Branding is Essential
With the multitudes of blogs, (especially in the “MMO” niche) there are too many blogs that look exactly the same, sound the same, and use the same re-hashed content.
Yeah, you can change a couple of things here and there on the John Cow theme, but it’s not really going to do much.
Yeah, you can re-write someone else’s articles, but eventually readers will be tired of the same old content. Everyone knows how to make $1000 a day with no work, or how to become a 100K a month affiliate marketer.
When your starting a blog branding is in my opinion, the most important thing. I’m not saying that content isn’t very important, but when your starting a blog, you need to make it stand out from the millions of others. Once your blog is unique enough, then worry about your content.
We’re going to go through three things that, to me at least, are uber essential when starting a blog, and trying to brand it.
Design
Everyone can download the newest Wordpress themes, or buy the John Cow theme, but does this set them apart? No. Don’t let yourself be fooled thinking it does. Now, I know that not everyone can afford a custom theme, but at least customize the theme you have. Change the colors on the John Cow, get a nice header done, change the fonts up a bit. Do something or your blog will get thrown in with the other 5000 using the John Cow theme or any other popular “blogging” Wordpress themes.
The best thing you can do is get a custom theme done. Now, other places charge $700, $900, heck, Unique Blog Designs charges like $1500. But for a limited time, (I know I’m plugging, please forgive me) I’m going to offer my readers discounted theme designs! I will design a fully custom wordpress theme for $300, and if you would like a full cartoon header, (like mine) It will be $500. I know that seems like a lot, but it’s much cheaper than the other guys, and for $500 your getting a kick butt header with full cartoon, like mine.
Another thing you can do to brand your blog is get a mascot of custom cartoon header, like I mentioned. I can create you a mascot for $150 and a full custom header for $250. (It’s cheaper if you get it with a theme like I mentioned above. 
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But it’s essential to brand your blog and custom designs really help in doing that. My blog is using a custom theme I made as well as mascot/header. I think it really sets MonkeyBlogger apart.
Content Style
Now, I talked about this in full detail in my post Consistency People!, where I spoke about consistent blogging style, and also in my post Don’t Lose your Originality I spoke about keeping your posting style and content original.
This is really tough, but it’s essential. When you have the same content, but with a twist, or laid out in an original and interesting style, then people will read it. 
This is really important to do, and if you don’t, you will not be set apart from every other blog.
Be Unique
I know this seems super broad, but really, be unique! Do something no blogger has done. Hold a crazy contest! Give away something no one does, like an iPod. Really get yourself out there, and show everyone in the blogosphere that your not another blog that no one will care about in 6 months, but that you know what your talking about, and you will provide them with some great unique content or products. You could even give away an eBook.
One thing I’m going to do is make T-shirts, but more on that later.
These are just a few things you can do that will really brand your blog, and will set it apart, and can even make your blog promote itself!
