5 steps to developing your blog's branding + voice

you have a personality. it makes you, well, you. there isn't anyone like you. you can't be copied. you have a unique set of goals and ideals that drive your daily dialogue and decisions. right?

the same is true for your brand. 

i think the word 'brand' freaks some people out. is it some kind of mystic marketing voodoo with no real basis in reality? not at all. don't be freaked. your brand is conveyed through your blog, website, business, social media content and overall presentation. your brand, your marketing voice, is what sets you apart from the crowd.

write a brand statement

what is your goal? what do you want people to take away from your business or blog? emotion is key. after addressing the tangible takeaways and benefits, ask yourself this: how do you want people to feel? is your blog meant to promote outrage, questions & discussion? or are you a little more focused on providing a sentimental perspective through your poetry?

ex: the mission of peppermint patty blog is to provide readers with simple, comforting, "down home" recipes in an easy-to-read, light-hearted, aesthetically pleasing format, reminding them that the taste of home is but a click away.

refer to your brand statement in times of uncertainty

it's a tuesday night. you haven't blogged in 2 weeks. you're feeling pretty darn uninspired. sometimes remembering why you started can lead you to back down the path of feeling fired up about your blog. if not, it's nice to remember why you're doing what you're doing - and admitting it's ok to take a break. if you aren't sure if content is right for your blog, or if you should say this or that... return to your brand statement. does it fit in with your ideals?

repeat step 2, again & again. and again

no seriously. this is an ideal i find marketing minded people deviating most from. sure, you may start out with the best of intentions, but what happens when a troll flames your blog, and you fire back immediately calling them something that would make your grandmother blush? and now... your loyal readers are subjected to a keyboard catfight they didn't buy tickets for. is waging comment wars part of your brand? (hey, if you're tucker max or total frat move, maybe it is!) if not, step away.

keep your branding consistent cross-platform

if you're a blogger, your brand needs to be reflected on every aspect of your online self. if you're a hardcore music blogger but sugar sweet and censoring yourself on twitter, people are going to be confused. if necessary, create separate social media accounts for your blog in order to maintain continuity of voice across platforms. your blog is backed by you, unless you write anonymously, and people are only going to follow on other networks if you're consistent in the message you're delivering.

don't cling to a brand that isn't working

people change. blogs change. don't be afraid to abandon a branding that isn't working for you, or simply makes you uncomfortable. if you hate it, trash it. revise your brand statement as you go. this is your mode of self expression, and it should wholesomely reflect the voice you're trying to get out there. don't be afraid to start over. inform everyone of your decision to rebrand, and take it from there.