It is the conflict that underlies any family bloggers life, how much to discuss and disclose publicly and how much to keep back. You want to create content that is engaging and relevant to your readers, but you also want to protect the privacy of your family, especially that of your children. Luckily, there are some methods that can help you navigate this fine line. Read on to find out what they are.
Don’t use your kid’s names.
One of the most important things you can do as a family blogger, as http://beckyandpaula.com recommends, is to make sure that your kids’ names aren’t used on your site. You can use initials instead as I do, or I’ve seen some mummy bloggers use nicknames to refer to their kids instead.
After all, your kids aren’t old enough to understand the difference between someone who seems friendly and knows their name and someone they can genuinely trust. Therefore it’s essential to protect them from any possible safety risks in this way.
Do use an address service for letters.
Next, many bloggers give out an address so their readers and fans can send in mail. In fact, this is something that can reinforce the connection to their readership and encourage more interaction, which many bloggers find useful for their popularity.
However, you really don’t want to be giving out your family’s home address to all and sundry on the internet! In fact, this is something that you will want to keep as private as possible.
Luckily you can do this by using a service like the one https://physicaladdress.com provides. Then you can correspond with your readers as much as you like without ever risking anyone turning up uninvited while you are in the middle of dinner!
Don’t blog about places before you go there.
Next to keep your family as safe as possible when you are running a family blog be sure that you don’t post about places, even if you are promoting or reviewing them before you go.
Instead, limit location posts until after you have been to a place. Otherwise, you will be broadcasting to the world, whereabouts you family will be at any given time, and that can certainly be a security risk.
Do consider what you post carefully.
A key thing to remember when blogging about your family is that your kids might not mind or understand what is going on now, but it is entirely possible they will change their tune in a few years when their school friends, or anyone else for that matter, can look up all their embarrassing pictures online.
Additionally, even if you aren’t posting embarrassing pictures, discussing difficult or controversial topics on a blog that clearly identifies you as their parent could come back to bite you later on, especially if is something that you haven’t yet discussed with your child.
That is white it’s crucial that you think before you post both visual and written content. If you want to preserve your family’s privacy both now and in the long run, that is!
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links
2 comments
As much as I share on my blog there is a lot I keep back. I am very careful about what I post about my girls now they’re older. Everything is ran by them first.
I use my girls first names but not their surname. They have their dad’s name so it’s different to mine.
I try to keep where we are going secret until we are back home. We went away over Christmas and no one had a clue until we were 10 minutes away from home. lol That was partly to keep my house safe as well as my family.
I do similar x