Saturday, December 12, 2020

Branding Has Its Limitations

In principle, you may write whatever you like. You may also post the pictures you like. That's in principle. After that, reality sets in. Your limitation for publishing is defined by what the site you are writing for allows. If you are running your own blog, you've set the limitations yourself. The question is, should you write about whatever comes to mind? Establishing a brand that is all over the place is impossible. Intelligent limitation is the motto when you start off. 


It is tempting to think that you may write whatever you want. While this is true, it is not helpful while trying to build a brand for yourself. If your first 50 articles cover 49 different topics, your chances to bind a regular readership to your penmanship are slim. It does not establish you as an expert in any particular field in any way. But expertise in a defined environment however small is essential to establishing a brand. Once this foundation has been laid, you will be able to branch out.


This doesn't mean you have to tie yourself down to writing about one thing all the time until you have become the leading expert. Just limit yourself to a couple of themes at first, or a few at most. Once you have written several articles on a theme and you feel that you have established that you know what you're writing about, you may add a further area. None of this excludes the possibility of a wild excursion into something you don’t write about under normal circumstances, but keep these excursions limited, at the beginning at least.


There is almost no limit to what you might create. There are the obvious restrictions, legal, moral, and ethical, but apart from those you are free to write what you want. There are certain things you should consider before starting. Publishing sites usually offers the possibility to publish pictures separately from any major texts. Do it, if you feel you have to, but don’t expect to earn any money from it. In terms of your online income it is a waste of your time.


Don’t try to write news. By the time you are aware of the facts, half the globe has already read something about it. It does not establish your reputation in any way to rehash what has been said a hundred times before. Write about news if you have something relevant to add to them. This might be a personal involvement because you are where the news item is taking place, or because you see or foresee an aspect of it nobody has written about so far. It is another matter to comment on news items or to analyze them in form of an article. If the newest figures of a state deficit are published, you might want to share your view of what you think about it.


You may, and on occasion really should, supply the reader with your own views and opinions on a matter. This should be done with respect to others and in a non-aggressive and non-abusive way. Leave abuse to the trolls, they are much better at it. Speak to your reader in a way you would like to be spoken to. That keeps you out of trouble and lets you sleep better at night. Shouting at people doesn't change their minds, you might as well keep your tone reasonable. And always remember, if you really want to hurt your enemies, being funny is the worst thing you can do to them.


Further reading

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