Blogging is about conveying your unique self and perspective through the written word. But how do you cultivate your authentic blogging “voice”? Here are ten tips and tricks to help you develop a strong, consistent writing style that reflects your identity.
Note: I enjoy writing about topics that interest me. The contents of this article are for educational purposes only and do not constitute professional advice.
Preface
Finding your blogging voice is important for engaging readers and building an audience that connects with your writing. However, many bloggers struggle to develop a distinct writing style that sounds natural and genuine. With practice and intention, you can cultivate a voice for your blog that draws people in and establishes your credibility as an authority in your niche.
Your blogging voice is your consistent tone, style, and personality when writing blog posts. It reflects your values, character, experiences, and expertise and shapes readers’ perceptions of you. An authentic blogging voice captures readers’ attention and distinguishes your content from the crowded blogosphere.
To develop a strong blogging voice:
- Be yourself. Your readers will appreciate your authenticity over perfection.
- Adopt a consistent tone. Stay positive, humble, and conversational.
- Use simple, everyday language. Avoid jargon and wordy sentences.
- Use the active voice. Avoid passive sentences that distance you from your message.
- Show, don’t tell. Engage readers with relatable stories and examples.
- Be vulnerable. Share struggles and failures alongside successes.
- Express your passion. Let your enthusiasm for your topic shine through.
- Establish credibility. Prove your expertise with knowledge and experience.
- Add a hint of humor. Laughter brings readers in and keeps them engaged.
- Practice, practice, practice. Your blogging voice will develop and evolve.
Now let’s discuss each topic in detail.
Be Yourself
The first step to finding your blogging voice is to simply be yourself. Write in a way that comes naturally and feels authentic to you. Your readers will appreciate your honesty and personality over trying too hard to sound perfect. Focus on conveying your unique perspective through stories, anecdotes, and examples from your life and experiences.
When you write as yourself without overly tweaking your natural style, your readers will sense the genuineness in your voice. Even simple things like using contractions (“can’t” instead of “cannot”) and avoiding overly formal language signal that you are being real and honest. Resist the urge to mimic other popular bloggers – your natural voice will truly engage and resonate with readers.
Adopt a Consistent Tone
While being yourself is key, aim for consistency in your tone across multiple blog posts. Pick a voice that stays true to your personality – positive, humble, conversational – and sticks with it. An inconsistent tone can confuse readers and damage your credibility.
A good starting point is a friendly, informal tone. Use simple wording and address your readers directly, using “you” instead of “the reader.” Avoid being too negative, sarcastic, or dramatic unless that fits your niche and brand. Overall, aim for a voice that feels welcoming and makes readers want to keep reading.
Use Simple, Everyday Language
To develop an authentic blogging voice:
- Use simple words and everyday language your readers would use in conversation.
- Avoid jargon, technical terms, and bloated academic phrases whenever possible.
- Err on the side of sounding too informal rather than too formal.
Write in a straightforward way that matches how you would naturally speak. Keep sentences short – ideally between 15 to 25 words. Break up long paragraphs. Use contractions to make your tone more conversational. Avoid complicated phrasing that requires the reader to re-read and figure out your meaning.
Simple, direct language engages readers and makes your writing feel approachable. It signals that you value clarity over being overly eloquent or wordy. Simple word choices that match how you naturally speak and think will help craft an authentic blogging voice that sounds like you.
Use the Active Voice
To develop a strong and authentic blogging voice, use the active voice instead of the passive voice whenever possible. The active voice brings your personality into your writing, making it more engaging for readers.
In the active voice, the subject acts:
I wrote the blog post.
In the passive voice, the subject receives the action:
The blog post was written.
The active voice makes it clear who or what is acting. It adds clarity and energy to your sentences, signaling you to take ownership and responsibility for your writing.
Using the active voice consistently in your blog will contribute to a distinct, recognizable voice that readers associate with you. When you avoid the passive voice and own the actions you describe, your blogging voice naturally becomes more assertive and authoritative.
Show, Don’t Tell
Rather than simply telling readers facts and information, show them through relatable stories, examples, and experiences. This strategy will help infuse your blogging voice with emotion, personality, and authenticity.
Instead of:
Exercise is important for your health.
Try:
When I started running three times a week, I noticed I had more energy to keep up with my kids, and my work felt less stressful.
Stories and examples bring your writing to life by showing readers rather than telling them abstract truths. They allow you to infuse personal anecdotes that reveal your unique perspective and voice.
Look for opportunities in each blog post to illustrate your points through:
- Personal stories from your own life
- Case studies of others you’ve observed or helped
- Memorable quotes that bring your ideas to life
- Analogies and metaphors make abstract concepts more concrete.
When you show rather than tell, your blogging voice naturally becomes more vivid, engaging, and human.
Be Vulnerable
To develop a truly authentic blogging voice, be willing to share your struggles and failures alongside your successes. Your vulnerabilities and shortcomings reveal a human side of you that readers can relate to.
Discussing times when you messed up, faced challenges you’re still working through, or are learning alongside your readers signals that you are a real person – not a flawless expert. This sincerity and humility in your blogging voice draw people in and build trust.
However, avoid complaining or being overly negative. Share your struggles in a way that is instructive and valuable for readers. Focus on what you learned from the experience and how it helped shape your advice. Expressing self-doubt humbly and non-defensively can strengthen your credibility and authority.
Being vulnerable does not mean airing your dirty laundry publicly. Rather, choose stories and experiences relevant to your blog’s topic and goals. Even a small admission of uncertainty – “I’m still figuring this out myself” – can make your authentic blogging voice shine through to readers.
Express Your Passion
Let your enthusiasm and passion for your subject matter infuse your blogging voice when you write about something you truly love and care about; that joy and excitement come through in your words.
Your passion signals readers that you have the authority, experience, and motivation to educate and inspire them on this topic. Expressing your genuine interest through anecdotes, examples, and choice of words helps differentiate your content and draws people in.
However, avoid coming across as overly enthusiastic or excitable in a way that seems disingenuous. The goal is for your passion to enhance an already authentic blogging voice.
Some ways to express your passion include:
- Using excited, energized word choices
- Sharing personal stories of times this topic inspired or moved you deeply
- Discussing how long you’ve studied and experienced this subject matter firsthand
- Thanking readers who share your same interests
When you write from a place of true care and investment in your content, a passionate and compelling blogging voice will naturally develop over time. Your enthusiasm itself becomes a bridge that connects you to like-minded readers.
Establish Credibility
Establish credibility and expertise from the first post to develop an authoritative blogging voice. Prove to readers that you have the knowledge, experience, and qualifications to teach them something valuable.
Some ways to build credibility include:
- Discussing your professional experience and history in the field
- sharing your educational background and credentials
- Linking to other publications you’ve written
- Quoting reputable sources that support your points
- Replying to reader comments with insightful, knowledgeable responses
- Avoiding making outrageous claims you can’t back up
Over time, as your readers see that your advice is impactful, practical, and supported by evidence, your credibility will grow – strengthening your blogging voice.
Even if you’re new to blogging, demonstrate a willingness to be upfront about what you don’t yet know. Expressing a desire to learn alongside readers humbly can also build credibility.
The more authoritative and expertise you can convey in your blogging voice, the more valuable and compelling your content will become for readers.
Add a Hint of Humor
Adding a dash of humor to your blogging voice can help make your content more relatable, memorable, and engaging for readers. Laughter has a way of drawing people in and building connections.
However, use humor judiciously and in a way that aligns with your brand’s overall tone. Not every blog can or should incorporate comedy into its voice.
When used effectively, humor in your writing can:
- Help readers remember your key points
- Create an upbeat mood that keeps people reading
- Show that you don’t take yourself too seriously
- Lighten difficult or complex topics
Try sprinkling in:
- Funny anecdotes from your own life
- Irony and self-deprecating jokes at your expense
- Puns and plays on words (but avoid being cheesy)
- Dry, understated one-liners
Aim for humor that feels natural for you – not forced. Delivery is everything, so test jokes on friends first to understand what works.
Overall, keep humor secondary to your main goals for the post. Use it sparingly to enhance – not distract from – your authentic blogging voice. When done right, humor can make a big impact with just a little wit.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Writing more blog posts is the best way to develop an authentic and authoritative blogging voice. Your voice and style will evolve and improve naturally as you gain experience and confidence.
With each post, focus on the following:
- Using simple, everyday language
- Expressing your passion for the topic
- Telling stories that show your perspective
- Incorporating humor judiciously
Think of your early blog posts as practice runs. View feedback from your readers as an opportunity to refine and hone your voice going forward. An established blogging voice does not happen overnight – it develops gradually with consistency over months and years.
As you write, pay attention to which posts feel the most natural and engaging for you. Channel that same tone, style, and cadence in future content. Over time, your readers will start to recognize familiar elements in your writing that become associated with you.
Be patient with yourself and the process. Every blogger struggles at the beginning to find their footing. The more you write from the heart, the more your authentic blogging voice will emerge and evolve into something powerful that resonates with readers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Developing Your Blogging Voice
Finding and cultivating your authentic blogging voice can be challenging for any blogger. There are many aspects to consider and refine to develop a writing style that truly captures your unique perspective and personality. In this FAQ, I’ll answer some of the most common questions about establishing and maintaining a distinctive tone, style, and “voice” when writing blog posts.
What is a blogging voice?
Your blogging voice is your consistent tone, style, and personality when writing blog posts.
How do I develop my blogging voice?
Focus on being yourself, using simple language, telling stories, adopting an active voice, expressing passion for your topic, and practicing consistency across posts.
What tone should I use in my blogging voice?
A positive, humble, and conversational tone generally works best. Avoid being too negative, dramatic, or sarcastic unless it fits your niche.
Should I mimic other popular bloggers?
No, you should write in a way that comes naturally to you. Your authentic voice will resonate more with readers.
How do I sound authentic in my blogging voice?
Be vulnerable and honest. Share stories from your own life. Use simple, everyday language. Avoid jargon.
How do I establish credibility in my blogging voice?
Discuss your qualifications, experience, and knowledge. Provide evidence and examples. Refer to reputable sources. Interact knowledgeably with readers in the comments.
When should I use the active voice?
Always! Use the active voice instead of the passive whenever possible to make your blogging voice more assertive, engaging, and authoritative.
How much humor should I include?
Use humor judiciously. Too many jokes can distract from your content, but a hint of humor can make your blogging voice more relatable and memorable.
How do I show passion in my blogging voice?
Let your enthusiasm and interest in the topic shine through your word choices, examples, and stories. Expressing joy in the work itself signals credibility.
Will my blogging voice evolve?
Yes! As you gain experience writing blog posts, your voice and style will mature and improve naturally.
How often should I post to develop my blogging voice?
Writing blog posts regularly, even once a week, will allow your unique voice to emerge and strengthen over time.
What parts of speech reflect the blogging voice?
Your choice of verbs, adjectives, and examples convey the most about your blogging voice and style.
How do I maintain consistency in my blogging voice?
Focus on adopting a similar tone, level of formality, and degree of passion across all of your blog posts.
How do I write for my target audience?
Consider what language and examples would be most relevant, engaging, and understandable for the people you want to reach.
How do readers recognize a blogging voice?
Through a distinct tone, personality, and storytelling style that feels consistent and familiar across multiple blog posts.
What if I don’t have a strong blogging voice yet?
That’s okay! With practice and consistency over time, your unique voice and style will emerge naturally as you gain experience writing.
How long should it take to find my blogging voice?
There is no set timeline. Some bloggers develop a distinctive voice in months, while for others, it takes years. The most important thing is to keep writing regularly from your authentic self.
Is my blogging voice different from my speaking voice?
Typically yes! Most people adopt a more informal, conversational tone when blogging than formal speaking.
How do I avoid losing my blogging voice?
When creating content, focus on writing from a genuine place and remaining true to your natural personality, values, and priorities. Avoid being overly influenced by other writers.
Epilogue
Developing an authentic and engaging blogging voice takes time, practice, and intention. The most important thing is to write as yourself – in a tone and style and using words that come naturally to you. While consistency is key, your blogging voice will evolve and improve with each new post as you gain experience and refine your approach.
Some fundamental techniques to start cultivating your unique voice include:
- Using simple language.
- Showing rather than telling through stories and examples.
- Adopting the active voice.
- Expressing your passion for the topic.
- Establishing credibility.
- Adding a hint of humor judiciously.
Above all, practice writing regularly and view feedback as an opportunity for growth.
Over time, as you remain true to your natural voice and personality, readers will associate a distinct tone, style, and cadence with you – one that captures their attention and draws them into your writing. An authentic blogging voice is the hallmark of a successful blogger who can develop a loyal audience and community around their genuine presence and perspective.
Credit: Cover Photo by Ivan Samkov