I do a lot of writing on branding from branding basics to the more advanced things like creating a brand persona. I am often surprised how many times people do not understand the importance of the brand that they represent online.
For example, I recently opened a marketing blog directory. I receive several submissions daily and I'm always amazed at how many people write their blogs on sites like Blogger, Wordpress and Typepad. Look I understand that these platforms provide easy ways to blog, but am I wrong to think that your brand and blog for that matter would stand out a lot more if it were on your own website domain?
Today alone I received two marketing blogs on the topic of branding. Both of these blogs were on the Wordpress domain. Honestly, I didn't add them, because my initial thought was " Do they really get branding?"
Is it too much to ask that branding experts at least brand their blogs appropriately? Perhaps I am being too hard on these companies.
Am I the only one that doesn't take a business serious when they don't have their own domain and use a free platform to create their online presence?
What are your thoughts?
Related: | What is Branding?| 5 Tips to Creating an Effective Blog | Video: Tips for Effective Personal Branding Online
Connect With Laura: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Google Plus
I think it’s important to note that companies should be using those platforms to blog, but integrating them into a business’ website is (somewhat) important. Several companies I work with use Wordpress(.org) to blog, but the service is embedded within the company’s website. In other cases, the Wordpress(.com) blog is external from the company’s main page, but with some minor tweaking (domain forwarding, creating a branded header) it can suit just fine.
I have to agree. With the minimal cost involved in setting up a website, I don’t take a business seriously if they don’t have a real web presence.
Laura, I couldn’t help but be slightly offended with the strong emphasis in your comment April 24/11 regarding the use of WordPress for Blogging.
I use WordPress simply because it is directly linked into my website and is provided as part of my hosting platform. If it was not linked into my website in that way, I probably would not use it. For that reason, I think it is unfair to single out WordPress when they have sincerely made an effort to cater to those with a website.
I feel that WordPress gives my blog an additional outreach to people who may otherwise never see my website.
After all, branding is just that – reach as many people as possible and get the information out there.
Joanna, I’m not talking about the platform Wordpress, I’m talking about hosting a blog on wordpress. i.e. icanmarket.wordpress.com – that to me is poor branding
Hope that clarifies.
You wrote “Am I the only one that doesn’t take a business serious when they don’t have their on domain and use a free platform to create their online presence”
I have my own website (for 15 years) and a wordpress blog. The blog is ON wordpress, with the end of the URL reading “wordpress.com”
What is the problem with that?
You aren’t clear… I don’t see the problem here. Would you please clarify?
I am reaching thousands more on my blog than just on my website. I offer lots of valuable info on both. I wish it were all in one place to save me time, but you have to have a blog today to be taken seriously.
Margie I think has a valid point here…could one get the connections WP.com gives you vs your own hosted WP
blog.
I understand and agree from a branding point what Laura is saying but what would be the affect if you had a huge following and moved everything over to your domain? Would you lose all of your link juice etc? … unless I guess you put a redirect on the original.
I get your point, but for some of us Wordpress is the simple solution for communicating to our audience without spending a lot of money.
While a website would be a GREAT tool for me, I really have not had the time to redesign and relaunch the one I really want…yet I have to keep the information ‘out there.’
Wordpress (for me) has been a GREAT tool. AND I am building a brand utilizing it. No, it’s not forever…but it beats a blank. I honestly wish I was in a position to put tons of money into my new site – but I’m not. Yet I don’t criticize those who do. I would appreciate the same in return.
In short: You use what you have and make it work.
J Blair Brown, you call it criticize, I call it educating. I just wonder what everyone would do if Wordpress decided not to host blogs anymore, what would you do then? Not saying it’s going to happen – just saying it could.
Truth is having your own domain, and hosting a wordpress blog on your own domain does not take hundreds of dollars and it creates the value of solidifying your own brand.
Free is not always best
I totally agree with you. It costs about 10 bucks to buy a domain name and it is very simple to apply that domain name as the default for your blog on both blogger and wordpress.
I think the platform is not as important as what you have to say. Seth Godin uses Typepad, Bob Hoffman uses Blogger. That’s not a big deal. What’s important is what you have to say, how what you post can be useful for a community.
Laura, I totally agree with you. I don’t think there is one single comment here that disagrees with you and also makes a statement about branding.
Perhaps people don’t understand how cheaply they can apply their own domain name to their wordpress blogs, and profit from both the branding and the wordpress exposure? This would apply whether or not they already have an existing website. An article discussing how/why and it’s connection to branding from an educational standpoint could elucidate this.
It’s certainly clear that most people responding don’t really understand branding, and hence may have missed the point you were getting at, or saw it as an attack on wordpress. Joanna stated that branding was reaching as many people as possible, and getting information out there. I’m sorry Joanna, but that actually has nothing to do with branding, other than that proper branding would end up being the means by which reaching people is achieved, such that they have a brand experience. Again, perhaps an educational article on the relation between branding and blogging could be quite helpful.
Hi Laura,
I so agree with what you said about blogs-don’t we want to drive people to the website, ultimately?
Hey,
Hmm this is an interesting one. I agree that not customising your blog our domain name is a bit cheap ‘basically’ and wonder if they’re really serious about what they’re talking about.
The only occasion I think lenancy could be given is when someone is just trialling the idea of blogging before investing in the costs of setting up a blog properly.
Though this is chicken and egg, if you don’t set yourself up properly with credibility you’re unlikely to be successful so you fufill your own proficy.
So i don’t think you’re being too hard.
Cheers,
Si
Laura, my own thought is that there were several glaring grammatical errors in your post. This sentence should have read: (Note corrections in CAPS.)
Am I the only one WHO doesn’t take a business SERIOUSLY when IT DOESN’T don’t have ITS own domain and USES a free platform to create ITS online presence?
I, for one, would be less inclined to take your post seriously for this reason!
i belive whatever the author has said is correct.Having your own domain always gets a super edge as compared to a domain built on some other domain.Having your own domain gives better search engine visibilty plus loads of additional tools if developed using wordpress.org. to general readers it is more convincing and trustworthy..