Branding is more than just a logo – it’s a reflection of you, and your brand is your identity. It should create a feeling so that people recognise your business.
But what if your blog isn’t a business… yet?!
Do bloggers need a brand?
If you’re blogging and promoting it then it’s only a matter of time before you can start to monetise it. I recommend that every blog and website has a logo and branding to go with it, no matter if you’re a small business or a hobbyist with a tonne of knowledge and ideas to share.
Branding is important because if you think and blog in terms of themes, interests, niche, experience and expertise then that’s the first step to creating a brand. It’s something you want to be known for, this quote sums it up beautifully:
“Brands are essentially patterns of familiarity, meaning, fondness, and reassurance that exist in the minds of people.” – Tom Goodwin
What is branding in blogging?
There are three main areas that will benefit from consistent branding:
Website – readers will instantly get a feel for you and what you offer, it helps to build trust and credibility.
Social media – followers will get a sense of brand authenticity if you’re active on socials and will have the opportunity to connect with you on a more personal level.
Newsletter – a great way to share your new blogs directly with people who really want to hear from you.
If these are done well then it will really help to boost you professionally when you’re approached to do campaigns, collaborate, PR opportunities, features, sponsors and networking.
How to build a blog brand in 8 ways
Create a memorable name (don’t get too clever) or just stick with your name, it makes it much easier for people to find you.
Have a simple and clear tagline (and social media bio) about what you do and who you serve.
Choose 3-5 words that you feel drawn to and what you feel represents you – fun, quirky, calm, bold, strong, adventurous, casual, down to earth, fearless, honest, mindful…
Your colour palette should represent you, not what you think your business should look like. If you’re not sure how to choose colours then look around your home, in your wardrobe. Notice any themes or patterns? What do you feel drawn to? Rich and luxurious, bright and airy, fun and colourful, particular shapes or styles.
A logo doesn’t need to be a huge expenses or investment but you do want to find the right person that can create something personal that brings everything together and can design branding and templates for you to use that represent you at a glance.
Get consistent with you fonts and images. Unsplash is a great free resource that you can use, gain choose images that fit with your brand. And please use or get some brand photos of yourself – they make the world of difference!
As a writer you’ll already have a tone of voice and style so make sure your blog topics and keywords relate to your focus and niche as a blogger.
Decide how often you’ll publish your blogs, social media posts and send out newsletters. People like routine and familiarity so commit to getting consistent!
Now that you’ve created a unique brand identity for your blog there are so many ways you can leverage it. In my experience it will give you so much confidence knowing that there is this lovely thread continuity running through everything you do. It takes away the uncertainty and makes everything much easier on a day to day basis when you have a pre-designed email template, social media posts and blog layout.
About me page is one of the most important pages on your website (apart from your blog) so we’ll unpack that in a moment.
Get to know yourself and what makes you different – your values, story, experience, beliefs, mission and vision.
Use social media to share your content and build an audience.
Engage and collaborate with others to grow your reach – guest blogs and podcasts.
Stick to your chosen topics and keep everything relevant to become recognised and renouned for those things.
Make sure everything on your website is clean and clear (designs and layout), and easy to navigate.
How do I write an About Me page?
An ‘About’ page is the perfect page to introduce yourself and share your story and journey – it’s often the hardest pages to write. This page is your chance to connect with people so you can either write it in the first or third person, the latter is a far easier way to approach it and doesn’t feel too cringy and all “I’m so passionate about…blah blah blah”.
Start off by making it reader focused rather than going straight in and talking about yourself.
Sometimes having help from a trusted friend or business connection can make all the difference, they may remind you of things you haven’t included or prompt you to go into more detail at certain points. In your ‘about’ page don’t forget to include links to features and any other project you’d like to share.
Here are some good examples (written by me, of course):
This blog was inspired by a masterclass I did for Emma Bradley’s membership group – which is the most amazing and affordable group for bloggers who are looking for support, paid opportunities and accountability. You can find out more here!