A Guide to Branding Yourself as a Writer

by Tiffany Yamut, @TiffanyYamut

I started writing online in 2015 not having a niche, unique voice, and loyal readership. Like a new hire, I felt lost and wanted to belong.

Because of that, I grabbed every opportunity that came my way.

As I became more mature in my writing, I realized how essential it was to brand myself. And I believe that every writer, newbie or experienced, should take branding seriously if they want to succeed.

You’ve come to the right place.

Today, I’ll be showing you why branding matters in your writing career and how you can build a personal brand.

Why Is Branding Important for Your Writing Career?

1. Sets you apart from other writers

Like running a business, you want to be known for something. Are you focused on one thing or spreading yourself too thin?

When you think of Stephen King, you imagine tales of horror and suspense. If it’s JRR Tolkien, fantasy images fill your mind.

As a writer, you want to be known for something. That way, people know whom to seek if they need content on a certain topic. Branding increases your authority.

2. Allows you to stay focused

Can you imagine writing about 10 different niches at the same time? It won’t be long before you’ll go crazy!

You see, focus is extremely important to create the highest quality content. Because when your mind is cluttered, you cannot give your “all” to a task.

Focus helps you effectively research and plan your content before you start writing. And as you write, you’ll be able to “get in the flow.”

3. Gives you a sense of pride and satisfaction

Building a personal brand helps you feel most accomplished. You’ll have high regard for your writing work. You know where you excel and you’ve played to your strengths.

Tips on Creating a Personal Brand as a Writer

1. Consider your passions and interests.

First, you need to identify your strengths. What are you good at? Are you most passionate and interested in fiction? Blogging in B2B niches? Legal writing? Know your niche/genre and the kind of writing skill you have.

2. Decide on your look.

Visual cues matter in branding. People should be able to tell that it’s you who wrote a piece of content by its appearance. Your logo, colors, fonts, and graphics should spell Y-O-U.

3. Be visible to your readers.

To demonstrate your personal brand, you need to create an online presence. Your target audience should be able to discover you. Here are ways to establish yourself online:

Blog regularly

Start a website that showcases your expertise. Make sure that it has a blog section where you can write about topics that offer value to your target audience. Share your experiences as well as tips and strategies.

Post social media content

Social media is a must these days. Having a social media presence ensures that people see your written content. Complete your social media profile with your image and description. Keep your updates relevant to your brand.

Start an email newsletter

An email newsletter helps you communicate your brand messages more often. That way, you can stay in touch with your audience.

Final Thoughts

These are just some of the things  you can do to develop a personal brand in your writing career. A personal brand allows you to stand out, produce better work, and stay happy! If you have additional tips to share? If so, please leave them in the comments section below.

Tiffany Yamut is the founder of Freelance Writing With Joy. She has ghostwritten thousands of articles online since 2015.

Through her blog, she hopes to share everything she learned as a professional freelance writer so that aspiring writers can thrive and excel in their journey. You can also connect with her on LinkedIn.

Image credit: Pixabay