The BelieversPress blog features Q & A sessions with the experts we work with, answering questions that you’ve asked. Have a question? Click the link in the sidebar to submit it!

You asked:

“I’ve recently started a blog in hopes of  building my personal brand. I’m already starting to worry about getting off-track. Can you suggest some questions I should ask myself before I click the publish button?”

Jay Heinlein, publishing marketing expert, replied:

Great question! Technology now allows anyone the ability to be an “instant publisher” via blogging and other online social media vehicles. That can certainly be both a “blessing and a curse.” It is a terrific idea and very productive exercise to have a “checklist” to help keep your blog posts focused before “publishing your thoughts to the world”. Your idea reminds me of the image of a pilot going through the pre-flight checklist before heading for the runaway. It is certainly a critical exercise for the pilot.

As the author of a book, you are blogging as part of your overall “platform building” process. This is the most important part of the your role in the marketing process.

Blogging is a wonderful way for you… to help to build awareness, extend your brand, allow your readers to experience you, and to “build your tribe” …

“If you are an author, your tribe members are your readers—or, at least, that’s potentially true. The only question is whether or not you will become the tribe’s leader and equip them to communicate with you and with one another.” – 7 Ways to Build Your Author Brand Online, Michael Hyatt.

Does this post…

• speak to my identified audience- the audience that I want to reach?
• properly and accurately represent me as “a brand” – does it leave the impression that I wish to communicate with my audience?
• share compelling, helpful and useful information, relevant information, and topics/subjects?
• help me to develop real, meaningful relationships with my audience? Am I genuinely interested in them? Is this a “give-give” post?
• encourage networking -provide an opportunity for my readers-intended audience to interact and connect with me, each other, and with other like-minded individuals?
• give the readers a valuable “take away” as they have experienced my writing.
• What is it that they will take away?

Now, after contemplating those questions… I would suggest “making them yours” -that is tailor the heart of the questions to your own voice, and add 2-3 more questions of your own… …some helpful posts for further  research and consideration: 13 Things I’ve Learned about Successful Blogging (Problogger) 8 Blog Tips from Tim Ferriss (via MichaelHyatt.com) Thanks again for your excellent question. Please drop back by and tell us how it’s going!