Chapters
- Why Branding Matters for Blogs
- Quick Tips for Branding Our Blog’s Appearance
- Important Reminders When Branding Our Blog’s Content
- Aligning Our Blog Posts with Our Brand
Looking back, I wish I had started building a brand for my blog from the beginning.
If I had done that (and stayed true to myself), I’m sure I’d be in a completely different place right now. That’s why, moving forward, I’m no longer wasting time or opportunities: Building a brand is my top priority.
It’s actually the main reason Explore to Thrive exists.
Let me explain why it’s important to build a brand for your blog. I’ve also got some really helpful tips and clear examples to show you how to create a strong brand for it.
Why Branding Matters for Blogs
As the blogging world becomes more crowded and AI-generated content floods the internet, bloggers like me are realizing just how important branding is.
Branding helps a blog stand out from the crowd and sets it apart from the noise of AI content. The emotional connection and positive impression a branded blog creates with its readers act like a protective moat, keeping it safe from threats like competition, unstable traffic, or tech disruptions.
I know branding works because I’ve seen plenty of examples on X/Twitter that prove it. One great example is That Fit Friend by Jake Boly.
Even though Google unfairly penalized his blog, his business is still doing well thanks to the loyal community behind his brand. Honestly, he and his brand are incredible.
Quick Tips for Branding Our Blog’s Appearance
When I realized I needed to build a brand for my blog, I got a bit excited.
It felt like my chance to really show my creativity and personality. And indeed, I can’t stress enough how challenging yet fun it was when I started working on it.
Creating the logo, choosing the colors and font—it was all fun because I saw it as creating the visual representation of my mind. I thought, ‘Finally, people can see who I really am without having to explain it over and over again.’
If you take a look, you will notice that I chose different shades of brown and a serif font for my blog. I did this because I picture my mind as an old, treasured book full of stories and wisdom. It also makes perfect sense because I think my personality is like an old soul.
But hey, don’t think I’m old just because of that! I wrote this in my late 20s. Hahaha!
The takeaway here is that when designing the appearance of our blog’s brand, the visual elements should align closely with our personality and true self. This minimizes the likelihood of needing to rebrand in the future, which is something to avoid unless absolutely necessary.
We’re less likely to rebrand because the truth about ourselves doesn’t change.
Important Reminders When Branding Our Blog’s Content:
The appearance of our blogs is just the surface of what our brand is really about.
Let’s remember that our brand is what readers perceive and remember about our blogs. So, just like we need to be true to the appearance of our blog, we also need to stay true to the message we share every time.
Don’t forget: as a blog, the messages we share are what our readers will most likely remember.
To be true to what we share with our readers, we first need to build self-awareness, understand ourselves better, or commit to what we really want to achieve. We can’t be true to others if we’re not true to ourselves first, and any of these three activities are meant to help us do that.
Once we figure out our truth, we make it more specific. Being specific helps us paint a clearer picture of our brand in the minds of our readers. We give them a better understanding of what we’re all about.
This is the time we define our blog’s voice, mission, and values, which will become the core of our brand and the foundation for all our content.
This core foundation is what we want to stick in our readers’ minds, ultimately setting us apart from the competition.
You can think of this ‘core foundation’ like this: if Apple stands out for simplicity and privacy, and Nike is known for empowerment and inclusivity, what about your blog?
If you’re curious about Explore to Thrive’s voice, mission, and values, I can sum it up in 10 words: building a blog in an authentic way to achieve success. Its core foundation? Authenticity and community.
Some people might say, “Just fake it till you make it” to build your blog’s brand. Don’t do it! That’s the wrong approach.
Not only are we being dishonest with our readers, but we’re also forcing ourselves to be something we’re not. In the long run, that will only make things harder.
Aligning Our Blog Posts with Our Brand
Yes, our goal is to create a strong image of our brand in the minds of our readers. Now, the question is, how often should we do this?
The answer is: all the time.
Every time we publish—whether it’s a page or a post—there should be something that reflects our blog’s brand.
Consistency is key, not only because we don’t want to miss the chance to share our passion, values, and work, but also because it shows our dedication, which leaves a great impression on readers.
However, we shouldn’t force it like spamming. We don’t need to say, “Hey, this is our brand. We stand for this, we do that” in every post. That would get annoying for returning readers.
What should we do instead?
We could bring up the branding in a way that’s smooth and natural, so it fits right into the flow of the topic. The goal is for the branding to feel like a natural part of the conversation, not something forced or out of place.
There are lots of ways to work branding into a blog post, but if you’re asking me how, I have three examples:
1. Branding Through Personal Experience
First, we can share a personal experience that gives a hint of the values we stand for.
For example, I could talk about my 3+ years of blogging and use that to emphasize the importance of authenticity, which is a core value I practice for Explore to Thrive.
2. Branding Through Context
The second way is to mention the context behind the blog post. This one of the ways we help readers understand what we’re working toward in the long run—our brand’s vision or mission.
For example, if I’m writing a blog about picking a better affiliate program, my introduction might go something like this:
“Affiliate marketing is a great way to earn money online without relying on brand sponsorships, allowing me to thrive as a blogger in a more authentic way. But when I was looking for an affiliate partner for my travel blog, I ran into a dilemma. Both GetYourGuide and Viator seemed like fantastic options, and I couldn’t decide at first. Eventually, I made my choice, and in this post, I’ll explain why.“
Notice the phrase “allowing me to thrive as a blogger in a more authentic way” — that’s how I naturally introduced my brand to my readers.
3. Branding Through Opinion
My last example is the simplest. It’s as easy as sharing our stance on the topic, showing readers our voice and what we stand for.
Let me give you a specific example:
“I’m still in the process of building my brand as I write this, but in my opinion, bloggers who want to build a brand with their blog shouldn’t find it too hard if they have strong self-awareness and a clear sense of purpose.
Most importantly, authenticity is key to building a brand. It’s a no-brainer.
The most trusted and followed personal brands, personalities, and bloggers are the ones who are honest and stay true to their passions. Marques Brownlee and Jackson Groves of Journey Era instantly come to mind when I think about authenticity.”
Final Thoughts
My final thoughts are actually the last example I just shared with you. But I’ve got a question for you: Do you agree with that too? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
One last thing: branding is something I always check before publishing my blog posts. I make sure I’ve added a touch of my brand, because, you already know, it really matters if we want our blogs to succeed.
That’s why I included it in my 10-step pre-publish checklist, which I think you’ll find super helpful.
It’s perfect if you’re like me, building a brand, aiming to form a community, and turning readers into loyal followers. Check it out!
This post is a resource for Explore to Thrive’s Interactive Pre-Publish Checklist for Blog Posts. Take a look!
Leave a Reply