Do People Still Read Personal Blogs? |

Ryan Biddulph September 30, 2024 blogging tips 🕑 4 minutes read

Leland, North Carolina, USA

Blogging about your life potentially seems like a good idea.

People can relate to you, right?

People may relate to you.

But do people read blogs consisting of day to day experiences of “non-specials”?

I do not say that to be harsh but to honor the way the world works.

Maybe someone will take a look at a personal blog published by a largely unknown human being.

But even if people do read personal blogs you want to consider the niche profitability.

Would people buy an online course about your life?

Personal blogs dissect personal thoughts. Bloggers discuss the day to day through personal blogs.

What can you create and monetize about your day to day life?

Perhaps writing an eBook detailing day to day experiences seems potentially profitable. You may embed ads to the tune of a few bucks here and there.

Do people hire coaches who run personal blogs? How would you coach someone? Would you guide them to live their life like you live your life?

I see little growth potential there for aspiring pro bloggers.

Demand plays a chief role in monetizing.

First, readers follow blog posts closely based on trusting the blogger and content.

But then one needs a demand for specific products and services to actually make money.

Construction Not Condemnation

I do not pose each question above to bust your balls.

I query to stimulate constructive thought.

I build up.

Tearing down ain’t our thing at Blogging From Paradise.

What answers arise in mind after asking the above questions? Does your personal blog seem like a business venture? Or do you just want to build a loyal community around your day to day, personal experiences?

I did a number on personal bloggers for years. “Who wants to learn about the mundane from non-celebrities”, I thought?

But changing my tune a wee bit reveals how some prefer to follow personal blogs for resonance. Some relate to similar struggles. Others wish to live vicariously through others. Others feel grateful on observing seeming shit shows far worse than their current experiences, for better or worse.

Begin a personal blog if you wish.

But consider if the motive is mainly for you or your readers.

Intent changes everything.

Do People Read Personal Blogs?

People may read a personal blog published by a:

compassionate
empathetic
transparent
genuine

blogger.

Compassionate, empathetic, transparent, genuine bloggers mainly blog for their readers. Minus some therapeutic drivers, the audience-focused blogging lot grows a loyal following because the loyal following senses: the blog is mainly for them even if not about them.

On the flip side is the personal blogger crowd doing it mainly for themselves. Communities tend not to flock to such personal bloggers because few feel a strong sense of connection for those doing it mainly to share personal thoughts from their experiences.

For example, even if a personal blogger claims to want to inspire readers this individual typically comes up short. Why? Intent is everything. Saying one thing does not fool people or hide your true motives.

Blogging mainly to clear your mind may feel good for you. But prepare yourself to run a cyber diary. Few wish to follow rambling thoughts by someone focused mainly on their “mind dump” experience.

People read personal blogs published by bloggers intent on guiding, empowering and relating to others.

People do not read personal blogs published by bloggers content to share their thoughts for themselves.

What About the Next Step?

Some of you want to build a loyal blogging community.

Others wish to monetize their blogs.

What about the monetizing step?

How do you monetize a personal blog?

Can you monetize a personal blog?

Monetizing

If demand exists so does profit potential.

Personal bloggers who build loyal followings can write and sell eBooks based on their personal experiences. Trusting readers tend to buy thorough, beefed-up content in the form of eBooks for a detailed, rich, premium experience.

But beyond writing and selling eBooks, other monetizing channels may be slim pickens.

Can you coach? Can you create an online course? Can you freelance? Can you consult?

How can you monetize a blog based on your personal experiences?

I’m not sure about the above income channels save selling an eBook until you reach a certain level of celebrity. Being a bit famous opens up:

sponsored posts
advertising

potential as your personal brand blossoms.

Reaching that point takes a long time or a deal with the devil. 🙂

The Verdict

People usually follow bloggers who share personal blogs to inspire, empower and guide their readerships.

Think carefully about your intent. Readers sense your motive on an unconscious level.

But monetizing a personal blog carries lesser potential until one becomes a modest celebrity.

Currently, the Blogging From Paradise Guy is at this point of celebrity: one of my dear friends from New Jersey met someone while on vacation in Jamaica who knew me *through* my blog.

I cannot write the “tell-all” yet.

Selling online courses and eBooks empowering bloggers and digital nomads makes greater sense for me from a demand perspective.

Trust your gut before starting a personal blog.

Honor your journey to be most truly helpful.