Over the past few months I’ve been doing a lot of research
for my thesis on personal branding. It got me thinking about how important our
personal brands are for our blogs, and what was the best way to showcase them.
The first step to rocking your personal brand is figuring
out what exactly it is. Put simply, your personal brand encompasses your
values, interests and everything about you that a person would want to know. As
bloggers we share so much of ourselves on the Internet that we open ourselves
up to a lot of criticism and comparison. When that happens we can lose
ourselves in the whirlwind of building our self-esteem and grappling for those all-important
likes and comments.
Suddenly, the focus shifts to who we want to be, and what we
want our audience to think of us rather than who we actually are. Taking time
to reconnect with the core elements that give your blog it’s “you-ness” (nope
it’s not a real word but it definitely should be) not only makes for more
engaging content, but will also make you happier in the long run.
Have integrity
Have integrity
Now this is a bit of a controversial one, but also one that
needs to be said. Part of rocking your personal brand is staying true to yourself and your blog offering. I’m all for sponsored content and I believe
when done right bloggers and brands can have a mutually beneficial
relationship. This is the kind of relationship that has the power to connect an
audience with a brand that resonates with them and rewards the facilitator for
making it possible.
What I don’t believe in is accepting a sponsored post about
the latest cat food, if you write a travel blog and hate cats (they’re growing
on me though…). Money is tempting, yes, but once you lose your reader’s trust
it’s incredibly difficult to get it back. Trust is worth way more than money.
Don’t make it all about you
Rocking your personal brand is about more than just talking
about yourself all the time. What inspires you? What advice can you offer your
readers? Do you engage with your audience? These are all things that can
enhance your personal brand. They give an insight into who you are without the me,
myself and I aspect!
Lastly, the most important thing you can do for your
personal brand is to have fun with it. There are so many bloggers out there now
that there really is room to do anything. Just because it hasn’t been done
before doesn’t mean it wont work and hey, who better than you to do it?
What about you?
What do you think bloggers can do to rock their personal brand? Is there
anything I’ve missed out? Let me know!
