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Beware! Don’t Blog Like The British!

By | Blogging, Design, Networking, Write Better

2008.11.22 - Union FlagOK… I’m British, but I must warn you!

Your blog is doomed if you blog like the British stereotype (tongue in cheek, here…!)

1. Don’t blog like the British, unless…

…you happen to agree that  ’good manners’ are important.

We British are sometimes teased about being being too ‘polite’.

  • We teach our children to say ‘please’ and ‘thankyou’.
  • We try to see things from the other person’s point of view.
  • We try not to give offense.

‘Good manners’ are important in blogging too.

  • When you ask your readers to comment or Re Tweet, use please or thankyou, they’ll appreciate it.
  • Try to stand in their shoes. If your content bores you, it will bore them too. Consider what they want from your blog and try to provide it.
  • Consider the feelings of your readers. By all means have a rant, but not so much that they click away.

2.   Don’t blog like the British, unless …

…. you can stop ’showing off’ to your readers.

As a child I was always taught not to ‘show off’.

This meant I mustn’t boast or tell my friends how clever/talented/pretty my mum told me I was. (Yeah… right….)

The same rule applies to blogging.

There’s a difference between being quietly proud of an achievement and shouting it from the roof tops and irritating everyone.

‘Showing off’ does not go down well in blogging.

Ther’s no need, because -

  • You will gain a good reputation as a blogger through what you deliver to your readers.
  • You will grow your blog by writing ‘epic shit’, (please read this post by Corbett Barr of Think Traffic, this is his phrase, do take a look.)
  • Your readers will  discover all your ‘skills’ themselves, not by you ‘showing off’.

3.   Don’t blog like the British, unless …

… you have no sense of style.

We British are not known for our sense of style, particularly on holiday. (Pause for my giggling here…)

I can spot a British tourist a mile off, especially when I’m in the US.

So many look as if they don’t care what they look like, the men wear ridiculous shorts with socks and trainers, and don’t get me started on the women…

The first impression your readers get from your blog site is important.

  • Your blog must look as if you care!
  • Take time to choose the best images for your posts you can find. Don’t just use the first one that comes up on your Flickr search because you’re in a hurry. Your readers are worth more than that.
  • Take a look at blogs you admire to find useful touches and features. Don’t copy them but look at them for inspiration.

4.   Don’t blog like the British, unless…

… you like hiding away.

We Brits do tend to disappear into the background.

We have a reputation for being self effacing and shy in a group of strangers.

In the blogging world you need to do the exact opposite!

  • You need to be confident. Don’t disappear! You must stand out from the crowd! I don’t mean you must ‘show off’, I mean you must stand out -

because your readers flock to read your words,

because they won’t find what you write and the way you write it, anywhere else, (time to pop back to read Corbett Barr’s Epic Shit post again…),

and because you always have something original and memorable to say.

  • You need to make friends. By interacting freely with other bloggers you will learn, develop and grow. Standing alone at the blogging party is not a good idea.
  • You need to join in the community.

Find a helpful Forum where you can ask questions and receive help from other bloggers just like you. You’ll be able to help them too!

I can totally recommend the A-List blogger Club Forum – I’ve had lots of help from them and the joining fee is so reasonable.

Blogging brings all nationalities together.

That’s one of the reasons I love it.

Now it’s your turn -

  1. Are there any ‘national characteristics’ that you try to avoid on your blog?
  2. Are there any you try to copy?
  3. What’s the primary quality you bring to blogging?

Can’t wait to read what you have to say!

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About Linda Hewett

Linda blogs at Positive Spin Blog where she provides Practical Confidence Solutions. She is a qualified Confidence Coach and has experienced many Confidence Issues herself, so she is able to empathise with her readers and help them to solve their problems.

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Comments

  1. Gary Ashton from Gallatin tn reo says:
    November 23, 2011 at 8:33 pm

    Hi Linda,

    I don’t have anything against the British nor do I have a problem with them, but you’re right. It’s actually a funny article. :) Hope to see more of you on this site. :)

    Cheers!
    Gary Ashton recently posted..Missy Davidson of RE/MAX Elite continues to sell homes in Nashville and Springhill TNMy Profile

  2. John Bain says:
    August 8, 2011 at 6:28 am

    What an extremely interesting post. I did so enjoy it. Very informative. Of course good manners are so essential. Thank you so much. An absolute pleasure.

  3. kay says:
    June 11, 2011 at 1:38 am

    Seriously, I never knew British were polite people. Or maybe I hadn’t got the chance to meet a real one. So blogging, well I love talking to people. It’s like yo already have a friends.

    Please visit me at: http://www.dishcomparison.com

  4. Nick Goddard says:
    May 16, 2011 at 10:38 am

    Liked this, very good, lots of nodding in agreement. Lots of the sentiments will be in our blog!
    Nick Goddard recently posted..Time to Pay – Getting TougherMy Profile

  5. Nota Supermom says:
    March 17, 2011 at 10:47 am

    Very amusing and useful, Linda. Thanks!

  6. Brankica
    Twitter:
    says:
    March 7, 2011 at 7:53 pm

    My first BF was a Brit :) how cool is that.

    “My people” on the other hand are complete opposite to the “cold Brits”. We are loud and crazy, lol.

    I actually just wanted to stress one thing, besides that I really love the post.

    Showing off is something so annoying that I stopped reading a blog because of it. “I always write great content”, “If I accepted guests posts often the quality of my blog would go down” are just some of the things I heard from that person.

    Well, guess what, I don’t mind making a joke and a reference to your writing now and then, but do you think you are a genius or something???

    Why isn’t Lisa Irby behaving like that? Because she is an example of how to present yourself and when to “show off”.
    Brankica recently posted..Are the big boys telling us everythingMy Profile

  7. Gary Dunstan says:
    March 7, 2011 at 11:04 am

    Hi Linda,

    What a jolly good article, ;-)

    Sorry if I’m stating the obvious, (there I go again, being British), but this is great advice for websites too.

    I’d like to suggest, (oops, there I go again, I really can’t help myself), a follow up article on ‘Understanding British humour’. What do you think?

    Gary Dunstan (Q&A)

  8. Kavya Hari says:
    March 4, 2011 at 1:31 am

    Hi Linda, these kinds of information would be helpful for the newbie blogger. Thanks a lot for given your views on here. While read this article, i gained a lot of info on here.

  9. Anne Sales | Coupon Codes says:
    March 3, 2011 at 9:37 am

    Hi Linda, I giggled at some points in your post especially no. 3 :D. I just got to the UK 3 years ago and that’s the first thing I have observed.
    Anyway, in response to your questions I think I’m still trying to define what my blog would be best at and it’s good you brought up those points. I have never thought about national characteristic being revealed in my blog but as much as possible I want it to reach out to everyone who comes.
    Anne Sales | Coupon Codes recently posted..CoolhandleMy Profile

  10. Barry Holdsworth says:
    March 3, 2011 at 7:08 am

    Hi Linda

    I thought when I first started to read the post I would be able to join in a controversial debate, but as I read on realised you were right. Sometimes I don’t like being a Brit but there we go. Good post, food for thought.

  11. Sergio Felix says:
    March 2, 2011 at 4:00 pm

    Hi Linda,

    Top notch article and definitely showed me I’m doing it all wrong on my side! LOL

    I appreciate this information quite a lot and it will definitely help me set the tone for my own articles.

    Take care and thanks for writing this! ;-)

    ~Sergio
    Sergio Felix recently posted..Conclusion Study on 200 Iberoamerican Internet MarketersMy Profile

  12. Anna says:
    March 2, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    In fact, I got real pleasure in reading your post and comments. Stereotypes are everywhere, even online and in blogging.
    I can’t give some typical features about my nationality but I think that in general in any nation and country there are people who break stereotypes.
    Personally I prefer people who are creative, extraordinary and controversial. their blogs are more interesting to read and comment, you are being one of them :)

  13. William Tha Great
    Twitter:
    says:
    March 2, 2011 at 10:26 am

    Hey Linda,

    Thanks for the totally awesome article!

    No one should blog like te British haha. You should never try to hide away, but instead try as hard as possible to expand your brand and voice. The goal should be to expand it to all sides of the earth. Keeping to yourself and blogging don’t go hand in hand. You are going to need all the friends you can have, because they will be there to boost you along when you need them.

    Thanks again!
    God bless,
    William Veasley
    William Tha Great recently posted..To Have It All You Must Let Go of a LotMy Profile

  14. Paul Salmon
    Twitter:
    says:
    March 2, 2011 at 8:21 am

    It is interesting to see how the culture that we grow up in has an impact on how we project ourselves online. Breaking that barrier can be a hard adjustment to make for many people, myself included.

    Many of these “British” points can also be applied to “Canadians”.
    Paul Salmon recently posted..Marketing For Your Company Just Got EasierMy Profile

  15. Patricia says:
    March 2, 2011 at 8:16 am

    Hi Linda

    Some of my fellow Aussies can appear a bit brash but we can laugh at ourselves ;-)

    And I lived and worked in the UK for many years and love the Brits. Except when we are playing them in cricket or rugby :-)

    Patricia Perth Australia
    Patricia recently posted..Comments Do Not Equal Sales!My Profile

  16. Roberto says:
    March 2, 2011 at 8:16 am

    Linda,
    Great post. I love the headline. The content is excellent. The few characteristics that I try to project are humbleness, professionalism and the desire to help.
    Roberto recently posted..How Long Can You Go Without SleepingMy Profile

  17. Peonia says:
    March 2, 2011 at 4:58 am

    The “national characteritics” of my culture (mediterranean) is to be worried of showing your own photo, to let the world see how is your face.

    It’ s hard to forget this inconvenience.
    Peonia recently posted..Vocabulario italiano- 5 palabras que tienes que conocerMy Profile