What is a Personal Finance Blog? | Bloggers Lair | Yakezie Forums

In the world of personal finance blogs, there are a lot of variations in style and substance.

However, it seems like everyone has their own definition of what a personal finance blog is exactly.

I've seen comments across the blogosphere about certain blogs not really being personal finance and there seems to be some specific views about what a personal finance blog really is.

I recently had a personal experience, so I decided to start this thread to clear the air and see what everyone's opinions might be on this.

I had contacted a "personal finance blog" about hosting their carnival after they issued a request for hosts (FYI: They are not a current Yakezie member as far as I can tell).

Their response to me was: "I'm looking for personal finance blog hosts. You site looks like a group of on-going promotional offers…"

My response being: "Okay, sorry we don't fit your view of what a personal finance blog is. Good luck to you anyway."

Of course, being excluded always hurts a little, but what can you do.

The funny thing is that I regularly promote this blog on social networks and I think I've probably included them in past carnivals of my own, but that's besides the point.

I've always considered my blog a personal finance blog, in the sense that "personal finance blogs" is an umbrella label that encompasses a wide variety of financial blogs, just like the term "Rock & Roll" encompasses metal, hard rock, glam rock, etc.

I do mainly promotional offers for financial products and services, but I have done some informative pieces (hopefully) about personal finance subjects as well, although I don't usually do "idea" or "theoretical" pieces about personal finance.

Nevertheless, I always thought that I still fit into the realm of personal finance, and I also consider any other blogs related to money subjects or financial issues to be personal finance as well. I don't necessarily like them all, but that's another story.

So my question is then, what is a personal finance blog, in your opinion? Are there certain criteria a blog must meet to be personal finance? Do you have to write about certain topics? Does the content have to be completely original to the author as far as ideas or personal experiences? Is investing advice personal finance, cheap recipes, ways to save money, news about the financial business world, etc.?

What exactly makes a personal financial blog?

@Kevin,

Thanks for giving your opinion, I appreciate that.

I do consider my site a source as well, but I just don't think that necessarily excludes it from also being a personal finance blog, but who knows. Maybe I'm just a "finance blog" without the "personal." I keep my personality out of it on purpose for the most part.

But I guess you bring up the point of what even defines a blog in the first place. Funny, I at least thought I was a blog.

I never ask anybody to do guest posts with back links to promote my blog, so no worries there, but if you ever want to do one on mine, you are welcome.

I do promote a lot of deals, as that's what I generally do, but I would like to say that I don't necessarily only post deals that I can profit from. I post a huge number of deals that don't have any direct financial benefits for me whatsoever, just as long as they benefit my readers. Indirectly, of course, they provide traffic and SEO benefits, but I'm not strictly an affiliate blog only, at least I like to think I'm not.

Anyway, I wasn't necessarily looking to get people's opinions on whether or not my blog is a personal finance blog, but just what defines "personal finance blogs" in general in everyone's opinions.

Thank you again for commenting, I hope others will chime in as well.