Starting a business or blog can be intimidating, particularly because it seems that so many people are already out there doing it (and probably exactly what you want to do). However, one thing that I tell my constultees (and people who talk to me about starting a blog/business) is that yes, you should go after what you want to do, even if a ton of people are already doing it. Why? Well, because each person has their own unique experiences and voice. But, this post isn’t about finally starting that beauty and fashion blog you’ve been dreaming about (though I’m here to tell you that, yes, you should finally do it).

Instead, I’m talking about those moments after you decide to start a blog / business, and not just right after but those moments along your journey. One thing you have to think about while on that journey is your branding. Often times people think of branding as the name of something, or just a logo, but it goes deeper than that. So today I’m sharing a few things to think about when you begin to craft your branding, which can work for either a blog or a business.

Your name + logo

Yes, obviously I’m starting with this one. Some people agonize over a name and others can immediately think of something and go with it. Regardless of which of those you are, it’s important to think about the name and then the logo. The name of your blog / business doesn’t have to be super deep, in fact you can go with your own name (many of us do!). If you are going for something different, give yourself time to come up with something that has meaning to you. Then think about a logo. You can make one, you can get a premade logo on Etsy, or you can work with a designer to get one made. This all depends on where you’re at in your journey and your budget. It’s okay to start out premade and then work with a designer later down the road. Ultimately, you just have to find something that suits you and your name.

[clickToTweet tweet=”These 3 elements are key when crafting your brand” quote=”These 3 elements are key when crafting your brand”]

Who you are, what you really do

This is where you get deeper into what you’re doing. Don’t just look on the surface of your blog / business, really analyze who you are, what you’re doing, who you’re targeting, and more. Here are a few questions I ask my consultees along this line:

• What do you do?
• Who is your ideal client / reader?
• Where would you like to be next year?

When we ask ourselves questions like these, they force us to really dig deep on our brand. Analyzing your answers to these types of questions can help you see maybe what you’re doing wrong and right, what goals you should set, and what things you should prioritize. Also, these are really just the tip of the iceberg. Go deeper, ask “Why do I do what I do? Who do I enjoy helping the most? What do I enjoy doing the most?” Thinking about these things will begin to bring clarity to your branding, which may shape your name, logo, voice, and more.

Your voice

This is one that loads of people struggle with, I know. It can be difficult to find your voice in writing posts, service descriptions, or even to clients; however, the more you do the better you get, right? Translating your talking voice (and personality) to writing is tough, but don’t let that keep you from considering where your voice plays into your branding. Are you going to be playful in the way you talk? Are you going to be super straight forward and to the point? Your voice plays a huge role in your branding, so it’s important to think about how you want to “come off” in your words. Personally, I try to write exactly the way I talk, which is why there are some elongated words or italics in my posts and newsletter emails.