What Do You Need A Blogging Character For? Here Are 6 Big Reasons You May Want to Use One
March 30, 2016 | Character Blogging Tips
I could almost hear you as soon as you opened this website in your browser:
Why on Earth would I need a blogging character when I can blog as myself?!
I can hear you say you don’t need a blogging character on your blog, nor a standalone character blog, and that you doubt your readers would benefit from the fictional addon in any way.
You’re looking at me with a frown and you expect me to give you a reason for this.
Ah, but you are right!
In fact, your objection is understandable and the norm is that you will start blogging to get your name out in your niche or industry and develop an online presence.
Which is right, my friend, and I completely support you there. I’m also a blogger, I run a freelance business, I write for clients and for specific audiences.
However, before your you dismiss character blogging altogether as another option to attract and engage your audience, consider this question:
Do your readers respond better to your content when they have fun?
Think about last time you offered a funny anecdote, a comic strip, a comical video clip with your content.
Did it work?
The truth is that character blogging has a big chance to increase your conversion rates if you know your audience and play your character well.
If you are still wondering, here are 6 big reasons you may give character blogging a try.
1. You write for a “boring” niche
It’s difficult to make things fun when you write about plumbing, sports supplies or antivirus software.
Unless you work with B2B, the average reader reads at home and seeks to consume content quickly and in a relaxed mood.
Without getting bored.
Your reader wants to read and learn and enjoy the process, so to have a character that makes it all a little more enjoyable and attractive certainly helps to keep readers interested and hooked on the page.
Don’t underestimate the power of that playful, emotional aspect that loyalizes your audience.
2. You run an entertainment blog
If you write about movies, comic books, amusement parks or art and crafts, you have a lot of opportunities with character blogging.
Instead of creating a character blog, you may simply add a character to your existing blog and use it to spark lively conversations with your readers. For example, you can invent small discussions involving you and your character — interview style — and then explain in the post that your character is actually right about something and then you go on with the post or you leave the word to your character, so the post will become your character’s post.
3. Your target reader is a generally stressed person
Sometimes reading blogs is like studying — you need information and you have to internalize it quickly, but it can get so tiring!
I created Selina Hydron, my robot from planet Steelgen, as a blogger and a copywriter because I’m also a blogger and copywriter and I know that writing isn’t always the fun activity we wish it was. You know it: writing for a business is work and work comes with its daily load of stress to deal with.
To have a character who lives the copywriter’s life and daily issues and offers actionable solutions (linked to her Sci-Fi settings) makes readers smile and learn at the same time… and well, it makes the whole process a lot easier.
4. You blog for children
Children are attracted to characters who tell their own stories that they can relate to, so you might create a blogging character that will entertain your young readers and keep their interest alive while you educate them on the topics you care about.
5. You don’t want to use personal anecdotes
You might not fancy the idea to use anecdotes from your personal and work life in your blog posts, but you know how getting personal helps to create a connection to the reader.
A blogging character can help protect your life and business, because every anecdote you tell will belong to your character, for the reader, not to you.
6. You run a community-based business
If you run services in the Psychology, consulting, medical counseling and support Services areas, it can be helpful to have one or more blogging characters.
Character blogging allows you to tell your users’ experience through fictional characters that maintain your users’ anonymity and, at the same time, give readers precious human experiences to create a connection and relate to.
Would character blogging offer you an opportunity to connect better with your audience?
Please, share your thoughts in the comments below.
P.S. The free guide to creating a blogging character is online!
Image (cc0) Life-of-Pix
Keywords: reasons to use a blogging character, uses of a blogging character, why character blogging
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Luana Spinetti freelances as a blogger, a copywriter and a cartoonist. Loving Character Blogging since 2001 (for fun) and 2007 (for profit). Contact luana@bizcharacterblogging.com.