Using A Blog To Build Your Brand – 5 Tips For Blogging Success

January 6, 2013 by Frederika Angus 1 Comment

Using A Blog To Build Your Brand – 5 Tips For Blogging Success

by Frederika Angus

Blogging these days is about as popular as smartphones; nearly everyone has one. And if you aren’t currently writing a blog, it’s likely that you’ve started one and quit writing in the past, you read someone else’s blog regularly, or you have an idea to start one.

Using a blog is one of the most effective ways to share your creativity, inspiration, and message quickly with those it will resonate with. It is also a great tool to use to brand yourself, share your expertise and build a business around. If you’re just staring out with blogging or looking for help to blog successfully, here are a few tips that will help.

1- Be You!

Authenticity is a critical point to branding, building a business and life in general. The popular phrase “Fake it til you make it” does not work well in the blogging world. People are naturally more suspicious of things that sound to good to be be true. No wants you to be perfect. Being perfect is a myth. Being the real, genuine, best you on your blog will results in building a brand that doesn’t feel like a production. Your blog will become the natural extension of who you are.

2- Be Positive!

When building a brand, save the drama. People may enjoy and laugh and agree with you for a while, but do you want your internet lasting legacy to be one of negativity? Think about the books, tv shows, and friends you enjoy and like to regularly read, watch and be around. If you’re like me, it’s very likely that negativity is draining and you much prefer the positive inspiration to constant negative news. Create that same culture for your brand through your blog.

3- Be Consistent!

Show up and write regularly. Attention spans tend to be short so if you don’t show up, you will quickly be forgotten. Bring your brand to the top of mind for your followers consistently. Once you determine your routine, this will be easy!

4- Be Focused!

Before you start, decide what exactly you will be blogging about. Try not to shift and jump around. For instance, if I talking about branding then jump into discussing makeup and fashion, that will create a disconnect between the topics and with my followers. Decide your focus and the topics you will discuss on your blog. When people arrive at your blog it should be clear what you are about and the type of information they will receive.

5- Be Diverse!

Everyone doesn’t like to read blogs in the same fashion. Some may like to go directly to your website, while others prefer to read them directly from their email. Other’s may happen upon your blog from the many social media outlets you post on. Be sure to provide your blog content in diverse ways. Being able to stay connected with your followers in the method they prefer most, will be beneficial in growing your following and spreading your message through blogging!

I hope you enjoy these tips!

Post below if you have any questions or to just let me know how these tips help you out!

Talk to you soon!

Filed Under: Branding, Wordpress Website Tagged With: basic of build a blog, blog tips for beginners, blogging for business, blogging for profit, branding, business branding, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, expert branding, how to blog, personal branding, small business, Small business branding, wordpress for blogging

The Power of Belief For Your Brand Growth and Profitable Business Success

February 9, 2012 by Frederika Angus Leave a Comment

The Power of Belief For Your Brand Growth and Profitable Business Success

by Frederika Angus

“If you believe you can, you probably can. If you believe you won’t, you most assuredly won’t. Belief is the ignition switch that gets you off the launching pad.” Denis Waitley

Businesses are built and grow based on your belief. Oftentimes people tell me that they would love to be a business owner. Being able to do work that you love and have a passion for, determining your schedule for greater freedom and flexibility, and having the ability to create a legacy and wealth for your future is appealing. Unfortunately, the next thing they say starts with a big BUT.

“But I just don’t think I am cut out to be an entrepreneur.” “But I don’t have the time.” “But I don’t think that this idea will work.”

Today I want to encourage you to Change Your BUT! I am not just talking about reciting some affirmations over and over again. I am talking about changing your mindset about what you believe is possible for you and your business.

Credible personal and expert branding is supported with your belief. If you know that you are an expert in your industry as a fashion stylist, chef, makeup artist, software developer, business strategist, whatever you have skill in, you will be treated and compensated as such.

As William James said “Belief creates the actual fact.” What facts are you creating in the marketplace for your brand based on your belief?

You see branding is more than design element or a necessary part of your overall marketing strategy. The power of branding lies in the mind. It is rooted in the perception that people have about you and your business. As the face of your company, you have the opportunity to shape that belief for your clients and customers by what it is you believe for yourself and the value your business has.

Start this process by asking and answering these 3 questions.

What does your ideal client currently believe about you and your business? All brand strategies should begin with a clear idea of how you are being seen in the marketplace. Your client’s perception of you produces their reality and it is important in the development of a brand message.
What do you believe about you/your business? If what you believe and what your customers believe to be true about you are not in agreement, your branding efforts have a huge disconnect. This is usually the point a brand strategy experts should be brought in to create or transform the brand message.
What do you want people to believe about you and your company? Brainstorm the ideas that you want to leave people with. Every word that people read about you, every visual element they see, the voice and tone of every message, should reflect who you are and what you stand for.

How you and your clients perceive your business will make an impact in the expansion, growth and overall success of your branding efforts. “Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy.” Tony Robbins. Be mindful of your thoughts and the power they have on your brand.

Talk to you soon!

Filed Under: Branding Tagged With: branding, business, business branding, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, expert branding, personal branding, Small business branding

Is it Better to Use Your Business Logo or a Picture of Yourself on Social Media?

February 6, 2012 by Frederika Angus 3 Comments

Is it Better to Use Your Business Logo or a Picture of Yourself on Social Media?

by Frederika Angus

Last week, I met one of my new twitter followers by accident.

On social media, I am determined to be authentic and to be my best me all the time. I make sure that I share valuable information about business and always sprinkle my personality in. I even share personable details about myself and my life without crossing the line to being way too personal.

Most, if not all, of my followers know from my tweets I am a HUGE sports enthusiast. Our kids have played sports since they were big enough to walk. We also have season tickets to both our local NFL and NBA teams While out at a Charlotte Bobcats game with the family, apparently I was really into the music they were playing. (Music is another of my loves!) The cameraman thought that it would a great opportunity to put me on the big screen for the enjoyment of thousands. You know to hype up the rest of the crowd!

[Bobcat player Reggie Williams signing autographs before the game]

I didn’t think much of it then but as we were preparing to head out with the rest of the crowd, someone tapped me on the shoulder.

“I would recognize you anywhere. You’re Frederika, from twitter,” she said. “Seeing at you on the JumbTron is just like seeing your picture when you tweet!”

She continued to share how she appreciated the content I shared on Twitter and was glad that she could meet me in person. It was as if we already knew each other just from our interaction on social media.

If you desire expert branding, being the face of your business and connecting with your clients (and your potential customers) in a memorable way, your profile picture needs to be of you. Steve Jobs was masterful at being the face of Apple and by doing so not only created loyal brand enthusiast but built a significant legacy for years to come.

Achieving the same is possible for you and made easy through social media. Using social media to brand and position yourself puts you on the same playing field as the big guys, quickly with minimal cost. That is where your customers hang out, search and digest the majority of their information. Putting a clear, professional headshot up as your profile picture makes a big difference in the level of connection and relationship you develop with your clients. Unless you are already have household brand recognition through your logo, becoming the face your brand is the best way to elevate your brand and expand your business to the next level.

Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. I love hearing from you.

Talk to you soon,

Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: branding, entrepreneurship, expert branding, logo, small business, social media, twitter, twitter for business