As I get closer to launch day, many things are rolling around in my head. Two of those topics that came to mind today were personas and scripts.

First off, let’s talk about writing scripts for my videos. Heck, even scripts for these blog posts.

After watching the latest YouTube video by Patrick E McLean, it got me thinking…should I be doing scripts for my videos? Would they be better and more interesting? I am, after all, selling myself and trying to keep readers, viewers, and listeners engaged and interested. (link to the video at the bottom of this post).

When I started doing the YouTube videos, I had no intention of scripting them. Ever. I wanted them to be free-form and conversational. I wanted those who watched to feel as if I were talking to them about what was going on inside my head. I didn’t want to come across as formal and stiff.

Does this mean I repeat myself and ramble? Why yes, yes it does. That’s who I am and when I get passionately talking on a topic that gets me excited, I do that. That’s me and that’s who I am.

My question, do you think that’s a turn off for viewers or is it “keeping it real?”

Secondly, as I already said, it’s me. That’s who I am in these videos. I don’t script them because I want those watching to see who I am and what I’m doing. Raw, unfiltered, unedited.

I watch a lot you YouTube videos and I’ve seen so many YouTubers who, you can tell, are putting on a performance. They’re doing for the views. They’re working their audience and trying to grow their channels. That’s their full-time job and they’re committed to putting on that performance because that’s what’s expected of them.

The same can be said for several authors I follow who, over the years, have cultivated a persona that is their public facing image. When you meet them in person, you realize that it’s an act to draw in people and a way to be more interesting than they are in real life.

That leads me to my second question: Should I don a persona for my videos?

Now, I’ve never been an actor type. I’ve not done anything like that. I do what I do because I’m having fun doing it. The only thing that’s making me question what I’m doing is I’m not growing the channel much, if at all. Would I do better if I were to be more animated and “acting” the part of J.R. Murdock instead of being myself.

Finally, thank you. I want to say a big thank you to everyone who reads this blog. The likes, the views, the reads, the comments, they warm my heart. I will continue with the blog and hopefully keep things interesting. If I keep things the same, or make some changes, we’ll see what happens.

For now, I’m off to go write some words because that’s the whole point of doing all this, to attract readers and sell books. 🙂

Until Next Time!

Stay Awesome!

Audio Only: https://anchor.fm/jr-murdock/episodes/5-a-Day-With-Jay—0121-evd7fi

Patrick McLean on scripts for videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=911RN-o1VL8