Branding 101: How to Promote Your Blog (or Yourself) Like the Big Guys Do

BusyWoman Says:

November 6th, 2008, 17:53 pm

Thanks for this article. It is very reassuring. Because I have been writing for a while now with the same message ‘live simply, live joyfully, follow the old paths they are tried and true’, I sometimes feel that I am constantly repeating myself. Your article has reaffirmed the importance of consistently repeating your message.

BusyWoman in Australia.

Trevor Says:

November 6th, 2008, 18:04 pm

Nice article. I like it a lot.

Every blog I go to have their own special message and they keep repeating it. I always thought that was smart because you read a blog to learn and if you learn every blog’s “special” lesson, eventually, you’ll have more knowledge than people who don’t read that many blogs.

Nothing against people that don’t read blogs, it’s just that blog owners should know that there is nothing worng with repeating their message across multiple times.

Valeria | TimelessLessons Says:

November 6th, 2008, 18:43 pm

This list is appreciated. Blog promotion is a job in itself, especially when you’re passionate about the ideas and info shared through a blog and, at the same time, your “work” is writing and speaking offline (or whatever you do to put dinner on the table).

This post has enough ideas to keep me going for some time now. Thanks a lot Leo.

Success Professor - Danny Gamache Says:

November 6th, 2008, 18:56 pm

Great post Leo. Thank you for sharing it here also. The idea of being consistent in your marketing is important. In the world of marketing they call this “Integrated Marketing Communications”. It is so obvious, and yet so many people miss out on it.

I just recently completed my second month of serious blogging. I wrote an article about what I learned. Naturally I mentioned you in it… you have been such an inspiration.

The article is here: http://successprofessor.ca/2008/10/28/lessons-from-my-first-two-months-of-blogging/

Simple Sapien Says:

November 6th, 2008, 19:26 pm

Leo,

Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and knowledge with us. It is nice to hear it from someone who is actually successful and has actually developed a strong brand. The same words from a new blogger, though useful, would not impact as much as they have coming from you.

It is so true what you say about consistency. No matter where you presence is on the web, it must always stay consistent to support your core message.

When you started Zen Habits, did you ever imagine it becoming as big and widely read as it it today? When did you create it?

- Jack Rugile
Simple Sapien

* Tried to post a comment on the original article, but I received an error.

Stephen - Balanced Existence Says:

November 6th, 2008, 20:13 pm

Thanks for the link Leo. It’s always interesting and enlightening to read about how those who have gone before managed to do what they did.

As a blogger I thank you for sharing.

Stephen

Kim McGinnis Says:

November 6th, 2008, 21:35 pm

Leo,
What an excellent post. As an entrepreneur with 11 websites, I couldn’t agree more. The web surfer is a very savvy customer - they respect big juicy content that they can sink their teeth into.

And at the same time, they are built (as all we humans are) with an eye for the catchy or attractive - they can be lead by color and style or a snappy slogan.

People are thirsty and hungry for quality material, products, and services. But they don’t want it shoved down their throats. They prefer it dished out with a shiny spoon, and poured from a shiny aluminum container. (at least I would)…

Leo Says:

November 6th, 2008, 21:37 pm

Thanks for the comments everyone!

@Simple Sapien: Did I imagine Zen Habits becoming as big and widely read as it is today? Not at all! It was a simple experiment to emulate some of my favorite blogs (Lifehacker and Get Rich Slowly among others) while sharing with others what I’d been learning. I started in January 2007.

I hoped to gain a wider audience, but I never imagined it would take off so quickly. As I gained a few readers and got a lot of encouragement, I began to work harder at branding, and wrote a ton of guest posts and started freelancing everywhere. That really helped, and it took a lot of work.

It’s really taken off since then, and I’ve learned a bit about what worked and what didn’t. I should write a post about what didn’t work so well. :)

Anyway, I’m still surprised every day that I have so many wonderful readers, and I’m grateful for this gift. I know that I’m lucky, and I’ve surpassed my wildest dreams for Zen Habits.

So thank you to all of you!

Farmwife Says:

November 7th, 2008, 1:48 am

LOL. I’m not sure what my brand is …. I’ve posted on everything from how to artificially inseminate a goat to raising baby chicks, and hanging up laundry. Throw in a few political posts, and it’s a hodgepodge ;-)

Certainly good advice for those wanting to make a living or make a name for themselves in the cyberworld. Some of us just plod along and are honestly amazed that anyone wants to read us at all!

Giyen (Bacon Is My Enemy) Says:

November 7th, 2008, 2:39 am

Leo,
I have read your blog for the past six months and it’s been really helpful in life and in work. I am still working through getting myself out of debt and figuring out what exactly I want to do with my life, but I have made progress towards both those goals. Tiny revolutions.

Thanks for all of your great advice and please DO write that article about what “doesn’t” work. I think it would be insightful.

Thanks!
Giyen

Jamie Mitchell Says:

November 7th, 2008, 6:37 am

I would like to give a nice example of a person that is a brand in himself (in the web design world) and that is Cameron Moll, if you look at some of his work like Mobile Web Design and Authentic Jobs and then look at his personal site and business cards, you will see straight away his ‘brand’ or identity.

godspeed

Lee Ann/Living Introverted Says:

November 7th, 2008, 7:33 am

You know, these are all very common sense tips, but worth hearing (reading) again and again. I’ve got these printed so I can look at them often. When we internalize them and act on them, we make forward movement, step by step.

I love your blog and always find it helpful, insightful and refreshing.

Thanks!

Anbusivam Says:

November 7th, 2008, 9:07 am

Leo,
Nice post, something that I needed at this moment. I used to think that beating my own drum is not a good practice. But yeah, as you said nothing is wrong in really promoting ourselves if we offer some value to our friends and readers. Thanks for this post on blog branding.

- Anbusivam

dr aletta Says:

November 7th, 2008, 21:08 pm

Leo,

This post validated some of what I do and taught me what I could do better. If you do a followup, please say more about how to go about obtaining those ‘most important’ guest blogger gigs. Thanks for being so generous and encouraging.

gazzali Says:

November 7th, 2008, 23:49 pm

Good points Leo

Yes it is vital to promote your self and your blog to get to the readers.

regards

Takumi86 Says:

November 8th, 2008, 11:45 am

thanks for the link, SEO technique nowadays are the thing that most people are looking for

Vincent Says:

November 8th, 2008, 12:03 pm

I love your post over http://www.writetodone.com It is a great post and many of the tips are really practical and useful for promoting our blogs.

Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger

Rahul Says:

November 8th, 2008, 16:41 pm

Hey Leo, thanks for the link. Really great and amazing as well. Thanks for all the ideas that you have shared.

Jack Says:

November 8th, 2008, 23:51 pm

I’m sorry to see Zen Habits has turned into Yet Another Blog About How To Commercialize Blogs. This all gets so disappointingly recursive, spreading the tedious bug to more and more others all trying to exploit the same “messages”, which are so ubiquitous and threadbare anymore that they poop out and turn into only just this.

Another used-to-be interesting blog reduced to the same old “internet marketing” crap.

Healthy Gaming Says:

November 10th, 2008, 16:39 pm

Thanks for the great article and link Leo!

Christopher Bargeron Says:

November 11th, 2008, 13:08 pm

I disagree with Jack’s comment that this posting represents a strictly commercial point of view. “Personal Branding” is a processes used in personal development and leadership development work and many of these principles apply. That said, it’s a natural why this posting would create a swarm of interest from other bloggers. Thanks for the consistent quality and stimulation, Leo!

Newamba Says:

March 9th, 2009, 0:38 am

Thanks for posting this. Very useful info…

Willow Says:

March 12th, 2009, 16:14 pm

I just recently started my own blog. I’ve been looking for ways to promote my blog and your article is the most helpful one I’ve found. Thanks for the great advice =)

Andrew Davis - Yahoo Fraud Says:

March 17th, 2009, 12:17 pm

Thanks allot!

I read the post, and find it very useful.
I will be trying out those techniques.

Cheers to you!
-Andrew

abdul aziz Says:

March 24th, 2009, 4:19 am

thanks for this article help much.

Indian art Says:

April 19th, 2009, 2:42 am

Just started my art blog last week, will try your suggestions. Thanks.