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Don't Follow the Herd:
10 Ways to Uniquely Brand Your Food Blog
& Get Noticed Today!
Prepared by © Kristy Gardner of Gastronomical Sovereignty & ohksocialmedia
Amuse Bouche (the introduction)
● What is this talk about?● Why and how it will benefit YOU!● Who I am & what I do.● What is Branding?● What does branding your food blog look like?● Branderiffic! The 10 steps you can do to
uniquely brand your food blog and get noticed!
What up! (a bit about me)
● I love food. Obviously.
● Alberta to BC to Ont.
● Education.
● Food philosophy.
● In my spare time:
– I dig food. Literally!
– I write freelance.
– I like long hikes in the back country, camping, reading good novels, bourbon, and pigs.
Who the heck is this chick? (me)
● Conception 2009.● Manifested 2010.● Building & evolving
for past three 1/2 yrs.● Why I love it.● How this has lead to
getting paid to “blog”.
Who the heck is this chick? (me cont..)
● From blogging to... blogging.
● ohksocialmedia.● Winter of 2013.● Evolution of business.● Other business
opportunities.● Importance of social
media.
What is Branding? (the low down) ● Constructing your vision into a cohesive and
consistent image so that it becomes recognizable to a larger audience.– Open to evolving.
– Can always be re-evaluated.
● Includes:– Look of your blog and social media accounts.
– Sound of your voice.
– How you engage with others.– Smallest details to the grandest ideas.
● What does branding look like..... (10 steps).
Branded Examples (ohksocialmedia)
Branded Examples (ohksocialmedia)...
Branded Examples (ohksocialmedia)...
Branded Examples (ohksocialmedia)...
Step 1 Planning The Menu: What Will It Be?
● Before you can cook, you need to know what you're making.
● Questions to ask:● Why are you blogging?● What impression do you want to create?● 3 points of view
● (audience; internal; industry).● What do you want to see come out of
your blog? ● What resources are available to you?● Your blog is you... Digitized
Step 2 Choosing Your Ingredients: Your Brand's Elements
● Selecting the name, tagline, fonts, colours, images, layout, etc...
● Mood Boards● Descriptors as Guidelines
● Consistency!● Look at Competition (aka allies)
● Standards v. Originality
● Get off the computer
Step 3Setting Up Your Station:Naming & Claiming Your Space● Platforms
● (Blogger V. Wordpress V. Tumblr)
● Domain names ● (.com v .net v .org v. .ca)
Step 4Doing the Prep: The Design Integrating your “ingredients” into a cohesive image
● Design important – fancy-pants not. ● Be authentic & true to your image & content.
● Looks PLUS content!● Photos ● White space
The Design Continued...
● The nitty gritty● Navigation Menu – simple and intuitive.● “About Us” - make it count!● Layout options.● Cloud tags & Category lists.● Social Media Accounts.● Testimonials, Reviews, Appearances, etc...
● Hiring an expert – get what you pay for.
Step 5Get Cookin! - The Execution Strategy
● Consistency in brand and interactions● Create A Schedule!
● Developing Posts (Blogging.)● Promotion:
– Social Media.– Comment, Comment, Comment, Comment Comment.
● Other Blog Work:– *** Reaching out to others ***– Finding time to plan.– Finding time for you.– Keeping it fun.
Step 6Authentic Cuisine: Finding Your Voice
● Develop a sound.● Tell stories.● Images & Photos:
● Great pictures..● Be unique.
● Dare to be:● Honest.● Controversial.● Authority.● Emotional.● Different.
http://www.latartinegourmande.com
http://www.jamieoliver.com
http://naturallyella.com
Step 7Plating: Preparing for Your Guests● Confidence.● Be AND Do.● Share your truth:
● Positivity v Negativity.● Honesty.● Creativity.
Step 8Serve It Up – Get Your Brand Seen
● Reach out to others
● Comment
● Networking via social media
● Start small & build up● Don't just start the
conversation, be a part of it● Speak WITH your audience,
not AT them● Beware the dreaded RT● Be in people's feeds
(consciousness) but don't be annoying
● Calls to action
Get Your Brand Seen Continued...
● Others via social media, giveaways, etc.. ● Also to yourself:
● Guest Posting● Make food from other bloggers (allies not enemies)● Article Writing
Step 9Chow Down: Buying Into Your Brand
● Advertising● Third party sidebar ads
– Ads & prime real-estate – Is it worth it?
● Link advertising● Sponsors
● Promotions, testing & samples● Making money blogging
● Branding as a launch pad for other opportunities● Establishing yourself as an authority● Build opportunities
Step 10Cleaning Up the Kitchen: Evaluating & Re-Evaluating
● Periodic check-ins.● Self ● Audience – don't be afraid to speak with them! Best way
to give them what they want.
● Throw out the old to keep it fresh● Keep it fun
In closing...● Micromovements● Consistency● Empower others● Take risks● You can't do it all
● Use your resources● Collaborate● Pay a professional
● Evaluate and re-evaluate● Evolve!● Keep it fresh by allowing for change
Thank you! (be social!)● Websites
– www.gastronomicalsovereignty.com– www.ohksocial.com
● Social Media● [email protected]
This presentation was created by:Kristy Gardner of:
Gastronomical Sovereignty
ohksocialmedia
Website Twitter
Blog Facebook
Google+ Pinterest
LinkedIn Instagram
Etsy Email
Gastronomicalsovereignty.com | www.ohksocial.com
Contributions & Credits...
Amuse Bouche – Slide #2 - http://pinterest.com/pin/139541288424213927/
Eating Churros – Slide #3 – http://www.instagram.com/kristy_gardner
Gastronomical Sovereignty – Slide #4 – http://www.gastronomicalsovereignty.com
Ohksocial – Slide #5 – http://www.ohksocial.com
Branded Examples – Slides #7, 8, 9, 10 – http://www.ohksocial.com/portfolio
Ingredients – Slide #12 - iStock Photo
Plates – Slide #13 - http://www.frenchlarkspur.blogspot.com
Cutting Board – Slide #13 - iStock Photo
Collages – Slides #16 & 17 – by ohksocialmedia
Skillet – Slide #18 - http://www.seriouseats.com
Blog Schedule Templates – Slides #19 & 20 – http://www.ohksocial.com/be-a-blogger-series-blog-schedule/
Contributions & Credits (cont)...
SARK – Slide #21 - http://www.planetSARK.com
La Tartine Gourmande Collage – Slide #22 – http://www.latartinegourmande.com
Jamie Oliver Collage – Slide #23 – http://www.jamieoliver.com
Naturally Ella Collage – Slide #24 – http://www.naturallyella.com
Asparagus – Slide #25 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/bognarreni/4518830084/
Social Media Donuts – Slide #26 - http://giraffecomms.com/index.php/news/entry/understand-social-media-at-a-
glance-thanks-to-a-doughnut/
Stand Out Apple – Slide #27 - iStockPhoto
Sponge – Slide #29 - iStockPhoto
Balloons – Slide #30 - http://www.blanccoco-photographe.com/blog/
Drinking Wine – Slide #31 – http://www.instagram.com/kristy_gardner
Contributions & Credits (cont)...
Clean Blogs Collage:
http://www.happyolks.com/
http://www.tarteletteblog.com/
http://www.spoonforkbacon.com/
http://foodess.com/
http://www.cannellevanille.com/
http://smittenkitchen.com/
“Dirty” Food Blogs Collage:
http://hipsterfood.tumblr.com/
http://thefooddept.blogspot.ca/
http://www.shutterbean.com/
http://www.dinneralovestory.com/
