which one of these isn't a blogging platform?

      Which of these is the typical tone of a personal blog?

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