Much has been written about the importance of a blogger’s about page. It’s true. Your online bio is the connector between you and your readers. It lets them get a personal peek, past you the blogger, to you the person.
But does it go far enough? Are there any good reasons for taking that extra step: for sharing your core beliefs and values?
Your very own blogger’s creed, front and center on your blog, can be an excellent tool for doing just that.
Spelling out who you are and what you believe in will separate you out from the gazillions of other bloggers out there. For an example of a blogger’s creed, you can see mine over at my bobwp blog. I call it “Things I Believe.”
Why should you bother creating a blogger’s creed?
1. It communicates your core beliefs and code of ethics.
Online, in a world full of avatars and sound bites, our ‘humanness’ can sometimes suffer. Sharing your guiding beliefs, the principles you live by, just makes us feel like we know you—and trust you—so much more.
2. It shows inclusiveness.
If you let your readers know ahead of time that you value them enough to share your personal side, you are telling them that you want them to come closer. You are telling them that you invite their participation in the community. Most of all, you are showing that you believe in making your blog a friendly, welcoming place.
3. It forewarns your community that you expect them to play nice.
More than just a standard synopsis of your commenting policies, a blogger’s creed (or whatever you choose to call it), can create the climate and sense of community you want to foster on your blog. So people who are tempted to go against that code will think twice about it.
4. It helps you find like-minded clients and customers.
Like attracts like. If you are interested in working with people who share similar values, you are setting it up by sharing your work style and relationship-building philosophy. If yours is a business blog, you will be more likely to find clients and customers who appreciate your honesty and the opportunity to try the relationship on for size before they approach you.
5. It opens you up to new partnership opportunities.
Other bloggers and potential business partners like knowing more about you than just where you have worked before and what hobbies you enjoy. Many times, just reading your short list of core beliefs can make them much more comfortable picking up that phone or sending that email.
On the other side of the coin, it can also weed out the people who are not a good fit with your view of the world.
Because you know yourself better than anyone else in the world, it won’t be too hard to come up with a short list of, say, five to eight things, you believe most about people and life. And it can even be a fun exercise.
What about you?
Do you have a blogger’s creed on your blog?
Have you ever thought about creating one?
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