A branded blog is something that almost all successful businesses have established… and now a lot of individual people who are starting blogs are also looking to build a name for themselves. However, even with all of the many blogs on the web… not all blogs become successful.
This is because not all blogs learn the magic of branding themselves in a way that translates clearly. Today we are going to talk about how to brand your own blog, what it means for your namesake or business and what you can expect to reap from taking the time to make sure that your blog brand is speaking for itself loud and clear.
Why go ahead and brand your blog?
Are you getting frustrated that your blog is not growing the way you thought it would? If you are like most bloggers, your main goal is to gain followers and make money off of your blog. If you want either of these things for your own blog, a branded blog is perfect for you and this post will teach you how to brand yourself as an authority and incrase blog traffic to your site. Remember, the more traffic you have, the more money you can make.
A Branded blog gains a higher volume of readership.
What makes a reader want to subscribe to your blog when they stumble upon yours? A branded blog can make all the difference here and lead to a bevy of new perspective readers. The best answer to what gains a blogger followers is that they understand what your blog is about. It is focused. It is driven. They never have to guess what you are about or what is coming up in the future. If they know that they won’t be weeding through junk posts that do not interest them… then they will subscribe to your blog and be back for more – every time.
Bookmarking or RSS?
Those who bookmark your blog are saying “I like this site a lot. I may want to come back to this blog at another time. If not… I won’t, but if I don’t mark it I will probably never find it again.” Picking RSS and subscribing says, “I never want to miss a single new thing that is coming out of this blog.” The last version is what you want to happen and having a blog brand will help make this happen quicker.
How to brand your blog…
You need to take some real time to sit down with a paper and pen and ask yourself some important questions. Be honest. Be open. Be truthful. This will help you build your branded blog. When you have your answers, figure out how you can translate that to your content, images, layout, colors and logo.
Who are you?
As the Greek’s said “Know Thyself.” Your readers want to know about you. It creates familiarity and familiarity brings readers back for more of what you offer. What you reveal will be up to you. Always be cautious of online safety. Some will reveal themselves a little here and there between the lines. Others will pour their hearts out for all their followers to see. Meanwhile, others keep tiny tidbits about who they are on their “About Us” page. How much you will reveal simply depends on your own personal comfort level. It is a good idea to do some research on safety before you make this very personal decision.
What’s your blog about?
Each branded blog earns its brand in many ways but one of those is having a theme. What’s yours? Meanwhile, what is it that your blog has to say? Do you have a manifesto? A mission statement that your brand lives by? What can readers expect to find at your blog while they are there? What are your categories at your blog? What do you use to reach your readers: words, music, videos etc. What is the style and culture of your blog? Is your site confusing or is it clear to your following? Try to tighten up your message to be more clear cut. This will show your readers who you are.
A branded blog can make all the difference in a few views and gaining a true following. It isn’t something that everyone obtains, but if you follow the formula… the formula works and before you know it you will be reaping the benefits of what a branded blog can do for you… and your bank account.
Awesome post! I’m looking to be a freelance blogger and this helped me identify different points I can help my potential clients with for their blogs.