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Here’s another one about blogging cottage lovers!
Yesterday I covered a few points about the behind the scenes stuff you need to know to start your blog, so today I want to talk about whats next.
Niche - The idea of your blog
Brand – The feeling of your blog
Target market – The readers of your blog
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I am assuming you already have an idea of what you want to blog about.
But do you know your niche?
I started my blog before I thought about this, but I quickly realised that if I wanted readers, I needed to know. (Note to self, this is a very important step!) All it entails is to organise all of your ideas into one big idea. This is the fun part – Sit down with a cuppa and jot down a list of all the things you want to write about, it needs to be as clear as day in your mind because this is what you will be raving, answering questions, and spending hours creating content about. So you really do need to be in love with it. Pick the theme that stands out from all those ideas and that is your niche. It may be renovating, photography, farming, whatever it is you are passionate enough about, to go to all the trouble of putting it ‘out there’. One important point to take into consideration is how saturated your niche market is. For more on this have a look at some advice from blogadvice.info.
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Now you have your niche, the next step is to work out your brand. While sitting there with your cuppa, write a list of 5 words you want your readers to feel about your blog. Is your blog fun or serious? Is it trustworthy? Knowledgable? Professional or relaxed? These feelings create your brand. Watch this video by Alex Beadon for a really great explaination. I wish I had seen it before I started on the road to blogdom.
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The next step is figuring out who you will talk to about your ideas. That person is called your target market. Your niche, brand and target market all work together to help you create your online presence. Are you a mummy blogger talking to other mums? Are you an amature photographer talking to other wanna-be photographers? Like these, some target markets will be obvious. If not you can work out your target market by researching your niche. Look at other blogs in your niche, what do the readers of those blogs look like? Are they mostly men or women? How old are they? Where do they live, locally or overseas? Answer these questions and you will have found your target market and you will be writing your content for them. Another benefit of doing this legwork is that you will have a peek into what your competition looks like.
Marketing tip - you dont want to look like them, you want to offer something different. This is called your ‘point of difference’. What can you offer your readers that will be different to the rest and will keep them coming back for more? Find the answer to that and you will be on the right road.
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Now you have your niche, brand and your target market you can begin to create a ‘look’ for your blog. The look of your blog needs to bring all of those important pieces of information to life and say something clear about your personality. Your unique look or brand needs to permeate throughout your whole online presence – Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, emails, etc. It could be as simple as using an original photo in your header or depending on your budget, could be as big as the whole design of your blog. Just take a look at these blogging big guns to see what I mean…
The look of your blog is more important than you think. If it doesnt reflect the brand of your blog it could all come unstuck, so spend some real time researching and applying what I have been saying in this post. It will be time worth spent! You wont have to go back to the drawing board like I did, and will save you time in the end. Using unique and original material will set you apart and save any issues with copyright.
If you dont have pots of money but are good with design, a cheaper option would be to use the sevices of a HTML writer to bring your own web designs to life. Otherwise you can do it yourself with a ready made template, but unless you are well versed in HTML I wouldn’t suggest it. Especially for WordPress as it can crash easily and is very sensitive. I know because I have done it!!!! (I chose this road because of my budget, but in hindesight I wouldn’t do it again.) The other option is to have a professional do it for you, but this can be expensive so if you decide to go this way, look around, get a few quotes and look at their work before you part with your hard earned money. I can’t stress it enough, do your research.
Happy blogging!
Please let me know if you find this post helpful.
Did you have to go back to the drawing board like me when creating something new or were you super organised?
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
This is a beautiful blog you have going, packed with great advice. Thank you!
Thanks Cherie!
Hello, very professional high level blog! thank you for sharing. Because of good writing, and I learned a lot, and I am glad to see such a beautiful thing. Sorry for my bad English. ?
I love this post Claudia – and thanks for using my blog as an example. I’ve been blogging 4 years and this is Styling You’s 3rd “look”. I think the only thing I’d therefore add is don’t be afraid to change your brand if it’s evolved into something it wasn’t at the start. That’s the beauty of blogging – your blog’s content and look can morph with you!
I am so flattered that you liked my post Nikki. I still have work to do here on my little space, but I started with absolutely NO budget and learned to do it myself as I went. Hense the insight into what not to do lol! When I have a budget I will certainly be morphing into something more in keeping with my brand
Hi, it was so nice to meet you at the NNB2012 drinks (I am the one who gate-crashed your convo with Mez and Mandy). I love all the tips in this post. My head is swimming with all the things I need to do with my blog, but I just gotta take it one step at a time. I’ll definitely be coming back here for more words of wisdom.
Hi Kylie, I remember you beautiful lady. Blogopolis was fantastic wasn’t it? I particularly liked the session about branding. I’m so glad you stopped by. C
Again extremely helpful and motivating. I am right at this stage so agin a great read and great tips. Thanks x
Hi Kate, you are welcome. Thanks for stopping by again. PLEASE let me know how it goes for you. C
Claudia,
This is a BRILLIANT post and one that I really enjoyed reading. I have a bit of an obsession with branding, and you’ve hit the nail on the head with this post. I especially love the part where you talk about,
“Another benefit of doing this legwork is that you will have a peek into what your competition looks like. Marketing tip – you dont want to look like them, you want to offer something different. This is called your ‘point of difference’. What can you offer your readers that will be different to the rest and will keep them coming back for more? Find the answer to that and you will be on the right road.”
Spot on! This is so important and something that we all forget when trying to live up to the standards of our favourite blogs and competition, we want to be just like them because we feel that if they’re doing it it must be right to do it that way and only that way. But that is so wrong and we need to always do our best to create our brand in a different, unique, authentic way.
Keep up the fabulous posting and thank you so much for mentioning my video here
Big hugs
xoxo
Hi Alex, in all honesty I am a little bit star struck! I am so pleased you liked my post, and I have to say you are such an inspiration to me. I love your work and your positive attitude. Big hugs right back at ya!!
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