Thinking About Branding: A Bloggiesta Mini Challenge

One of the Bloggiesta Mini Challenges for this Bloggiesta weekend is Branding by Amanda at On a Book Bender. She asks some questions that I thought would be fun to answer here in this post. I figured after nearly seven years at this, it would be a good time to ponder my brand!

Here's what she wants us to think about:

How well does your blog name reflect what your blog is about? When I sat down seven years ago to make a book blog, all I could think to name it was something very obviously pointing to what it was about. The name It's All About Books popped into my head and I went with it. Many times over the years I've regretted my choice and my quickness with which I just typed it in and went for it. But now that it's grown on me, I can't change it! Sadly, many others have had the same idea and I know I'm not the only blog out there with this name, but hopefully I'm the most active and prolific one!

Create a tagline. When I made up this blog name, I added the tagline "...and life's other adventures too!" because I knew I wouldn't be able to keep my posts to only about books. And because of this simple tag line, I feel justified in branching out to posts about movies, TV shows, music and other posts on life. I find it it be perfect for my other rambles. It encompasses everything!

Look at the name you use to leave comments. Change it to reflect your brand. One of the things I didn't understand when I created my blog was to make the blog name and the URL match. Oh well on that. But I did decide at some point to be known all over the internet by my nickname. And my URL ended up reflecting that. And this nickname is what I use to comment and I find it to be unique enough that I don't usually use my whole blog name along with it. So far, I haven't come across any other Sueys! (Except that Jamie Ford mentioned to me the other day that he has a friend with that name!) So anyway, I'm hoping that the strange and weird nickname sets me apart somehow!

Do you have the same profile picture on all social networks (including your blog)? This is one thing that I did understand in the beginning, that if people want to recognize me wherever I go, I should use the same picture. I've only changed my profile picture once. Some places (mostly commenting apps) are still connected to my old one, but they are similar enough that it hasn't mattered too much. I'm starting to get itchy to change it again, but this is something that I think is such a BIG DEAL that it freaks me out! And I want to be creative and yeah... the pressure!

Is the picture of you or an avatar?  Sadly, it is of me, but I guess that's a good thing? But, I hate pictures of myself. Thus, the hiding behind books. Ugh. Maybe when I do get the guts to change it again, I can think of something else. Suggestions?

What do people expect from YOUR blog?  I'm not sure, but I would hope that readers expect some very casual and chatty book talking and occasional book gushing. Hopefully a friendly and welcoming place. A blog where all sorts of books are talked about. A blog with a fun dose of other media consumption items discussed. Pretty much a blog where what you see is what you get.

Look at your Twitter timeline. What’s the ratio between interacting with people and self-promoting tweets? (Eyeball it.) Well, my recent timeline is promoting lots of Bloggiesta posts of other people! But yeah, most of my tweets are interactions with other people. I tend to forget to plug my own posts except for the dlvr.it app that I started using during a previous Bloggiesta, one that posts your new posts automatically. Anyway. Yes, actual conversations on Twitter are my favorite!

Write a social media update about your latest post (or your latest FAVORITE post) that teases and gives people a reason to click through. This is one thing I've really been trying to work on lately, the eye catching, click inducing tweets to make people want to come visit! It's hard! If I were to write one about my latest post it might look something like this: Flawed characters are the best! What are some of your favorite flaws? What do you think? Would you click?

Fun stuff to think about! I'm actually fairly happy with my "brand" and find that it has been established in such a way that truly reflects who I am and what my blog is all about. Yay for that!

How do you feel you've branded yourself and your blog? Are you happy with the results too?