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Apr
20

Warning! Did You Know You’re A Ghost? Wooo… (And Other Ghostly Noises)

By | Blogging, Networking, Write Better

Last week I stepped right out of my comfort zone.

I went to the London Bloggers Meet Up.

I don’t live in London so it meant an overnight stay and I was very excited and quite nervous.

Why was I nervous?

Well, I think you would be if you were about to meet some ‘ghosts’…

(Pause while you say, ”Has this woman ‘lost it? I thought she was a serious minded blogger!’

No, simply a blogger with an imagination.

I see all bloggers as ghosts.

OK, friendly ghosts, but ghosts all the same.

Here’s why…

1.   Bloggers exist only in the ‘ether’ of the blogosphere.

Evidence that they’re real comes to us on our screens, with a tiny photo, that’s all.  We get to know them by reading their words.

The art and power of the written word is all we have to communicate with our readers. So it’s vital that we always write the best we can.  We don’t want to give the wrong impression, write what isn’t correct or distort the truth.

We must write ‘from the heart’ so that our readers feel theyare getting to know us after they’ve read a few of our posts.  Our blog site design is essential in helping to paint the whole picture of who we are, and encouraging  readers to stay, to get to know us better.

2.   Like ghosts, we can influence our readers.

When we write our posts we have an aim.

It might be to -

  • empathise,
  • advise,
  • enlighten,
  • encourage,
  • support,

all of these, and more, can affect our readers so, in my view, we must take great care not to be -

  • arrogant,
  • pompous,
  • self opinionated,
  • sarcastic,
  • scathing.

If we’re  ‘friendly ghosts’ we won’t want to scare our readers away, worry them, give false information.

3.   Just like ghosts, we gradually reveal ourselves.

I met so many ghosts at the Meet Up.

There they were, around 100 bloggers, and guess what?

They were… just like me!

They were -

  • enthusiastic,
  • smiling,
  • funny,
  • eccentric (yes, me too…)
  • supportive,
  • fascinating,
  • chatty.

There was even a very famous ‘friendly ghost’, Leo Babauta.

He gave a talk, as did Arvind Devalia.

It was amazing, you could have heard the proverbial ‘pin drop’.  I  listened very carefully and  made notes

Was it scary meeting these friendly ghosts?

I think you know the answer to that.

It was a huge honour that Leo took time from his holiday here in the UK to come and speak to us.  He is exactly as I’d imagined, very laid back, very confident at speaking, very approachable and extremely wise.

Next time you write a post, remember you’re invisible.

You suddenly materialise  out of the ether, visiting your readers,  potentially influencing their lives in some way.

Make sure you’re a Friendly Ghost!

Think about this and tell us in the comments -

1.   What will you do to show  your true self on your blog?

2.   Who would you love to meet, from the world of Friendly Blogging Ghosts?

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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. Magali Witters says:
    May 27, 2012 at 9:34 pm

    Love this post and it’s so true. I sometimes feel like I live mostly in this world of invisible people. It’s nice when you can get out and meet them in reality!

  2. Cherry Ashley says:
    December 13, 2011 at 3:21 pm

    Reading an encyclopedic-form of article (if you know what I mean by that) hides the real character of the blogger. Just get in touch via Positive Spin and we’ll see what can be arranged!
    Cherry Ashley recently posted..Cancer Tattoos TumblrMy Profile

  3. Jakk says:
    April 27, 2011 at 4:47 am

    An interesting blog post if I may say so, and one which speaks truth within it. We are almost certainly untouchable as bloggers, however you can ‘sort of’ remedy this through having a human touch to aspects of your website (my twitter account is a personality i.e. me not a branded one).

    The amazing thing I love about the internet is that it does not matter how tall, short, fat or skinny you are becuase you are equal to one another over a computer screen.

    Perhaps it is better to be a ghost Linda?
    Jakk recently posted..Playstation Network Update- It’s Still BrokenMy Profile

  4. Justin | Mazzastick
    Twitter:
    says:
    April 26, 2011 at 11:01 pm

    Linda,

    That’s why I decided to post a welcome video on my home page. At least you get to hear my voice and see me move. Great analogy.
    Justin | Mazzastick recently posted..The SandBoxMy Profile

  5. Anna says:
    April 25, 2011 at 4:00 pm

    Like ghosts, we can come into every house, we know no borders and limits. Like ghosts we can be everywhere and at any time.
    Why not? I like it!

  6. Aybi says:
    April 25, 2011 at 6:48 am

    Hi Linda! I agree with you that writing ‘from the heart’ is important so that readers would know more about us, bloggers. Personally, I prefer those posts wherein bloggers write as if they are talking to their readers because of some expressions they use and the conversational format of their articles. Reading an encyclopedic-form of article (if you know what I mean by that) hides the real character of the blogger.
    Aybi recently posted..Free Tools to Monitor and Track Your BacklinksMy Profile

  7. atish
    Twitter:
    says:
    April 25, 2011 at 4:11 am

    I liked the title of this article
    atish recently posted..Sony Ericsson W8 – The First Android Powered Walkman PhoneMy Profile

  8. atish
    Twitter:
    says:
    April 25, 2011 at 4:02 am

    Super like this article. i newly found this blog and love to read at this blog.
    atish recently posted..Sony Ericsson W8 – The First Android Powered Walkman PhoneMy Profile

  9. Wes Towers says:
    April 24, 2011 at 6:39 am

    Hi, Linda.

    You always have a fun and entertaining way of putting your thoughts into words and I don’t mind being referred to as a ghost at all. In fact, I agree with you. We are all just voices in the blogosphere, sharing our experiences, our expertise, our advices. Without these voices and the faces we have on our Gravatars, we are simply beings floating around trying to connect with each other.

    I just popped into Google Reader for a moment and yours is the first post that I picked out and read. Glad I did. Hope you have a lovely Easter Sunday. :)
    Wes Towers recently posted..Are You a Social Media JunkieMy Profile

  10. iulian says:
    April 23, 2011 at 1:29 am

    A broken floor is not end of the world. Set aside carpets and repaired. Some tools and little time is all you need

  11. Jonathan says:
    April 22, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    What a wonderful article! To be less of a ghost, I believe that about me pages are extremely important. This way, readers can kind of, visualize the person who wrote the article.

    Other than that, it’s best to be honest and sincere when you write. Every person has their particular writing style, and it’s best if they stick to it. It becomes more personal that way.

    Try your best not to imitate another person’s style of writing and focus on your own.
    Jonathan recently posted..The Toughest Place to be a Bus DriverMy Profile

  12. Mohammed says:
    April 21, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    I think i see your point. The internet world is sort of like this alternate reality where we have a lot more mobility and possibility to perform incredible things compared to the “real” world. We can assume different identities or no identity. We can truly be whoever we want to be.
    Mohammed recently posted..Common Symptoms of Mange in DogsMy Profile

  13. Petra says:
    April 20, 2011 at 3:28 pm

    I’m not sure I see exactly where you’re going with this “blogger-ghost” analogy, but definitely still enjoyed reading the post! You make some good points about certain characteristics that make for good (and not so good) bloggers.
    Petra recently posted..AscentiveDE- Datenschutz- Amazon spioniert Facebook-Daten aus http-tco-uLsbUqdMy Profile

  14. Christopher says:
    April 20, 2011 at 2:35 pm

    I kind of see what you mean…

    It’s not a real person to you, just a PC, but they are a real person, just not there…

    Although as you go onto on your third point, you can build up a profile of your online blogging ‘friends’.

    Once again, another nice article Kiesha :-)
    Christopher – Technology Bloggers Admin Team
    Christopher recently posted..What happens in Japan stays in JapanMy Profile

  15. Barbara McDowell Whitt says:
    April 20, 2011 at 1:22 pm

    Who would I like to meet in the world of blogging? Well, you of course. I am due for a second trip to the British Isles (last and only was in 1969) and my husband has not been there.

    I have just subscribed to your Positive Spin blog. Incredibly, your post here at We Blog Better sent me to the kitchen for another cup of coffee. As I waited at the microwave I was moved by this thought: a problem with writers’ workshops (in the days before blogging) was that they were often more “how to” focused than “can do” focused. And then I read in your This is Me page on Your Positive Spin blog, “I would like my readers to leave my blog with a ‘can do’ attitude…” That was another “oh my goodness” moment for me.

    My blog, which I began in January 2010, already shows my true self because it is a daily compilation of entries from the diaries I kept 50 years ago.

    • Linda Hewett
      Twitter:
      says:
      April 20, 2011 at 4:21 pm

      Thank you so much Barbara. Perhaps we will meet! Just get in touch via Positive Spin and we’ll see what can be arranged!
      I’m so pleased my ‘other’ blog has resonated with you and I look forward to reading your comments there perhaps.
      I love the sound of your blog as I’m fascinated with the past. Thank goodness you kept those precious diary entries.
      Lovely to meet you here today.
      Linda Hewett recently posted..Secret Confessions Of An Approval SeekerMy Profile

  16. Steven Papas
    Twitter:
    says:
    April 20, 2011 at 1:04 pm

    Hi Linda Hewett ,
    Very Good comparison.This is a very funny and good blog comparing bloggers to ghosts.Bloggers are really good at convincing readers.
    Steven Papas recently posted..NortonLive PC Power Boost CouponMy Profile

  17. doug_eike says:
    April 20, 2011 at 11:57 am

    The responsibility of being a ghost in our readers’ lives is real. It’s also one of the goals. My father became a teacher because he though he could affect the most lives that way. Bloggers also affect lives, and the mission is a noble one. Thanks for the article!
    doug_eike recently posted..Ten Skills Your Children Need To Survive GlobalizationMy Profile

  18. Joe Barlow says:
    April 20, 2011 at 9:12 am

    I tend to see my readers as the ghosts, rather than myself, for exactly the same reasons. I know that *I’m* real. After all, I can tilt my head downwards, and see my hands pecking away at my keyboard as I write this comment. But I can’t see the rest of you. So anyone reading this comment, and the readers of my blog, are therefore fictitious until proven otherwise. Ha ha!

    Great article, Linda! I’m jealous you got to meet Leo. :) Sounds like you had a great time.

    -j.

  19. Thomas
    Twitter:
    says:
    April 20, 2011 at 6:29 am

    I was curious when I saw this on my twitter page so clicked on the link. Well, this was a very very good post. Much more than I expected. Positive spin is much better than negative spin. Happy blogging!

  20. Matty says:
    April 20, 2011 at 5:57 am

    Linda, your analogy of referring to us as ghosts is spooky. But your description of how we reveal ourselves through our writing is very real. And just as in life, the longer you know someone, the better you know them, so it is with our blogging friends.

    I have had the pleasure of meeting three ghosts myself in real life, and I can say with certainty that they were just as they had portrayed themselves on their blogs.

    There are so many more that I would like to meet, that it’s difficult to pick out any one person. As for me, I just continue to write from my heart and let the words portray an image of who I am.

    Matty

  21. Hajra
    Twitter:
    says:
    April 20, 2011 at 5:14 am

    You always win my vote for the best headlines ever! There are so many bloggers we meet across the globe and the amount of trust we put into learning from their posts is amazing!
    Scared me!
    Hajra recently posted..How About Winning 500 for BloggingMy Profile