8 Steps to follow in order to brand your blog

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As we well know, a blog is a place where we share ideas and informations, it’s the perfect place to reflect at our online identity. The design, content and even the broader message gives your blog an identity and it defines our overall image, which in marketing terminilogy this is called “the brand”.

Here are some 8 steps to follow in order to brand your blog :

1. Your brand strategy definition : What image do you want your brand to inspire? As a matter of fact this thing depends on how do you want other people to view your online presence, a professional one or a fun and family-oriented. You’ll need to define your brand, so the first step is to determine how you like others to view your and your blog.
2. Create a blog design that suits prefectly to your brand strategy : You have to ensure that your blog’s design communicates your brand image by using graphics and fonts that enhance your brand message. So, don’t use cute clipart images or bubble fonts to a professional financial blog, it’s not right and your brand message will be detracted from the design.
3. Write content that fits to your brand strategy: Content is the key, no matter what kind of blog you have so every post you publish should reflect your brand image and message. If you have inconsistent messaging, readers will get confused. Consumers need to feel secure with a brand which leads to brand loyalty. Use consistent content messaging to build loyalty to your blog and your brand.
4. Develop your brand’s image throught appropriate networking and promotion all around the net :
   Your brand need to become known not only in your blog, so you’ll have to find a way to promote it outside your blog. A good way to do that is by commenting on other blogs with messages that are consistent with your brand and through social media sites and networking that similarly capture your brand image.
5. Build links through your content, your blogroll and your off-blog promotion to further drive your brand message: Every blogger knows the power of links so you’ll have to be very careful with the links you include in your blogroll. For example, don’t add a celebrity gossip blog link to your leadership blog. If you must link to sites that don’t consistently communicate your brand image, list them separately under different headings such as ‘Just for Fun.’
6. Short term financial monetization damage your brand in the long term : There are a lot of bloggers who want to make money from their blogging efforts, but many blog monetization tactics cand detract from a blog’s brand image. Covering your blog with links, paid ads or paid post is the easiest way to reduce the legitimacy of your blog. The best way to monetize is by using ads minimally and effectively to meet your financial goals without destroying the quality of your brand.
7. Extend your brand to all parts of your online presence: First, your brand image starts online through your blog but after a while it extends to every part of your online presence. Things you have written today could live for a very, very long time so be sure that if you conduct offline activities that refer to your blog ensure those activities communicate your brand image and message as well.
8. Live your brand promise: A long term strategy is the best for branding a blog/site. Executing tactics today will help you reaching the goals in the future. Creating a strong brand presence online can lead to opportunities in the future, which may even carry into offline endeavors. Write down your long term goals. Then determine the brand promise that will help you attain those goals. Next, start living that brand promise in all of your online and offline activities.

Now here comes the question : does your blog effectively communicate your brand? I’m sure after you’ve read this articles, you need to make some changes.