Unlock the Secret Branding Tricks Every Writer Must Know—No Marketing Degree Needed!

Word Wise: Practical Writing Tips for Freelancers and Solopreneurs

Whether you’re a new writer or a New York Times bestselling author, you need to understand branding basics.

Confession: I’m not a marketer. At one point, the word “branding” gave me the willies. Branding meant creating a phony image … manipulating minds to capture attention… creating a façade of success to get eyeballs on my content.

But to stay current, I dug into what “branding” means for freelancers. I found out there’s plenty more to it than simply a fancy logo, well-selected fonts, and a pleasing color scheme. In fact, branding for writers has little to do with creating a persona and misleading clickbait tactics … and a whole lot to do with offering your readers authenticity and value.

Don’t let yourself get sucked into the wrong kind of thinking like I did. If you’re a writer worth your salt, you’ll build a personal brand that’s genuine. Here’s why … and how.

What is a personal brand?

First, let’s set the record straight. If you’re a writer, you have a personal brand — whether you like it or not.

Your personal brand is your intentional reputation.

If you’re an intentional writer, your personal brand communicates what you stand for. You make decisions about your values and niche, and in doing so, you invite readers to trust you. Trust, as you know, opens doors to writing gigs and book contracts and work for hire.

But what if you’re not building a reputation with intent and purpose? Passivity doesn’t earn you points. People form opinions about you regardless. The writer who doesn’t intentionally create a personal brand makes a choice. It’s one of confusion, mixed messages, and chaos.

That’s a reputation I’d like to avoid.

Why bother building your brand

Be proactive in choosing your personal brand, and you will:

• Have clarity when you write, seek clients, and publish.