This is a guest post by Kelly McCausey
Most blogs today with high readership have one thing in common: Opinionated bloggers! It’s one thing to share news and information. It’s another thing entirely to share opinions.
News–even important news–can be fairly dull when repeated across hundreds of blogs. Bold, spoken opinions about that news is engaging. It’s the difference between the six o’ clock news and a commentary program on the comedy channel. They’re both talking about the same thing but one is infinitely more interesting, inspiring reactions and opposing opinions that draw even more attention.
There’s a lot of boring blogs out there on the net sharing too much news and too few opinions and I think it’s a shame. I have asked friends and clients why they hesitate to share their opinions on their blogs and the common response is that they don’t want to alienate anyone. If you feel the same way, I have some reassuring news for you. I don’t agree with many of the blogs I read on a regular basis. It’s true! I subscribe to many blogs just for the flavor factor that comes from being totally annoyed by an opposing opinion.
Is it crazy that I enjoy feeling outraged once in awhile? Not at all. Tasting bitter fruit now and then reminds me of what I have worked so hard for in my community and makes me appreciate the many awesome blogs that I agree with. Being opinionated has grown my business. As I share my opinions about home business scams, slimy multi-level marketing programs, and various time- and money-sucking promotional programs that float around the work-at-home-mom community, I have made a few enemies.
More importantly though, I have gained a loyal circle of influence. Subscribers, listeners and customers appreciate that I walk a thin line and carry a big stick. We don’t all operate in environments where scammers and spammers have to be beaten back now and then, but I believe all bloggers can occasionally benefit from a well stated opinion.
In fact, I’ll go so far as to say this: All else being equal, if you’re not getting the traffic you want and the income you want… you’re probably not being opinionated enough. Face it: people don’t read boring bloggers.
A few simple rules for being opinionated
Accept that you will alienate someone.
It is going to happen. Some are going to read your opinion and be annoyed. That is OK! Some people like me will respect your right to an opinion and keep reading even though they completely disagree with you on the issue. A few people will get their noses out of joint and decide they can’t read anything from someone who thinks that way. If someone is going to discount me as a whole person based on one issue of disagreement, I’m not going to cry about it. It’s their loss.
Don’t create trouble where none exists.
Having a strong opinion is not about stirring up trouble. I don’t like it when people create controversy - but I love it when people address what already exists.
Expect and respect opposing opinions.
If you’re going to step out and share an opinion on your blog, don’t be surprised when someone leaves a steamy comment. I consider my blog to be the virtual equivalent of my living room a comment the equivalent of a stimulating conversation over coffee. Agreement is not a prerequisite. So long as they haven’t been rude I’m willing to let their comments stand and if I have a constructive response, I’ll be sure to share it.
There are some instances when a guest crosses the line and has to be shown the door - and the same goes for rude comments. I don’t mind employing the delete key when someone isn’t being constructive or has crossed over to being a blog bully.
Don’t use your blog to settle personal scores.
If you’re angry with someone, write them an email. Send them a private message. Give them a call. Don’t call them out (with or without names) on your blog. It’s tacky. Of course, if you have tried all of the above and can’t get a reply - I have seen very tactful use of ‘Open Letters’ on blogs. Use your best judgment 
Step up and justify your opinions.
It is not enough to boldly declare an opinion about something. If you want to win respect and possibly a convert or two, you have to provide the reasoning and share your experiences that stand behind your opinion.
Keep your opinions on topic.
Opinions are potent. Stating a strong opinion and then standing firm behind it is polarizing. It draws some people to you and pushes others away. Your business blog is an integral part of your marketing plan and you should be deliberate in your decisions - even when being opinionated. Make sure you’re attracting and pushing on the right topics. There’s no sense in aggravating people over topics that have no bearing on your business and personal values.
Earn the right to express your opinions.
If you’re the new kid on the block, take care with how quickly you share opinions. There’s something to be said for establishing yourself as a solid blogger before jumping into the deep end. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
I asked my friend Wendy Peirsall, owner of the Sparkplugging blog network I write for what her thoughts are on the issue of being opinionated. She told me that she has shied away from controversial topics for the most part, but that she has increasingly seen the value of polarization and feels that she has built up enough of a reputation that her readers won’t take her opinions out of context. I think Wendy is right on and I look forward to reading some of her strong opinions in the months to come.
Don’t focus all of your opinions on the negative. You don’t have to find something that annoys you to have an opinion about. You can have an opinion about something great too. Strike a balance and avoid being pigeon holed as a complainer.
Express opinions that attract your target market.
My target market is the work at home mom. Guess where I stand on the issue of being a stay at home mom? To get more specific, I target work at home moms who want to build their own business for long term profits. Guess where I stand on get rich quick schemes? My opinions draw moms to me who value my mindset and want my advice.
On the reverse, it pushes away the moms who just want to ’stick a nickel in the internet and pull its arm’ for instant return. Not that I don’t care about those moms. I do. But they’re not looking for what I’m offering and until they do - I can’t worry about stepping on their toes.
So what’s your opinion?
I’m sure you may be able to add a tip or two to this list and please don’t hesitate to do so in the comment section. If you’ve been hesitant about being opinionated up to now, I hope you feel inspired to step out and share a fresh strategic opinion real soon.
Kelly McCausey is the author of WAHM 2.0 at Sparkplugging, one of the web’s biggest sites for work-at-home entrepreneurs. Kelly worked hard for others for many years and never made ends meet. Now this single mom enjoys the freedom that comes from working hard for herself as an internet marketer, podcaster and WAHM business coach. Host of Work at Home Moms Talk Radio, Kelly is driven to help other moms achieve their personal and professional dreams of working at home.
Follow Kelly on Twitter @KellyMcCausey
19 Comments
Kelly -
This is so true - I learned this from James Chartrand and it’s worked wonders for me.
Will be linking back to this article.
Yup, all good advice. Well done.
By the way… you wrote to expect “a steamy comment” on my blog. I would much, MUCH rather have steamy comments than steaming ones. Dunno about you…
I’ve shied away from strong opinions in my blog. I fear stepping on toes or people taking things the wrong way. I’m a middle-of-the-road kind of persons about many things except when it comes to my kids. But my blog ain’t about raising kids.
It’s true, though, that opinionated bloggers attract a lot of readers.
Be genuine. Don’t shy away from expressing your opinion, or be loud just to be attention seeking. Just be your most honest self.
@Dave Thank you! Appreciate that so much!
@James LOL! I have to certainly agree with you on that
@Meryl Do you feel a little more courageous about sharing an opinion or two?
@WriterDad Agreed. I wonder how many people really know who their ‘most honest self’ really is?
I am finding that you are exactly right. For many years (since 1999) we distributed a “useful tips” newsletter, first by fax and then by email. This year, we switched to a blog format. It has contained a lot of useful marketing information for small business owners.
Readership is actually pretty good and consistent based on what people tell me in my travels, but commentary has been almost non-existent. And getting comments is the key to getting noticed. Perhaps it is time to tell more truth and make people feel uncomfortable about their marketing goofs.
@Kelly — Eh… still a wimp about it. I’m not afraid to email schools, the district, and other educational offices when something concerns me.
But in my blog… it still reflects me (and I am a one-gal business) and it’s hard to know where to draw the line in keeping it to myself or spilling my guts to the whole world.
Opinions do matter! Whether they are for the good or bad.
If you have experience, you have developed professional judgment and discernment. These are the basis for an informed opinion, which people are hungry for and which they trust.
This is part of why we blog, in fact: to demonstrate our authority and experience (which gets leads and business). Opinions come along for the ride. There’s a difference between having a professional opinion and shooting your mouth off in an impulsive or uninformed manner. If you follow Kelly’s recommendations, you will be a good example of how to use opinion as a magnet to attract an audience.
I have thought often about this but with a site about inspirational and motivational topics I think I have the tendency to be very positive. Yet my most viwed post was the one I basically said, in not such strong words but- get off your behind and DO something.
So…I hear that and think…my readers can take it.
I am still evolving. This is a lot of food for thought, Thanks
Excellent advice, Kelly. I tend to be opinionated enough (I think) without any prompting, but I learned a few other things with this one.
Oh, and I’m not following you on twitter. Beware. Hehe.
Always state your opinion, I believe. And, let the people with opposing views post on your subject. This only opens a conversation and allows for each other’s point of view to be described.
My 2c
I got a little controversial on my blog post “7 Things I want my son to know about women” and was blasted for it. Maybe I shouldn’t have but I deleted their comments. Now I’m afraid of being controversial again. It may not bother you Kelly being a choleric but I’m a melancholy-phlegmatic & I have a lot of problems with controversy.
@Gil That is an interesting thought from you: ‘Perhaps it is time to tell more truth and make people feel uncomfortable about their marketing goofs’
I agree - there is a way to tell people what they are doing wrong and give them HOPE that there is a better way and you can show them to it.
There is also a way to just make someone feel like a dunce - so be careful that you approach it smartly!
@Wendi You can definitely be opinionated in a positive way!
@Cathy - Yes, my choleric personality does give me thick skin in most situations. As a Melancholy, you take things personal and as a Phlegmatic you don’t like to rock the boat. Still - you can stretch yourself now and then for something you believe in, right?
I’m authentic and I write what’s important to me in the moment. Since I’m usually telling people what to do, I suppose I’m opinionated, but so far I’ve never had any haters in my comments. And that makes me happy - I’m not big on arguing.
Conversations, however, I have lots of them, which is supremely awesome!
I don’t know about you, but the one thing I like best about someone who has an opinion and takes a stand is that I am sick of people taking the politically correct, I don’t want to offend you stand on items.
I find that seeing these statements is like color tv in a see of black and white.
Wouldn’t you like to stand out from the crowd…
See all my opinions throughout a free 30 day course I’m conducting for the whole month of September at bizfreedomblueprint.wordpress.com
@peter I soooo agree with you. Being PC is boring AND I don’t like to feel like I’m being ‘handled’ by someone which is how I generally feel when someone is measuring their words oh so carefully.
Just be real and let me like it or lump it
I actually have a disclaimer on my About Me page that I call it as I see it, and I’m not afraid to state my opinion (especially at my age anymore.) I believe in standing up for what I feel is right, although I try to be objective, and do take others’ opinions into consideration. I also like to play the part of devil’s advocate for sake of discussion. I feel it stimulates conversation. I haven’t had any hateful remarks. I’ve only had to delete/not approve one or 2 comments over the life of my blog.
This is great advice! Opinions creates drama and controversy, and those two definitely makes your blog posts more interesting.
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