Whether you have a site that sells products or if you blog, I have said many times that you are selling. Your visitors that you engage with and keep coming back identify and connect with you through your site. They remember things like your content, your layout, and your logo.
Taking Your Site Brand To The Next Level
When it comes time that you want to take your site brand to the next level, these factors will change. How can you successfully take your site brand to the next level without confusing people?
Well, change is inevitable… which whomever came up with that phrase, I do not know, but it is true. You will have to change in order to grow as a brand. McDonalds has, Pizza Hut, Adidas, IBM, Apple, and so on are brands that have had some brand changes for the better throughout the years. Whether it was through advertisements,slogans, or actual logo tweaks or changes, they have done it.
As a blog owner or business owner, you will have to do this at some point. While I am sure you like to keep hold of some things, it might not always be the best idea, especially when you want to improve your image. You may have an idea of how you want to take your site, and have a web designer try to fulfill those wishes, but find out that you may have taken two steps back instead of two steps forwards with improving your brand.
While you do not want your site to look exactly like other sites, you can certainly learn from what is already out there on what you like or do not like, what works best for some of the leaders in your niche, and from articles like this one, how to improve your site.
Before even doing a design tweak or redesign, remember that as long as the general message you already convey on your site, through your content is consistent and that you keep engaging with your visitors (or even customers/ clients.)
Taking Your Site Brand To The Next Level With Logo Branding
If you are doing a logo tweak, keep some part consistent in the transition, whether it be the words of your site or company, colors, or if you have a specific image you use, something needs to still tell people “You are you.” It might seem silly, but it is not uncommon for people to become confused and think your site was taken over by another company or person when you change up your logo.
Taking Your Site Brand To The Next Level With Layout Design Branding
When taking your layout to the next level, you have to really put it in your mind to not be attached to your previous site. Think of it as a good investment for the future. With a better image, you are. It is unfortunate that part of what attracts people to a website brand is the visual aspect. Even in simply designed websites, the visual aspects of it being clean, user-friendly, and legible are attractive. However, if you have a site that needs improvement, you might want to consult with someone on what they think. You might be surprised from whether it be a knowledgeable friend, your web designer, or a branding coach on how much you need to do to get to that next level.
Do not accept mediocrity. If you are being told that something cannot be done, especially for WordPress design, you are being told wrong. There are a lot of things you can do and next to nil that cannot be done. Imagination is the only hindrance, so break free being stubborn about change or being told “no” and embrace what could lead to further success.
Taking Your Site Brand To The Next Level With Content Branding
As I said before, your content should be consistent with the message you want to convey to visitors, potential customers, or long time customers. You usually do not have to do much except make sure with your design format that you are showing the way to visitors on what you want them to see on your website. If you have an ebook, that needs to be somewhere visible. If you have special blog posts that are must reads, that too needs to be in a prominent place.
Have you done a site re-brand lately? Do you feel you have taken it to the next level? Are you still uncertain if your brand is still needing that extra oomph? For those who brand consulting, what advice do you have in this matter?
Hey hun, I will be selling jewlery online, I bought my domain space from you, Could you give me a example of the branding? Thanks!!
Good example- My site is a good example of branding. I have kept the colors consistent in the past couple years, only modified my site slogan, and kept the general look of the banner for 2 years. Before that was the one with the bottle in it (was a play on branding too… and I use it in my “Hire Me” graphic in my image slider on my front page.)
There are other articles about branding here on the site if you want to take a look. I have been teaching people about blogging, SEO, social media, creating sites, and such for the past few years so lots of great info whenever you get the time. I even started a weekly 15 minute live show on Blog Talk Radio to also do this and allow for people to call in and ask questions. Since it is the beginning, it is 15 minutes (I am recording my 5th show this Saturday), but it could be more later on.
We are working on a total revamp of our site design wise and content wise we are improving day by day 🙂
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Nile, Here's what I appreciate about you- I feel confident in following your advice. Lots of people can claim to have all the answers but you lead by example and never boast about your accomplishments. You are the only person I would ever have help me do a webpage!
The boasting was a lesson I learned years ago in high school. It is one of those annoying things that ranks up there with tattle telling…lol.
Thank you for the huge compliment. I always hope I am helping and not looking like I am speaking gibberish. Anytime on the webpage. 🙂
As a fellow web designer, I get a lot of very useful information from you, Nile and I really appreciate what you are doing here. I like the fact that you are doing your best to help out others and I bet this is how you build up your own customers. You let them know that you have the knowledge they are looking for, making you valuable to their eyes. 🙂
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Thank you Wes. I just find it a lot easier to try to explain and help people get to where they want to be with their site and brand because I know over 8 years ago when I was a newbie… there were not that many people to explain HTML ,CSS, and PHP. In fact I learned it by myself. It was funny when I finally applied and entered into my Web design degree back in 2006 that I was a head of the class. Made it easy “getting my knowledge confirmed on paper.” However, people do not have the time to always go to the library and read up on how to make a web page. My goal for years has to try to make it a little easier for others.
I will be re-releasing all my old HTML and CSS tutorials with the fresh updates (since some of the coding is no longer valid to my resources section of the site (which is still a mess, but holds a lot of goodies.)
Thank you Wes for the nice words. I always hope I am helping at least.
Lots of great insight in your post. Really enjoyed reading it.
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I think it is good tips in blogging.thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge.
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I’m actually new to web designing so I guess I need a little more training online. And I was checking some of your posts its truly a great help for me. Thanks.
Hi Nile, This is a Great Message. I did set up a new blog this year and it was hard for me not to be attached to my old one. I did take a few things along but also left some.. Thanks for sharing.. Chery 🙂
hello nile great post and branding is very important in web marketing, content branding is the main thing in that process.
Great post. thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge. And I was checking some of your posts its truly a great help for me.
taking the site to next level with content is the most ideal option. As you already know content is the king, and it always will be. but also forced social media branding can do the job for you too. 😉
I think after penguin and panda algorithm updates, nobody can rely on search engines. So branding of your product, content and website is the best option now.
Hello Nile,
Its like you showed us a exact way to walk to get our brand name around in the crowd.
The third point about marketing with content is the most crucial and also irritating one. Irritating, because its needs to be done to the best that we can do, and also we have to do too many things except just writing a content. We need to attract reader, interact, and other things. But still we have to do it if we wish to get our name in the public. After all content is king, and marketing is queen.
Thanks for a nice read. 🙂
Hi Romy! Thanks for stopping by and reading. It does take effort and time to get your brand out there…. but doing it the right way builds a solid foundation.
I have been working hard on new branding methods with some success. Firstly I started doing a series of amusing and informative infographics and also creating podcasts. Both of these methods give excellent backlinks in themselves and open the way for further linking thru social media.
It is a nice post. As u told the visual aspects attracts the people towards the site. The site should be user friendly.
Thanks for this great post
Taking Your Site Brand To The Next Level is a nice idea…. it can be so good because any one of us can give a little time to think about that …..so really i like this so much because it is a nice topic… so for me and from the first time i like so much this topic that looks very informative so keep it up …. and congratulations..
Hi Nile,
Simple and great as always! Honestly I never see that way before about branding a blog. I like much of your idea on content branding. Will give it a try
Branding is everything!! look at Audi you drive down the free way and see their cars on a truck and what do they look like? they are completely wrapped in protective coverings. Many car companies use these but Audi has their ring symbol on them. It shows that they value their own product.
hi thanks for this article if you have a site that needs improvement, you might want to consult with someone on what they think.
I think it is good tips in blogging.thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks Nile for these tips!
I know you are a true and trusted professional when it comes to this. You have my wheels spinning because I feel my brand is a bit stale. I’ve changed during the past three years on line and my blog has to change with me. I don’t feel like I’m branding myself effectively. All this advice you have given here is making me re-think more specifically how I want my blog to be designed. But when I’m ready you know you will be hearing from me!
-Donna
Recently, I have scaled up one of my blog name to next level. I started with revamping its layout to more updated version, and standards. I worked over the month to get it done, and asked many professionals advises. I also changed the look of logo to look more professional.
Furthermore, I have registered its name as an official trademark in my country.
During the last years I’ve learned the “branding lesson” and created my new marketing blogs, working on myself as a brand and my ideas as favourite sayings.
branding and rebranding can really change your views and your blog story.
Your blog post are really nice and is very informative. I enjoy reading all your blogs. Content plays a important role in website. The should be unique and it should be consistent.
Thanks Nile,
Since I found your blog i have been coming by to read your tips and shorten the time I would take to learn all that I need to learn about the blogging world. I know it takes time to build a brand and I hope that some of these tips I will have a consistent brand
Hurrah! At last I got a blog from where I be capable of genuinely take valuable information regarding my study and knowledge.
Content is HUGE when it comes to branding any product/service/company. You just need to make sure that you keep up with a regular posting schedule, otherwise you risk losing your following. Spot on post!
Hiya what a great article, I just opened my own online business and am looking hard into figure out everything online.
I also run 2 sweepstakes sites. Do you ever run giveaways for your services?
Sincerely
Kevin
Hi Kevin!
I don’t do contests for my services as they would cost me time, which in my business, that is a lot of money. I did once and a design worth $500 ended up costing me $2500 of my time. At the time it was a novice mistake and the person was extremely indecisive on what they wanted. It is better to hold giveaways that are money or have some valuable tools for bloggers, business owners, or web designers.
Thanks for your advice Nile!
And I am most certainly interested in learning how to effectively take my blog
to the next level.
Thank goodness your tips and tweaks are not over complicated
or too techie.
Thanks for sharing your real world branding experiences!