***
In October I'll celebrate my two-year blogging anniversary. In those two years I have been blessed enough to share some of the most wonderful moments of my life through this blog and feel the love that you all give in return. It truly overwhelms me sometimes to think about the way my blog has grown and developed since that first post.
That being said, I've thought a lot lately about what it means to have a blog, contribute time to it, market it, and ultimately create a brand of your own. So, what does it mean to create a 'brand?' Well, my friends, as with any tried-and-true product there is genius marketing at the heart of it all. (Think Kate Spade or Matchbook Magazine, for example.) Your blog is your brand. And truth be told, if you want it to be successful, it's going to take a little bit of sweat.
**
- Brown Eyed Belle's tips for creating your 'brand' -
1. Write often.
You want readers get used to seeing your updates everyday. You want to become a part of their everyday blogging routine. It's all about consistency.
2. Have a point of view and stick to it.
Decide who you are as a blogger and what you want to share with your readers. No, every post doesn't have to be the same, but there should be a common thread that tells your readers that a post was written by you.
3. Connect with your readers through other social media networks.
Having a tumblr, twitter, pinterest, or facebook pages are great ways to market your brand and connect with readers. Jump on the bandwagons, gang. It's worth it.
4. Make your site aesthetically appealing and easy to read.
This is pretty self explanatory. When it comes to a blog, less is more. Keep it simple, clean and easy to navigate. It will pay off in the end.
5. Find blogs that you enjoy and apply what you love about them to your own site.
Keep track of blogs you love. The best way is to create a blog roll via a page on your blog or a list on your sidebar. Comments are a great way to spread the word about your own blog and make connections with other bloggers. Let writers know you love them!
6. Be original, Give credit
I can't tell you how important it is to be yourself. Don't copy others, and if you use an image or idea you first discovered on another blog, give credit. Blog copiers are one of the things most frowned upon in this community. Play it smart from the beginning.
7. Be consistent
(Contributed by my sweet friend SP)
If you choose to pursue multiple avenues of social networking (blog, facebook, twitter, etc) to create and market your brand, make sure you are consistent. Use the same name for each. If you're like me, use an avatar created especially for you to tie everything together, as well. Just make sure your readers and followers have a way to connect the dots. The point of branding is recognition. To be a successful brand the dots must be connected.
(My friend Annemarie wrote a wonderful post recently that will give you some tips, as well.)
***
- Connect with me -
twitter tumblr facebook reader
Happy blogging, loves!
**
- Brown Eyed Belle's tips for creating your 'brand' -
1. Write often.
You want readers get used to seeing your updates everyday. You want to become a part of their everyday blogging routine. It's all about consistency.
2. Have a point of view and stick to it.
Decide who you are as a blogger and what you want to share with your readers. No, every post doesn't have to be the same, but there should be a common thread that tells your readers that a post was written by you.
3. Connect with your readers through other social media networks.
Having a tumblr, twitter, pinterest, or facebook pages are great ways to market your brand and connect with readers. Jump on the bandwagons, gang. It's worth it.
4. Make your site aesthetically appealing and easy to read.
This is pretty self explanatory. When it comes to a blog, less is more. Keep it simple, clean and easy to navigate. It will pay off in the end.
5. Find blogs that you enjoy and apply what you love about them to your own site.
Keep track of blogs you love. The best way is to create a blog roll via a page on your blog or a list on your sidebar. Comments are a great way to spread the word about your own blog and make connections with other bloggers. Let writers know you love them!
6. Be original, Give credit
I can't tell you how important it is to be yourself. Don't copy others, and if you use an image or idea you first discovered on another blog, give credit. Blog copiers are one of the things most frowned upon in this community. Play it smart from the beginning.
7. Be consistent
(Contributed by my sweet friend SP)
If you choose to pursue multiple avenues of social networking (blog, facebook, twitter, etc) to create and market your brand, make sure you are consistent. Use the same name for each. If you're like me, use an avatar created especially for you to tie everything together, as well. Just make sure your readers and followers have a way to connect the dots. The point of branding is recognition. To be a successful brand the dots must be connected.
(My friend Annemarie wrote a wonderful post recently that will give you some tips, as well.)
***
- Connect with me -
twitter tumblr facebook reader
Happy blogging, loves!
Posted in: Blog Friends,blogging,Inspiration,julie on blogging
0 comments:
Post a Comment