The Blogger’s Compromise: Privacy

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I am keenly aware. To be a good blogger, I have to maintain a balance between good, relevant content and how much of my personal life I share with you —the readers. Blogging usually includes the family in some way. And this is regardless of their willingness to participate. Good bloggers strike a balance between relating to/ and connecting with their readers and privacy. Here are a few tips to keep a happy home– happy.

When & What to Share

So how do you make sure you aren’t betraying their confidence or privacy and still convey the personality and honesty that makes a lifestyle blog successful?

My hubby doesn’t use social media, no FB, no Twitter, not even IG. He likes his privacy. It still surprises him that his co-workers read my blog. Both of us have seen people get in trouble with what they share via social media. And we’ve had a couple of lively conversations about when & what WE share on my blog.

He is, however, insanely proud.  Total strangers approach him expressing how much they love the blog or how much it’s helped them plan a trip. And don’t forget all the calls he makes TO ME saying such and such wants to know…

Here are 7 Privacy compromises Bloggers Should make before Writing Every Blog Post.

1. Set Boundaries

The simple answer is to ask, right? You have to respect someone’s privacy. Have a discussion on what you both expect to include in the blog. Set some boundaries beforehand so there aren’t any misunderstandings later. Date night might not be the best time to take a lot of pictures or interview the restaurant owner for the blog. But you can ask for a business card and email some questions later.

2. Pictures

It never fails, my husband gets irritated when I stop to take pictures of my food. So much so that I hardly take pictures of his food anymore, unless he asks me to. I’ve never understood why he is irritated by this. To this day he has never missed a meal. He also thinks I am too critical of his photography skills if I ask him to take my picture.

The latter is true. I can take amazing pictures of him, but his pictures always seem to make me look really fat.

3. Bloggers and OPSEC

Privacy takes on a whole new meaning when you’re in the military. OPSEC is just one of the trillion military acronyms that stand for operational security. We live in dangerous times. Social media is an easy way to target people in the military for both their personal and professional movements. I get around this by only blogging or posting about our activities AFTER it’s happened, never giving dates or times or sharing itineraries.

4. Our time-traveling together

Contrary to what it looks like, I don’t share everything I do. Trust me, I like my privacy too. I am keenly aware not to spend too much time on my blog when we travel. However, I don’t want to live behind a camera lens when I am on vacation. And I know from discussions and side-eyes that it’s no fun for my hubby either. Instead, I take a few pictures but save some for my mind’s eye where the moment lives in my memory forever.

We also started a “thing” where we spend an afternoon or two apart doing our own “thing” and that allows me to concentrate on my blog without inconveniencing my hubs.

5. Our time at home together

That also goes for our time at home. You can’t really watch a movie and write a blog post at the same time. So don’t.

6. Alcohol

We love to visit wineries and breweries, but we are always cognizant that he, more than me, is in a position of authority, so I never include pictures of us actually drinking. Blogging should never create moral dilemmas.

7. Family and Friends

I have both and they are definitely the stimulus for a lot of my stories. But when they say, “they don’t write about this” two things go through my mind.

1. Am I being a jerk for not asking if they want to be a character in one of my stories?
2. Duh, no one needs to know what you did… it’s illegal and immoral in at least 30 states and 10 countries. lol.

Related Content 

• The Blogger’s Compromise– How to Keep a Happy Home Happy,
• How to Find Travel Topics When You Aren’t Traveling
• They Will COMmEnt, LIKE and share

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