It is believed that there are approximately 42 million WordPress blogs on the internet (as of 2013)! With more bloggers popping up on the daily, it is imperative that your blog stands out from the pack. Now, with stats like this, you may believe that the odds aren’t forever in your favor. Do not fret! As many blogs that pop up on the scene, there is an equal amount that are abandoned. However, don’t let that happen to your blog!
One way to ensure that your readers will continue to tune into your content is by establishing a tone of voice. Your blog’s tone is its personality. It’s the unique way in which you choose to communicate with your readers. This can be lighthearted and sarcastic (eh, hem), funny, or serious. Your main goal may be to solely educate your readers, or perhaps you are seeking to educate and entertain. You will convey a clear brand once you determine the overall goal for your blog then pair this with your blog’s personality.
You may also want to establish your voice based on the preferences within your industry. For instance, if your blog is centered on finances, you may want to adopt a straight, educational tone. However, you should be cautioned that this is not a rule! There are many successful blogs out there that have been formed by writers who have broken these rules. Yes, some rules are made to be broken! You will find just as many bloggers who write humorously about their financial woes and advice as those who mirror a corporate feel. The choice is up to you; however, you are best suited by establishing a blog that fits your personality, especially if you will be the sole writer. Most importantly, once you find your tone of voice, stick to it. Consistency breeds familiarity, and people will seek out the vibe in which you consistently establish. Your vibe will attract your tribe!
Needs more clarity on this topic? Watch my video (above) with quick tips that you can use to enhance your blog today. Don’t forget to drop a comment or question below.
Are you ready to create an authentic blog that resonates with your audience? If so, you need to know a couple of important facts. Blogging isn’t just about throwing some text onto a page and crossing your fingers. Sorry! Not so fast! It isn’t simply about venting … unless you are going the dear diary route. As a small business owner or personal brand, the way in which you should focusing on blogging is as a way to help establish your credibility.
By establishing a blog, you are letting people in your industry know that you know a thing or two. Through your blog, you should be sharing valuable facts that your audience can use. As you may have seen from full-time bloggers, a blog can open the doors to business deals or introductions.
Now, before you go running off to setup or revisit your own blog space, there are a couple of things you need to know about the blogosphere. First things first, you need to have an authentic blog. Did you really believe that the authentic brand builder herself would let this off the hook?
There are two things you must keep in mind:
First, if you are using a blog for business or personal branding, you need to have a genuine persona. The worst thing you can do is to pretend to be someone else. Eventually, readers will know that your tone of voice, image, and what you have to say isn’t real. You’ll be doing more harm than good if you pretend to be someone or thing that you aren’t.
Second, be different. There are millions of blogs on the net! If you want to catch people’s attention, you will need to be different. How? Just be you. There is no one else like you so leverage that to your advantage. Use your uniqueness to pepper your brand with much needed flava! These crucial, initial tips are outlined in the video above.
For additional tips to take your blog to the next level, check out my other videos. You can also sign up for my course to obtain detailed information on how you can create a beautiful blog that truly resonates with your ideal audience.
I interviewed Krystel S., the blogger behind ArmyWife101, on my weekly Blab Show RAW BRANDED® TV. Krystel was amazingly generous in sharing her formula for pitching to larger brands. These pitches are the blueprint for connecting with bigger brands to promote their product and for bloggers to receive compensation for these efforts. The video highlights are featured above; however the full episode is included further below this post. In addition to Krystel, a few savvy Blabbers, including @TonyLBrownHQ @JimZiegler and @renewalof40, shared their expert advice on how to collaborate with bigger brands.
A few of Krystel’s key takeaways are:
Make sure you have solid content on your blog. Bigger brands will get a sense of the value you provide to visitors/followers.
Consistency is key. Publish content on your blog/vlog at the same designated time that you’ve committed to. Bigger brands will see that you are active and serious about your craft.
Provide solid brand aesthetics. Your website is your first impression. Make sure it is current and not overwhelming to the bigger brands that are reviewing your site.
If you build a blog/vlog, it doesn’t mean that visitors will magically come! Tweet, share, post, etc. your content on social networks to distribute your content to the masses.
Focus on what you can do for the bigger brands (sharing information about their product to your audience). Show your value.
Make sure you give your all during the first opportunity in which you work with a bigger brand. It may lead to other offers.
I also encourage you not to shortchange yourself! Yes, I have been guilty of committing this crime with a former blog. Krystel and I both noted that you may sometimes need to giveaway content for free in order to make that initial connection with a bigger brand. Just don’t give away all your digital influence for free!
On a separate note, it’s okay to negotiate when working with bigger brands. However, remember that you are trying to build a long-lasting relationship with them. It is a delicate balance. You shouln’t approach them too aggressively, but you should always be mindful of your worth.
Remember not to lose track of your audience. Your followers have stuck with you because you’ve earned their trust. Don’t promote a brand’s products that you don’t believe in, as you’ll be at risk of losing those followers you’ve worked so hard to acquire.
Also, Krystel flagged the competitive market that is blogging. There are endless fashion bloggers, chefs, and the like, but have no fear. You can still make your mark by being unique. Once again, be your authentic self, since there is no one like you. In other words, you should always remain RAW BRANDED®!
Fun fact: Throughout this lengthy interview, the sun set; hence the lighting changed, and I went ghost! Watch, take notes, and enjoy!
Spread the love: Tweet all about this and other episodes using #RAWBRANDEDTV.
I hosted a Blab on identifying and connecting with your target audience. Several, savvy business experts joined to lend some insight into their marketing strategies. Thank you to the approximately 257 live viewers! Here are a few key takeaways:
1. Niching down is essential.
2. Go where your audience resides.
3. If you build it, sometimes they really do come.
4. When getting to the next level of your biz, it’s okay to seek help.
5. As an entrepreneur, you must learn to embrace fear … It may mean that you’re on the cusp of something good!
Guess what else we learned? Blogging is not dead! Watch as two bloggers who are killing it give a taste of their secret sauce.
You can view all the comments and get a better sense of this interface by visiting my blab page.
I share five tips to help your target audience care about your brand. One of my essential tips is to make sure that you have a solid product. Without this ingredient, all of your marketing efforts will be in vain. Watch as I explain this further … and please take notes. Class is in session! If you’re still trying to identify your target audience, check out my previous post.
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