May 17, 2012

Posts Comments

Home / Geeking Out / Blogging / Lessons learned in lifestyle blogging

Lessons learned in lifestyle blogging

September 22, 2011 By 13 Comments

When I opened this site roughly 3 years ago, I didn’t have a clue how my  life would change and how those changes would inevitably change me and this blog.

I’ve always taken precautions to protect my kids from “online predators”- which to me seemed unlikely- but nevertheless, I wasn’t taking the chance of some nut tracking down my kids- so I didn’t use their names,  turned off my geotagging settings on my smartphone, and was careful with “embarrassing” stories but other than that-

If it was on my mind, I blogged it.

I’m not “controversial”, so whatevs- no harm, no foul.

I think a lot of us start a blog thinking that.

But imagine walking into your child’s classroom filled with other parents and teachers you’ve never met before- and someone- hypothetically, a teacher-  knows your face from your blog.

Harmless- sure.

But …Hypothetically…. Awkward.

If you mentally prepare for it, it’s less likely to freak you out- but its so easy to forget that all of your readers don’t live inside the computer.

Here are a few more things worth thinking about-

As crazy as the analogy sounds- just like celebrities, people can begin to believe that they “know” you.  Although what most of us are giving  them are merely “glimpses” we need to realize that the “you” that they know is all relative to how they chose to interpret your posts.  If we’re been really honest-  just the fact that you blog (period) stands the chance of being scrutinized.

As your kids get older, your blog is no longer YOURS- its theirs too.  And they will proudly share it with their teachers, classmates… and well pretty much anyone they meet. It’s flattering, but eye opening at the same time.

Using a pen name is maybe an option worth considering. This is something that I thought sounded a little silly when I started. Why would I need to “hide”? But it’s not hiding, its smart. Professional writers have been doing it for years.  And you would be surprised to know some of your favorite bloggers do it as well. It helps keep your “real life” you separate from your “online you”.

Your personal privacy needs today may not suite your privacy needs tomorrow, try your best to plan for the future- but know that evolving is ok.

 

Related posts:

Filed Under: Blogging, Geeking Out Tagged With: , , , ,
  • Girliemom

    a very interesting read and some good advice  – because I am a blogging rookie. For me the pen name is something worth considering…. thank you.
    http://www.girliemom.com

    • http://www.complicatedmama.com Complicated Mama

      Definitely if I could do it over, I would have done the pen name thing. I think its definitely smart :)

  • http://twitter.com/anecdotalbaby The Anecdotal Baby

    Great post… you read my mind! I have a post scheduled for this afternoon discussing the use of soc. media and my blog. You’ve brought up SO many great points. For me, it’s a fine line between sharing my stories honestly while remaining as anonymous as possible and maximizing media like youtube to its potential. 

    • http://www.complicatedmama.com Complicated Mama

      Thanks! I’m glad it helped you think about a few things- especially if you are trying to remain anonymous. I think the pen name is a good balance for that.

  • http://twitter.com/chaotic_barb Barb

    Same here on the pen name. It is so hard to get away with though with all the events bloggers are invited to. I know of the one really big blogger that got away with it for a long time but eventually everyone ended up knowing it anyway.

  • Krista

    I struggle so much lately with the online me and the real world me. In a job interview recently, one of the people who came to the open forum told me that he reads my blog. It caught me totally off guard even though I knew it was a possibility. 
    SIGH.

    I don’t want to be anonymous. I just wish there was a way to know that people weren’t judging ALL of me, based on the little bit that I tell them in the stories on my blog. 

  • http://www.lifeasaceo.com ChrissyMacCEO

    Excellent post, I love all of your suggestions.  My sons been sharing my “blog” with people lately which has been makiong me explain it to random people.  Really sheds some light on some things for me….good & bad.

  • http://twitter.com/HStayingAfloat Hopes@Staying Afloat

    I love these suggestions!  I’m totally not big enough to have to think about a lot of these things, but I will keep them in the back of my mind.

  • Michelle Sancho

    Thank you for the advice, I am new to blogging and tossed around the idea of a pen name for a long while.  I decided to use my name and work on letting go of what people think of me based on the little bit I write.  After a few months, I’m reconsidering the name again.  :)  

  • http://twitter.com/TonyAtAVG Tony Anscombe

    Thank you for this, Corine. Very wise to realize “our” blogs aren’t just ours when we start posting about our kids. According to our ongoing Digital Births research, 92 percent of our kids are handed an online identity by the time they are TWO!

  • http://www.nathaliesnotes.typepad.com Nathalie

    I write a parenting column and as soon after a local kidnapping incident I changed the picture in the paper to just me and left my kids out completely. On my blog I use our names because, like you, that’s how I started before I even thought about making people of my own. My take on the privacy part is what happens until they have an opinion on it is mine to share. I am discreet to protect my intensely private husband and to avoid embarrassing stories of my kids. Once they are old enough to have an opinion on my blog they’ll be able to help me determine how much I include them in what I’m writing. As for the people who think I’m “crazy” for blogging, whatever. I also am careful not to post pics of my house’s distinctive features and numbers as well as give detailed info of travel plans etc. I also sometimes mention that I’m totally armed and dangerous to anyone who messes with my kids, so FYI stalkers. 

    • http://www.complicatedmama.com Complicated Mama

      I think it’s hard today to be completely anonymous. The most we can do is try our best. And I do the same with trying not to post house specifics, addresses, pics of the schools in the background, shirts with school names Etc.

  • http://dianereiter.com Diane

    I think if you’re going to blog about your family, kids or life as a mom, being “known” and “judged” comes with the territory. If you don’t write candidly, your blog becomes boring and stale. It’s when you decide to take chances that you’re going to be given the opportunity to succeed. People can think what they want. I think that as long as I’m not picking on anyone but myself, who cares? What you need to remember as a blogger is that you need to protect your kids and their identities. Be smart and never take chances at their expense.