Blogger post Alert!
***First, let me apologize for my absence! There are so many transitions going on in my life (I promise to catch you up soon). Please bare with me & I’ll resume my regular blogging/commenting schedule next Thursday.***
When you think of “branding” for your blog, do you only think of branding for the purpose of sponsored post or advertisements. What about the brand aspect of your hard work in the community!
I know different bloggers share on different levels in their inner circles. I am one that wants all my friends, family, strangers, and associates to know about my blog! If you feel me on that, this post is for you!
Today, I’m sharing some things I do to increase awareness of Rx Fitness Lady in the Macon Middle GA Community.
- I shared with you that I love to give out Rx Fitness Lady bracelets to people who take my class. In addition, I pretty much have 4 on at a time when I’m at work or out at community functions. It’s a conversation piece. People are always like, what are those? “GLAD YOU ASKED 😉 ” Hit em with the 15 second elevator pitch & ask them to visit!
- My signature for ALL text messages & emails is a direct link to my homepage. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve texted people and later on they tell me they didn’t know I had a blog and blah blah blah!
- Feature community people on your blog and tag them socially! People like to be recognized and nothing gets people motivated to share like seeing themselves anywhere. Check out the examples below for evidence.
Delta Centennial Convention Recap
- Post on your personal social sites; Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, etc. regularly so your community is aware of your existence.
- Tie in your brick and mortar or home-based business. I promote the Project 10 Challenge for weight loss and teach group fitness classes, both of which fit the purpose of this blog. Live Healthy & Active. Be Prosperous. While I’m engaged in those activities, I always mention post, give out bracelets, and let people know that I have a supportive community and that they’d probably find something inspirational along their healthy living quest.
- Purchase ads, sponsor, & attend functions in the community in the name of your blog instead of your own name. I’d be willing to bet that you purchase ads for church and multiple organizations that hold fund raisers throughout the year. Instead of just leaving a message in a program to your niece about how much you love her…throw in your blog business card or a standard print that you use to get your mission across.
- Have business cards for local networking functions. It would be nice too if you had something to offer on your cards, maybe a discount on a service. Here is the back of my blog business cards.
- Paraphernalia is an age old form of advertisement that always works people! When I ordered my business cards on Vistaprint, they offered that bag pictured in the pin above for like $5. I carry that $5 dollar bag around like it’s a Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Michael Kors or whatever baby! It represents my baby 🙂 ! Seriously, I wear it to places I know people talk; Hair Salon, gym when I’m not teaching, day conferences, etc. Examples…
- T-Shirts
- Bracelets as mentioned before
- Handbags, Gym bags (fitness bloggers 😉 ) & Lunch boxes (especially foodie bloggers) – Thirty-one
- Water bottles
- Write for a local paper or magazine. We have all kinds of popular magazines and papers that will gladly accept your free material. It helps to get your name out there and establish yourself as an authority. When I first launched my blog, I submitted one of my favorite posts to a local established paper.
- Do a blog appropriate photo shoot with a community photographer. It helps if he’s popular. They will feature your blog photos on their networks. I got my standard image seen in the header from my cousin who happens to be very popular locally. He also took the picture above.
I hope somebody finds this useful or at least share with me some more tips! I am very passionate about reaching my community anyway I can to reenforce the tag line of “Live Healthy & Active. Be Prosperous.” If you have tips, I’d love to hear them!
Yours in Healthy, Active, & Prosperous Lifestyles,
Rx Fitness Lady wants to know…
- If you are a blogger, which of these do you use? Which ones do you find most effective?
- Bloggers, what can you add to the list?
- Readers, which of these have had the most affect on you? What else would YOU add to the list?
Rx Fitness Lady
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WELCOME BACK! We missed you <3 I love that you got a branded bag and carry it around like a louie! My kinda girl!! 🙂 These are great tips to keep your brand upfront. I do have my signature every where and I have business cards, I saw a gf with her blog on her water bottle. That was really cool!
Nellie @ Brooklyn Active Mama recently posted…Kid City Stores: Children’s Fashion $100 Challenge
Where you been at lol. I agree you have to take your brand with you and share or else how will someone know about your brand. I was thinking of getting shirts done but I don’t want to pay for them in bulk I only want one or two of them and can’t find anyone to do a few for a good price
Kita recently posted…Ways to spend less money
Welcome back and hope all is well. I agree 100% with you. the community support and promotion is such a key part of our overall success as a blogger. I definitely need to do a better job of more self-branding within my community.
Great tips! I struggle to make an impact in my community a little although I do have a lot of content that I think it particularly relevant to my community. I wear blog t-shirts to local classes and have business cards but I don’t have a good platform (like your classes) to really promote my blog locally. I’ve been to a few networking events but they were not super helpful. Also, I don’t really think I’m pushy enough about it. I’m a little shy mentioning it, which is not good!
Agree w Nellie…we missed you :)! Transitions can be overwhelming if we don’t make the necessary adjustments during that time. Kudos to you!
Excellent branding tips. I’ve done all of those as far as branding my brick and mortar, but nill when it comes to my blog. I do have a link to my blog on my business website, but you’ve gotta almost search for it. After I go through my own transition, I’ll be re branding my blog a little also. Hopefully, I’ll gain some real insights at Fitbloggin 😉
So proud of you !
Hope recently posted…Action Expresses Priorities …blogging break
Welcome back, girlie! 🙂
I am kind of shy (like Brittany said) and I only recently started telling people about my blog. I just get so nervous about being judged, ya know. Someone is always promoting something…but I guess I should be promoting myself, right? I love the water bottle idea too… I may have to get a few from Vistaprint myself.
Kimberly (Manifest Yourself) recently posted…Thursday’s Thoughts
I want a bag! What a great idea! And I do use Vistaprint for my business cards. Can’t beat that Groupon price!
Now the bracelets? Awesome! I really do need some help because for me it’s not just about my blog, it’s about my photography business!
Tamara recently posted…Adele Dazeem, Or In Other Words, Happy Blogiversary!
i try to market my blog wherever possible, like in my email signature. also when i’m at events, instead of passing out my full-time job business card, i use my blog ones.
Catherine Gacad recently posted…Full-Proof Way to Make Money Blogging
I’m so glad you hopped on to say hello during your transitions and give our some EXCELLENT advice. I love the bracelet idea! And the bag? $5.00 at vista print? Who knew? That is so reasonable! Branding is so important as I am learning for my blog as well as my business. Thank for some great advice.
Ilene recently posted…Maybe This Could Be Big
Great tips – I don’t do much about promoting my personal blog in the community (partly because now I’m trying to promote my business blog). Actually I think that these tips will be good for my business blog – I already order from VistaPrint but I usually skip all the extra things so maybe I should look a little closer!!
I hope that you are doing OK – I’ve missed seeing you here but I know that life is more important than blogging!
Kim recently posted…You Take the Good, You Take the Bad
Hello! 🙂 I’ve really not been good about getting out into my community and promoting the blog. I just don’t go out much. But I have been thinking about a t-shirt because who doesn’t want Real Into written real big across their boobs. haha!
Carla recently posted…Hask Argan Oil and Keratin Hair Care Products Review
Ms. Joi, it’s good to have you back in the saddle! You were definitely missed. I can count on you to think outside of the box and to make good on it! You are a die-hard entrepreneur, and it shows. I see a lot of these ideas feeding into my plans to become a health coach. I’ll be pinning this post for future reference.
Alison Hector recently posted…Okay, now what?
It’s a Brandapalooooza!!! Yes, I agree with you. 😉
Yum Yucky recently posted…Intermittent Fasting Results: How It Works, and My Before & After Pics
First of all, I didn’t even know you were gone…why? Because I was gone(still am actually) until April. Lol! Girl “life” is definitely happening isn’t it!! Missed you too!! Love this post Joi! You hit on everything I’m working on while I’m on my month long blogging sabbatical! Great minds DO think alike don’t they? Lol! I have to work on incorporating my blog into my personal facebook page more though…IKR! Yes, I noticed your signature on your text…I’m so doing that right now, lol!
Well, I’m going to be MIA for the month of March(will miss you guys), but I’ll see you in April when it’s warm outside!:-D Love ya girlie! Ttys!
Michell recently posted…Farewell…well, at least for now
If it weren’t for your interaction on my personal fb page, I would have been worried about you girl! Take your time and do what you need to do. I really need to get business cards done. I start the template on VistaPrint and then stop. Putting it on my blog goal list for THIS week. I have reaching out to local newspapers and magazines on my goal list too. As well as new pictures. Great ideas, Joi.
Kimberly H. Smith recently posted…DIY Chore Bucket for Kids
Great tips! Thank you – you’ve got me thinking!!
Excellent tips Joi! I could do a better job in my community. Most people don’t know I have a blog, and many of the ones that do think it’s a hobby. I do have a sign on the back of my car now. Now you’ve got me curious though…I am going to check my analytics to see how many people in my town are reading.
Michelle recently posted…Friends Asking Friends: #AskAwayFriday with Tamara Camera
Awesome tips! You know that I get a bit shy with sharing my pics and linking my blog with who I am. I need to completely get over it. I’m almost there. I love the tip about attending events on behalf of your blog/business. Awesome idea. SN: Guess who was featured in her local paper in Cali? #boom I need to share that on the blog.
Andrea recently posted…Prom Nostalgia: JenJenHouse Prom Dress Review
Hey Joi! These are awesome tips! I really like the totebag idea – how easy is that! I’m still a little cautious about fully putting my blog out there and letting everyone know about it. I work with some crazy folks! We’ve had instances of managers friending their employees on FB just so they could make sure that no one was posting during work hours. smh… I do need to get business cards though.
I’m lucky that I work for the blog I write at. I have a very supportive boss! I can just concentrate on providing the best material I can. Too bad that hasn’t been as common for my day job 🙁
Welcome BACK!
Sigh. this is my problem and probably why my blog is not as big as it could be. I just don’t wanna share! LOL
LaShawn recently posted…Taking a Vacation…
I’m so with you. I have a bag too that I take to conferences and stuff.
Cam | Bibs and Baubles recently posted…A Case of the Blah’s
These are great tips! I am a stylist and have been thinking of ways to get my blog, which includes style and makeup tips, out on the street too. These are all attainable and smart ideas, thanks so much for sharing!
Olivia recently posted…Spring 2014 Must Haves, All $100 or Less
You know I understand needing blog breaks to take care of personal life! I have to use the text message signature idea! That’s just genius! I’m hoping to do a photoshoot in the summer for the blog. I love the bag idea too!
Sherelle recently posted…Caramel Cares: Survey + Giveaway
I’m very hesitant because I have not been making the progress that I want to make. I was doing quite well, and completely fell off. I know it’s attributed to stress and too many things going on, and not correctly prioritizing. So, I don’t brand as I should. Thanks for giving me a little branding pick me up for Turn it Up Tuesday!
April recently posted…Feature Friday {14} with Yummy Recipes, Mommy Awesomeness and Choosing Love
Great tips and so timely. Since I’ve recently made the decision that I want to make my blog my career all of the tips you shared will help at various times. I love your tote bag! Welcome back.
Debra@AModernTranslation recently posted…Leslie Sansone 5K With A Twist
Hi Joi
If you don’t mind, I’m going to add this post to my October collection http://stairwellcarollers.blogspot.com/2014/10/sing-along-and-add-your-post-link-now.html even though it’s not a music related post. You have some ideas I have NEVER seen anywhere else to promote your blog locally. My blog is SO niche and community oriented, that I’m sure I can benefit — and I LOVE vista print. We got a pair beautiful banners which look so good. I’m going back over there to see if there is anything else — definitely business cards. We have been doing them 10 at a time on our home printer — time to move up!
Thanks,
Holly 😉
Holly M recently posted…Da Capo – Stairwell Caroller History – Exciting news from Ronald McDonald House