Today, every successful blog thrives on the brand image online. Many bloggers have the perception that only blogs with good money to spend on amazing designs and featured authors can create a brand image. It is completely untrue. The best things about a blog is that helps a person become a one-man army – depending on how well he/she expresses their opinions on a topic or issue. Creating a brand image is all about influencing your reader in such a way that it leaves a lasting impression on their minds about your blog.
And considering the sea of blogs on the internet today, having a brand around your blog is the only way to survive the competition by bagging advertisers and comments. So the question arises,
How to create a Great Brand Image for your Blog
Creating a brand image for your blog is all about presentation. About how well you bring for the same subject that perhaps thousands of other blogs are trying show to the readers. And the beautiful thing about branding is that it helps you create a unique identity in the blogosphere. And there is another valuable advantage of building your brand image, even if blogs lose popularity and people start getting less interested in the idea of blogging – a blog with a brand will always stand a chance to make money.
Maintain a specific niche
This is the fundamental tip which you all need to follow before we go full fledged into building a brand. All brands are made when they are recognized to be good at one particular topic and not jack of all trades, master of none. For example, Pete Cashmore’s Mashable talks about Social media, Darren Rowse’s Twitip is all about Twitter tips, Dharesh Shah’s OnStartup is all about startups etc. I can go on and on about well branded blogs which have focused on a specific niche. Similarly, you should also follow this practice otherwise your blog readers will be unable to associate your blog with a particular niche in their minds.
Create a Kick a$$ About page to portray your brand image
The About page is a brand managers heaven. It is the one place in the blog where you can speak all about your blog. You can include all sorts of recognition or accomplishments you have made. No doubt, it is not the most visited web page in most websites, but it is a page which is indispensable. An about page is the first place a visitor goes if they get curious about a blog.
Many bloggers underestimate the power of a good about page to deliver a strong message a develop an awesome brand identity. The about page can have the details of the founder of the website and if you work in a group, you can write about your team. Moreover, I have noticed that including a small history about the story behind the starting of a blog is always interesting for readers. Add a picture of yourself and little bit of personal details such as work experience, education, your location etc.
Use a consistent color scheme
While you may be using a free or premium theme when using WordPress platform, another important branding tactic is to have a consistent color scheme for your blog. Aesthetics are quite important to building your brand as well. Your blog can be blue, green or pink color for that matter. Just make sure that it is consistent throughout your home page, other pages and posts. It should not feel like the visitor has landed on a different website when they click on your Contact page.
It has often happened to me, and it has always put me off. This sort of carelessness just creates a bad impression in my mind and I am sure that as a reader you would feel the same. So use a color scheme which matches the theme of your blog and keep it consistent.
Create a Unique Writing style
According to me, the number one reason why most blogs lack flavor is that their author does not have a sense of style when it comes to writing. The articles are so impersonal and make the reader feeling cold with no sense of connection with any of what the author just said. I am sorry, if you signed up to be a blogger, you just have to be a good writer – if not an amazing one.
Look at any of the top bloggers, they have a strong brand image because of their style of writing. Darren Rowse writes in a very personal manner, as if he is talking to you, Guy Kawasaki will write in a more nutty fashion with wise cracks, similarly, Tim Ferris from Fourhourworkweek has his own style too. To create a strong brand image, come up and maintain your personal writing style that readers would enjoy.
I hope you guys found this post useful. I am looking forward to a good discussion on this below, I would be happy to answer you all!
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{ 66 comments… read them below or add one }
Good reading but I think Pat’s strategy “Be everywhere” pretty sums it all.
Jason recently posted..pennzoil coupons
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 16, 2012 at 1:13 AM
Be everywhere, is not really in the scope of building a strong brand. However, “how” you be everywhere is branding.
Thanks for your comment on this Jason.
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..List of Top 3 Web Hosting Services
Twitter: itechcode
March 15, 2012 at 7:11 AM
Hey Vivek Impressive Brand Image really plays a vital role for any blog. Specially By Design and Wring Quality. You are right that a blog with a brand will always stand a chance to make money and it helps to increase reader also
.
Great Post Vivek. Thank for sharing.
Amit Shaw
Amit Shaw recently posted..Time to take BackUp Data from Facebook, Twitter and other Networking Sites
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 15, 2012 at 7:18 AM
Yes, an increase in the number of readers can definitely be expected. I have seen blogs with strong branding tactics also get popular by word of mouth. Nice to see your comment for another one of my guest posts Amit!
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..Top 10 Beautiful Retro and Vintage Looking Websites
Twitter: bivori
March 15, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Much impressed with your sense of style. Yes it is true that personal tone in writing is more convincing and able to convert traffic into customers. Glad you care the design and consistency.
Suresh Khanal recently posted..Optimize Your Blog to Reduce CPU Uses on Web Host
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 15, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Hey Suresh, great to know you liked the style. Nice to see your comment on this post!
Twitter: itechcode
March 18, 2012 at 10:25 AM
You welcome Vivek. Hope we will get more article from your side.
Thanks.
Branding is huge. Just look at Pat Flynn’s blog Smart Passive Income. He gives some great tips on branding.
Jim recently posted..Visiting The National Parks
Hey Vivek,
Indeed brand image is a must for blogs that want to stand out and live in this competitive business world. For we all know that their are almost million blogsite in the net right now and staying alive is not an easy job. Thanks for this tips. It is a great help for us.
Megan R. Stinson recently posted..SEO Companies
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 15, 2012 at 7:51 AM
Well Megan, first off, thanks for your comment. It is true that branding is the only thing which can make you money even when the business is slow. So brand image is a take-away for everyone looking to make a mark in the blogging world.
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..5 Tips for eCommerce Entrepreneurs
Twitter: learnblogtips
March 15, 2012 at 7:52 AM
According to me to create a brand in any niche is to having a unique writing style.
I agree with that point
Coming to About page.. Many bloggers are writing their About Me page as third persons though they are writing themeselves. What do you say about this? I’ve written a post about this in my blog (stop writing your About Me page as a 3rd person).
I want to know what’s the reason many are writing as 3rd person in their own About Me pages…
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 15, 2012 at 8:01 AM
Haha…I love your comment Rahul. I am with you in this case. I feel really put off by someone writing about themselves in the third-person on their About page. The main reason why most people do this is because (according to them), it can give off an impression that they are someone really important.
And moreover, if they want to boast about themselves – the third-person voice just seems too attractive.
Personally, never write an about page in third person. Stick to your own voice and connect with your readers well.
Thanks for your comment Rahul!
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..The Top 10 eCommerce Websites in India
Twitter: learnblogtips
March 15, 2012 at 9:03 AM
Wow.. I really love your reply too. We both have similar mentality about creating About Me page here
Thanks for elaborating it more.. So that I can support my opinion on this regard in a better way.
Twitter: bivori
March 15, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Probably it is also because of traditional impression. Like in books, the publisher writes ‘About the Author’ and it is written in third person. In blogging too, if it is the continuity of same tradition. I support the deviation. A blog is truly one man army!
Suresh Khanal recently posted..Optimize Your Blog to Reduce CPU Uses on Web Host
Twitter: learnblogtips
March 15, 2012 at 1:42 PM
We are bloggers. We should not be traditional always, we should be innovative. Moreover it wont take you anywhere if you follow those old terms..
I like your point – Blogging is one men army
great quote bro…..
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 15, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Traditional or not, if a blog has only one author – it is best to avoid third person. Even pro-bloggers like Darren Rowse, Brian Clark are people who write in first-person.
Thanks for your views Rahul and Suresh!
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..How to Make a Confident Jump from Corporate to Startup?
Twitter: comptalks
March 15, 2012 at 8:03 AM
Nice tips for the newbies who start blogging out of fun. Many of them will be quite grateful to you for the tips
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Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 15, 2012 at 8:08 AM
Thanks for your comments Bishwajeet!
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..CNN to Buy Mashable for $200 Million Deal
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March 15, 2012 at 8:37 AM
I agree. However as a small business owner, it’s hard to keep another ball in the air. Another ball as is writing well enough in your blog posts to create a brand. But if I start on creating a kickass About page and then try to blog a kickass post once a week as well. Maybe. But I think your ideas will work if I put them in place, so thanks.
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 15, 2012 at 9:25 AM
Well, if the business needs you to have another ball in the air to make money. Why would you not have another ball in the air?
Thanks for commenting Cathie.
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..How Much Does It Cost to Start a Blog?
Twitter: damondnollan
March 15, 2012 at 12:47 PM
Thanks for sharing, Vivek! My about page is definitely one of those pages that gets a lot of hits.
Damond Nollan recently posted..Kappa Alpha Psi Celebrates Silver Anniversary With A Rededication To Objectives
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 15, 2012 at 12:57 PM
That is really good for you. Then makes sense for you to make it like a squeeze page to get social likes or guide them to your best content.
Thanks for your comment Damond.
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..CNN to Buy Mashable for $200 Million Deal
Twitter: damondnollan
March 15, 2012 at 2:25 PM
Hey, I like that….send them to your “best content.” Didn’t think about that.
Thanks for the good idea!
Damond Nollan recently posted..Kappa Alpha Psi Celebrates Silver Anniversary With A Rededication To Objectives
Twitter: morganbarnhart
March 15, 2012 at 6:14 PM
I really love your tip about making a kick@$$ about page, because that section seems to be ignored a lot of the time. I think if we had better About pages then more people wouldn’t be so reluctant to look at them and truly get something about ‘em.
Great tips all around!
Morgan recently posted..Reverse Psychology: The Role of a Crisis in Social Media
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 16, 2012 at 1:10 AM
In my experience, the About page is something many bloggers or readers would visit. However, internet marketers are very callous when it comes to writing their About page as well as reading the About page of the bloggers they approach.
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..CNN to Buy Mashable for $200 Million Deal
Nice tip about having an About page. I currently don’t include one but i guess I’m going to have to go back and fix that haha! Thanks
Read More recently posted..Warmrails Hyde Park Freestanding Drying Rack and Towel Warmer Reviews
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 16, 2012 at 1:07 AM
You definitely should!
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..CNN to Buy Mashable for $200 Million Deal
Thanks for sharing some tips and advice regarding to branding. I think that it is very important that our own blog has a unique brand for other internet user to be more attracted and visit your site.
Kate Brown Wilson recently posted..אילוף גורים
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 16, 2012 at 1:11 AM
Rightly said Kate, a unique brand is a strong magnet. Thanks for your comment.
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..5 Lessons I Learned from Outsourcing Content
Thanks for agreeing with me, so true that brand can be consider as a magnet that will attract many visitors.
Kate Brown Wilson recently posted..קבלה
Twitter: abhinavn286gmail.com
March 16, 2012 at 2:20 AM
Great resources you share with us . Its very helpful for blogging thank you so much for sharing wonderful post.
abhinav recently posted..WinX DVD Ripper Platinum Converter
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 16, 2012 at 12:16 PM
You are welcome Abhinav, thanks for taking time out to comment!
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..How Much Does It Cost to Start a Blog?
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March 16, 2012 at 3:41 AM
Hello Vivek,
First of all thanks for this incredible post. Making a brand image idea is really great, if we have a good resource people will find us first.
ajmal recently posted..WordPress Newspaper and Magazine Themes | WordPress Newspaper and Magazine Themes 2012
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 16, 2012 at 12:28 PM
Glad you found the post useful Ajmal, thank you for your comment.
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..CNN to Buy Mashable for $200 Million Deal
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March 16, 2012 at 12:48 PM
Hi Vivek,
I’d just like to say thanks a lot for all the help! As someone is contemplating on creating a blog, it’s great to hear from someone who is in that position…But i completely agree with you when you say that you need to choose a niche and stick to it, tie that in with unique, interesting link worthy content then that equals successful blogging!
Michael recently posted..Merry Christmas to all our customers!
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 18, 2012 at 12:37 AM
I am really happy that the post was helpful to you. Hopefully this article was helpful for you when you are starting your blog. Thank you for your comment Mark.
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..The Top 10 eCommerce Websites in India
Twitter: BGJosh
March 16, 2012 at 2:07 PM
Yeah, I need to create an About page… I’ve basically neglected it up to this point.
Josh recently posted..Going Cardboard: A Board Game Documentary DVD Review
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 18, 2012 at 12:39 AM
That is a wise decision Josh.
Thanks for commenting.
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..Top 10 Beautiful Retro and Vintage Looking Websites
Twitter: kg_photography
March 16, 2012 at 7:34 PM
Thanks for the reminder.
I need to go into each of my blogs and take a look at my About Page again. I use one image across all of my blogs that I really like – the point of the image is to show people that I’m down to earth and approachable. I hope it’s coming across.
Thanks for the suggestions. They’ll come in handy.
Kimberly Gauthier, Adventures in Blogging recently posted..The Biggest Blogging Mistake I Made and What it Cost
Twitter: spatchmerlin
March 16, 2012 at 9:49 PM
I would like to highlight the part about ‘writing personal posts.’ some people think articles written formally is the best way to get more people to adore your page. But no, people don’t care about this. but when they feel of having some sort of connection to people do come back to your site. Great points listed here!
Spatch Merlin
How to Blog Guide
Spatch Merlin recently posted..Earn Money Blogging Online with Pinterest
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March 17, 2012 at 5:13 AM
Hi Vivek,
Nice article bro..
Creating a brand image for any blog is must if we want to survive in blogosphere. And you shares some cool ways to do that. By the way the 2 way that stands out for me in your whole post is “Be Specific If You Want To Target Huge Audience And Want To Mark Your Presence” and “Have Your Own Unique Writing Style, Don’t Go for fluff and The Normal Way Of Writing….”
Thanks for such a nice article bro…..
Romy Singh recently posted..I Never Thought That I Would Fall In Love
Hi Vivek,
You have given a good information on how to create impressive brand image around blog.You have shared very simple and useful points and no doubt good presentation is very important to create an impressive brand image.
Pete Goumas recently posted..MixBook Coupon & Review
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 18, 2012 at 1:11 AM
Hi Pete,
Yes, that is right. If you are presenting the same sort of value with a better and unique presentation style, it definitely helps your blog’s brand image.
all the information on How to Create an Impressive Brand Image Around Your Blog is a big help me and i can use it as a guide for my work in creating a good blog article.
septem recently posted..How to Generate Traffic to Your Site Using Free Methods
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 18, 2012 at 12:52 AM
Thank you for your comments Septem.
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..5 Lessons I Learned from Outsourcing Content
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March 17, 2012 at 1:03 PM
Be creative and unique in everything you do,that’s what makes you a brand which others want to follow.
sampath kumar recently posted..Know the Exact Time in your Location
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 18, 2012 at 12:51 AM
Hi Sampath, you got that right, branding is all about being unique and stand apart from the crowd. Become a leader instead of a follower in any industry.
Twitter: Elena__Anne
March 17, 2012 at 2:53 PM
Hi Vivek,
I am happy that I visit your post and this post gives a good idea of how to create impressive brand image.The ideas and point that you have shared in very useful and we should keep these points in our mind.Thanks for sharing this post.
Elena Anne recently posted..The Benefits, Challenges, and Rewards of Exercise at Home
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 18, 2012 at 12:41 AM
Hi Elena, I am very glad that this post was useful. Thank you for your comments.
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..How Much Does It Cost to Start a Blog?
having a well layed out page reflects well upon the content and host
you don’t have to go as far as seeking professional help, but simple tricks such as keeping things simple and in order makes the page look tidier
hampton recently posted..Hampton Bay Ceiling Fans For Style And Function
Twitter: sahaali1
March 19, 2012 at 4:39 AM
Good to read this post. Impressive brand image plays a vital role for any blog. Very helpful information. Thanks for sharing this information about impressive brand image.
techne recently posted..iPad3 tips and tricks
Twitter: janjesant
March 19, 2012 at 6:33 PM
This an awesome post packed with valuable tips! I really do need to visit my about me page and get it updated.
I totally agree with you about sticking to one niche as I’ve visited some blogs and couldn’t quite figure out what the niche is as the contents are all about everything and anything!
Thank you so much for sharing.
Remi
Remi recently posted..Business Sacrifice – Something Has To Give, Are You Ready?
yes, creating a professional impression is everything, also maintaining and updating your site is important also,thanks
Twitter: RingLawnCare
March 21, 2012 at 12:14 AM
Right, one niche per site, got it! Finally someone who says it! Thank you. Tell you the truth, I have two niches. What should I do? Got it, build another site, oh wait did that.
Okay so now I am on the right track(apologies if this sounds sarcastic, it is, but not towards anyone)to branding my name, site and niche.
People will write about anything and get pulled away from the topics of their site, if traffic is down or readership is lost. Be YOU and time will tell if this is for you. You can always start over.
Thank your for your posting, and thank you for TELLING it VIVEK!
Bryan Ring recently posted..Guest Posting On Blog Platforms Relating To Your Niche
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 24, 2012 at 1:37 AM
Hi Bryan,
Thanks for your views on this. I agree that people are tempted to go off topic when readership is low. But they may also deviate if they find it dull to just stick to one topic and have post ideas from other niches as well.
A site can ideally have a good mix of two niches, but then that is for another post to talk about.
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..5 Surefire Ways to Get Audited by the IRS
Twitter: ModernArtsPack
March 22, 2012 at 1:55 AM
Establishing an impressive brand image is very important to have a successful blog and you can only do that if you are able to capture the attention of your target audience. And this can only be possible if you provide them vital information or unique content.
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 24, 2012 at 1:30 AM
Vital information is indeed very important to get an audience to notice you. Thanks for dropping by Danica!
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..CNN to Buy Mashable for $200 Million Deal
Twitter: lizmcgee
March 22, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Hi Vivek,
I like your suggestion about using your ‘About Me’ page. People really underestimate the power of what a good ‘About’ page can do for you, there’s so much potential there.
The thing to be careful of is not to include too much information. For example, I’ve seen ‘About Me’ pages where the authors really get carried away with their personal lives. Adding personal information is good as long as it’s relevant to your business. Too much information in that area can get off track and your reader will find it uninteresting.
Liz
Liz recently posted..How To Write Blog Posts That Aren’t Sucky
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 24, 2012 at 1:26 AM
I think it is a very valid point that I haven’t thought about, an About page should not go overboard with personal information and can usually only be restricted to information which is relevant to the blog or business.
Great pointer, thanks for commenting Liz.
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..How Much Does It Cost to Start a Blog?
Wow! Thank you so much for the info. I never thought there was so potential into the “About Me” section. I will certainly need to get into this quickly.
Thanks again!
Luc
Luc recently posted..SEO Profiler
Twitter: vivekkrishnan
March 24, 2012 at 1:22 AM
Hey Luc, thanks for reading the post. Glad you liked it!
Vivek Krishnan recently posted..5 Surefire Ways to Get Audited by the IRS
Twitter: sonnylanorias
March 25, 2012 at 4:55 AM
Hey Vivek,
Great post! Thanks for sharing. Indeed having consistent color scheme and unique writing style are important factors. You have to be unique to get your brand out there. Thanks again.
$onny
Sonny Lanorias recently posted..A Review of MLMZing – Another Marketing Funnel Hype?
Twitter: sweetking76
March 25, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Great info,I am new on blogging site so thanks for sharing , you given me some insight.
Raquel recently posted..Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Topping
Building a brand around yourself or your business is more like being successful. Take Darren from Problogger, he has built such a brand around himself and his business that he is considered as the ultimate problogger out there. Even though there are many other bloggers who are blogging professionally and are making more money than Darren.
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I believe that a good, simple and clean design will add a bit more interest to your blog. If a page looks too busy it could be hard to find things for a visitor. I have a nice urban theme from zeeSynergie for my blog about easy scholarships. It makes it stand out from among all the other websites targeting the same keywords. Good post!
Lance recently posted..A Few Cashback Rewards For College Students
Yes, an increase in the number of readers can definitely be expected. I have seen blogs with strong branding tactics also get popular by word of mouth. Nice to see your comment for another one of my guest posts Amit!
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