12 More Blog Branding Tips + Action Plan

This week I've been giving you some tips on how to find a good name for your blog, because until you've found that, your account profiles on various sites won't be as laser focused and memorable. I gave you 10 tips for brainstorming creative brand names, and then some tips for tag lines. Here are 13 more branding ideas:

Check your client testimonials and find common words or themes – this will reveal how your clients "see" you. Focus on benefit statements. What words keep coming up?
Once you identify the words your clients are repeatedly using to 'thank you' or 'solve their problems,' check out each word at www.visualthesaurus.com for another way of saying the same thing. Use these "hot client" words and sentiments in building your sales copy, websites and blogs to reinforce your brand.
Identify all the activities you enjoy doing outside your business. How does this create an identity for you? How can this help you discover a clever and unique brand name?

4. How many ways have you established yourself as an expert in your field? How can this help you find a branding name? Put a checkmark next to each activity you're presently engaged in:

            Blogging _______
            Tweeting________
            Writing articles weekly_____
            Doing interviews in the media 1 to 2 times a month______
            Getting client testimonials with pictures, audio, or video _________
            Surveying your clients to how they "see" you and your business brand_____
            Conducting teleseminars on a regular basis _______

5. Identify three brands you admire. Write down all the reasons why you admire them. Then look more closely at your personal brand to see how you can incorporate those "admirable" pieces into your business.

Think back to the last small purchase you made, even if it was a gourmet cup of coffee. Think back to the last large purchase you made. What was the "driving benefit(s)" for you that motivated you to spend your hard-earned money? Identify the values you admire most and use them to help you find a unique brand that's value-based.

6. Do a Google search for your keywords to find out how others are branding themselves. Use other people’s names and brands to inspire you to find better, more unique names.

7. Monitor your branding results by doing Google searches with quotations around your brand name. The more your name comes up in search results, the better your branding reach. You need to extend your brand online by blogging, writing and submitting articles to article directories, post book reviews on Amazon.com and other book review sites, comment on other blogs, participate in discussion forums.

8. Set up Google Alerts for keywords in your field. This will help you monitor your competitors’ sites and keep you informed of what’s going on in your field. It will also make you aware of other brands and inspire you to create even better names for products and services.

9. Extend your brand throughout the Web. Join social networking sites like Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook, Squidoo and many others. Use these sites to promote a consistent professional profile of who you are and what you stand for.

10. Be consistent. Always identify yourself the same way: on your business card, your email signature, blog comments, author resource boxes, etc.

11. Review your visual materials. Are they consistent with the brand you are establishing? What does your photo say about you? What do the colors and other graphic images on your website, blog, or business card say about you and your business? Ask trusted clients or colleagues to give you an honest assessment of their reaction to the "look" of your brand.

12. Get a professional headshot. Don't use a photo that a friend took with their cell phone camera or a web cam shot, or on vacation. It looks bad and reflects poorly on you as a professional. Make sure it's a recent photo.

Action Plan Wrap-Up

Persistently building a well-branded online identity will pay off many times over. If you take it step by step, within 6 to 12 months you can have a page of quality Google search results that will lead visitors to take the next step to get to know you. Create a manageable action plan for publishing content on and off the Web.

Example Action Plan

Start blogging 2-3 times per week (after a while, get it up to 3-5 times a week for extra marketing power)
Write and submit one article to directories every month (re-purpose blog posts)
Comment on other relevant blogs at least once per week
Start building up a marketing list through digital downloads and e-newsletters
Set up a profile on one social networking site each month (pick 4-6 sites), actively participate on one or two every week
Create joint venture projects 2-3 times per year
Teach one teleclass per month (if you aren't doing your own yet, then buddy up with partners and offer to do free classes. It will help build your own list, and create awareness for who you are and what you can do for people)

Too much? I can assure you it isn't once you get into the swing of it. Even if you're a solo professional like I am, you can do this. Of course it's better to partner up as long as you have the right partner and your goals are the same.

Mostly, it's a question of starting and getting into action. Think things through, but get started. You'll learn a lot as you go. Better to be building your brand while you learn than not to get started at all. I may have made mistakes along the way, but I've learned so much and I've learned to persist.

We're not all going to be Copybloggers or Probloggers, but don't let your itty biz stay "itty". Get big, get branded, get into action.