To be one's self, or to be a brand...

9 years ago

Build your own reputation first and then build brands around it. If you success to build your online reputation then any brand you make will also follow your success (hopefuly).

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Tom B

Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by theeryman

I'm starting a site in a niche that I'm truly passionate about. It's starting off as mainly an informational site, a news site for the niche. I've been thinking a lot about whether I should speak as myself, in the first person, making it no secret that it's me behind it, opening it up to some clearly subjective and personal opinions, or if I should act more as a brand.

Thoughts on this?

Are you an expert in the niche? Qualifications or anything similar that can give people a reason to listen to you compared to competition.

Do people respond better to a person than a company? Many people identify with a person compared to a company. That doesn't mean you have to use your real name but this is something to think about.

Even if you use your own name, you will still be branding yourself.

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Michael Shook 9 years ago

People connect with people. Unless there is some reason you don't want to be associated with this product or market, I think it is in your best interest to be yourself in all your writing.
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Trankuility

9 years ago

You ARE the brand.

If you go the bland PC route, you'll blend in with a million other nobodies.

There's one thing you have that no other site has...your personality. It's an asset. Use it.

Be yourself for better or worse.

You'll repel people who don't relate to you. You may even get hate mail. Which is exactly what you want.

You'll attract people who DO relate to you. And that's also what you want.

That's also a big part of the sponsorship equation, should you ever trying going after blog sponsors.

Here's a tip to attract sponsors:

Identify what makes you unique, play it up, then identify sponsors who market products to the type of thing that unique about you/your site. Start promoting the services/products of those businesses. Promote them on social media in interesting ways and tag them.

Do this over and over and they will take notice.

After that there's additional steps for negotiation and such. But do the above and you'll get sponsors.

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FreedomBlogger

9 years ago

I would recommend you to speak as YOU.

People can relate more to a real person. People will be able to connect a lot better with a real person than with a 'brand'.

Doing that will also help brand yourself!!

I wish you the best of the best!

Keep up the great work!

Cheers!

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discrat 9 years ago

Here is a thought...
Why don't you brand You ?

- Robert Andrew
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Rory Singh

9 years ago

Yes YOUINC!

Put yourself on the 'forefront' of your marketing efforts. Be yourself & like minded people will follow.

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ryanbiddulph

9 years ago

Yep first person all the way Rory

It creates an authentic, personalized touch and also, good old trust.

All the best with your new(s) site!

Ryan

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Mike Anthony 9 years ago

It depends entirely on your niche. Most of the forum is MMO so it makes sense to brand you but in many niches its actually better to have a separate brand.

If its for software for example people seldom even know or care who the programmer is so being your own brand is less important. I actually prefer brands in many niches. Easier to scale (no expectation to be present) and easier to sell to someone else.
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