For most people, when they start a blog or business one of the last things on their mind is crafting their brand. However, have you ever stopped to think about how beneficial it could be to work on something like that from the beginning? Well, okay, maybe you have, but you’re looking at your screen thinking, “Yeah, I know about branding, but I have no idea where to even start.” So, today I’m sharing three simple steps to help you start your business or blog with a defined brand!
Start with what you’re doing and why You’ve seen all of those blog posts about your target audience / market, right? How you need to have that in place before you go too far. That you need to think about your ideal client, your dream client? I totally realize that when you’re first getting started, you may not really care about that. You’re probably just wondering how to gain ideas for blog posts or where to find your next client. Thinking about what you’re actually doing and why will help you with both of those things.
Did you start your blog to encourage other people? Are you blogging as a much needed creative outlet, since you don’t find that in your job? Did you start your business because you want to help women feel better about themselves? Are you helping people start their own business and help them pursue their own dreams? Knowing these things will help you begin to consider who to target your blog or business to, and let them know how you can best help them. If you’re a blogger, knowing what exactly you’re doing with your blog can definitely help with coming up with post ideas.
Create your logo This is a no brainer, right? You probably think of a logo when you hear the word ‘branding’. When you’re just starting a blog, this doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be made by a professional. (Though I do firmly believe when you invest money into something, you’re much more likely to follow through with it.)
If you’re starting a business this is a little bit different. Take the time and make the investment to work with a designer. It can really change how you come across to people within your first months of business. Your logo doesn’t have to be something that you’ll use forever; heck, some people don’t even stick to their name forever, so work on creating something that speaks to you, your brand, and your customers. Tweak as you need to.
Develop your message Have you ever thought about the words you’re putting out into the world? Maybe, maybe not. Everything that you put online (images, videos, words, all of it) influences what people think of both you and your brand. This reason alone is why you should take some extra time to consider your message and what you put out into the world. This goes back to why you started. If you want to be a source of positivity and encouragement, angry tweeting or complaints on Facebook might not be the best way to do that. Similarly, if you want to help women feel comfortable in their own skin, don’t body shame other women (celebrities included) on your sites.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Creating a well-defined brand can bring you more readers, customers, and connections.” quote=”Creating a well-defined brand can bring you more readers, customers, and connections.”]
Crafting a well-defined brand may seem tough, and it does take time, but when it comes down to it, you’re getting to the root of your brand and creating an identity and presence that will bring you more readers, customers, and connections that you may have if you’re sort of all over the place.
If you’re looking for help to create your own well-defined brand, I’ve got some good news for you! Brand Catalyst is the ecourse where you can find and do just that. Registration opens before the end of the year, so be sure to sign up so that you’re the first to know when this opportunity comes around.