In our first installment of Glam Latte’s Blog School, I talked all about the business of blogging and gave some insight on what it really means to turn your blog into a business.
The next thing I wanted to discuss is creating a brand identity. This is an important step into setting yourself apart from the thousands of other blogs that are out there.
1. What is your blog about? This sounds a little obvious, but it’s easy to start a blog and really not have a clear focus. When starting as a business, focus is important. Choose one thing to put all of your energy toward and then grow from there. When I started I was strictly a fashion blog. Once I had been doing that several years, I decided to branch off into other things like beauty and lifestyle. But be warned: the more verticals you include, the more work you are giving yourself. A fashion blogger has a lot less work than I do because they are strictly focused on fashion. I, on the other hand, have to create beauty looks, review products style room makeovers, film videos and create travel guides. etc. Having your hand in too many pots can hurt you in many ways, especially when starting out (and to be honest, my work load is so intense, I often ask myself what I got myself into!)
2. Choose a name: This is another one that seems obvious, but so often I see blogs go through a ‘re-branding’ several years in because they no longer like the name they chose. I think this ultimately can hurt you, but is necessary if the name no longer fits the vision. This is why I can’t stress enough, how important it is to take your time with this process, rather than slapping something together for the heck of it. I have had the same blog name since I started in 2009, because I really thought long and hard about what I was trying to get across and also the staying power it would have. Tip: When choosing your name, make sure you google search to make sure there are no other blogs already with that name. The last thing you want is to be confused with someone else. Remember this is about creating your own identity and standing out!
2. What is your brand aesthetic? What look and feel do you want your site to have? Are you into dark and moody? Bright and happy? Minimalist? You also need to decide on a color scheme. These are questions you really need to ask yourself in the beginning. This will make it easier when choosing a template and creating a logo (more on that in a minute.) You may like all of those options, but I recommend choosing one so you have a clear brand identity. For example, if you decide to go minimalist, having a black and white color scheme makes the most sense.
3. Decide on a brand logo: The most important element of brand identity is your logo. This essentially IS your brand. You want to choose something that stands out so when people see it, they immediately associate it with you. The best approach in my opinion, is to really brainstorm your ideas, then sit down with a graphic designer and collaborate on the project. If you already have a clear idea in your head, you can communicate it with them and have them execute it.
Now you may be thinking that hiring a graphic designer is out of your budget, and I can certainly understand that. But just know, that in order to be taken seriously, you need a professional looking logo that speaks to your brand. So whether you whip it up yourself on photoshop or outsource, the look and feel is the most important thing.
I hope these tips help you when creating a brand identity! Next up we will be talking some tech aspects of getting started. If you have any specific questions I haven’t answered leave them in the comments below!
XO,
