I just walked through Time Square in NYC.
Everywhere I looked I saw evidence of the “B” word.
No, not “Biddulph.”
“Branding.”
Before Biddulph traveled to NYC today he filmed a video in the crib explaining this 1 mistake common to both new and experienced bloggers.
Most bloggers think “How can I get something out of this blog?”
Versus “How can I create a memorable brand?”
As I was walking through Times Square a few minutes ago all I saw was branding. Peep the image above. I saw branding from some of the world’s most recognizable businesses. All famous because the creative and marketing minds behind these businesses crafted clever, impacting and memorable brands.
I saw flashing signs, billboards and street touts playing their roles in the branding game.
Ain’t no way you’re making a global impact unless you build a brand, then a business, and there sure ain’t no way you’re making a huge blogging splash unless you build a brand, then a blog.
My Thinking
A little over 3 years ago I created a blog called Blogging From Paradise. I had outgrown my prior blog and most subsequent cash flow streams associated with the blog.
I pondered the idea of building a blog based on detailing how I lived my life; that is, how I retired to a life of island hopping through smart blogging. More than the blog though, I wanted to create a brand, an umbrella under which I could create:
- a blog
- eBooks
- online courses
- audio books
- a podcast
- videos
- paperbacks
- various consulting services
I had a vision with Blogging From Paradise. Said vision consisted of building a brand first. An idea, a core message, or a concept around which I could blog, create courses, eBooks and other products or services.
No doubt, me appearing on sites like Richard Branson’s Virgin blog, Forbes, Entrepreneur and Fox News was grounded in me diligently building a brand first and foremost. Then I began blogging and adding free and premium products and services to bolster my brand and to expand my online footprint.
Where Most Bloggers Muck Up
Bloggers new and old tend to blog just to make money. Or maybe to get some traffic, to help folks and to find a creative outlet. These vague, oftentimes weak drivers lead to a blog being about as memorable as a pigeon here in NYC. Pigeons are a dime a dozen in New York City, as are bloggers who are in this game to get something out of a blog versus the more cerebral, thoughtful crowd of bloggers who build a memorable, eye-catching brand.
Building a brand and remaining consistent with your brand message across multiple platforms is the easiest way to condition readers and customers and clients to see your brand as a familiar commodity.
My Blogging From Paradise brand can be spotted on:
- Blogging From Paradise Dot Com
- G Plus
- StumbleUpon
- iTunes (both podcast and audio books)
- Amazon
- Sound Cloud
- Selz
- Teachable
- YouTube
- Periscope
- Quora
- Warrior Forum
…in addition to other online channels.
People see the Blogging From Paradise logo grace the cover of each of my 170 plus products on Amazon including eBooks, audio books and paperbacks, in addition to the BFP logos on my Selz and Teachable courses in addition to the BFP logos spotted on my iTunes podcast.
Seeing the Blogging From Paradise brand all over the place familiarizes folks with my brand. Folks familiar with my brand become comfortable with the brand, and my brand is also memorable in their eyes, which of course is an awesome traffic and business builder for me.
Think bigger than blogging.
Think branding.
See yourself more like a brand CEO and less like a blogger.