Creating a Brand and Business Through a History Blog: Inspiration and Commitment to My Readers
Start at the beginning so this blog is inspiring to you.
I've already read and used Sally Miller's Essential Habits of 6-Figure Bloggers book to help me with my Free At 50 blog. (Spoiler alert: 6 figures aren't instant and that's not what this book is truly about.) As I've made the decision to build this What American History Is About blog into a business, the book is off the bookshelf and with me at all times. At least within reach of my laptop anyway!
Why? Because this is a NEW blog.
New ideas, content, and of course, a new brand.
Earning income with Free At 50 may include some of the monetization concepts (or not), but history is a whole different ball game. And I have to start at the beginning, but this time: I'm starting from experience as a blogger.
Disclaimer: As a blogger, I use affiliate links sometimes! I may receive commission from purchases I share; it does not change your price but sometimes you might get a discount.
Be continually inspired myself and the brand will naturally surface.
One thing that's super-easy to do living in Colonial Williamsburg is to be continually inspired on the history I love so much.
But what about being inspired on the business of blogging? Of writing? Of creating, building, and evolving my brand for you to enjoy and find value in? Funny story: I actually wrote a post about personal branding on the Free At 50 blog inspired by Jefferson. (read it here)
And now I sit across from the same statue I used the photo of for that post, and am inspired for the same purpose: branding. There sits Jefferson, with a quill in hand. Being a writer, where better to be inspired about your mission with, content for, and core values connected to a history blog?
Thomas Jefferson with quill in hand, Merchant's Square
Promises to readers of this What American History Is About blog.
1- Create a mission statement that truly captures what I'll be bringing to you. I believe that a mission statement truly is a promise to consumers (in this case, readers and subscribers). Clarifying it will ensure continuity as well as the assurance you're in the right place when you open up this blog.
2- Set up guiding principles that marry my values with the mission. My WHY for blogging is about a lifestyle. What I've branded as the Free At 50 life.
It's about living location-independent, using the skills I've both learned and earned over the years to do what I love, and having time freedom. I own my calendar and my clock. This blog needs to serve me in order to serve you so the principles that guide my actions and decisions with it will follow my own set of rules.
3- Make the brand recognizable in your inbox and on social media. I've started with fonts and colors and will continue with it. But also: the voice. (not AI, my own). Whether you're following along on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram, the WAHISA blog will be easy to notice! And when you open your email: same!
Side note: be sure to use the form on the page to subscribe to the email list!
And speaking of all that social media, all of it is clickable above, so follow me on any platforms you love. As for Instagram, I'm in a transitional phase to become refocused on this blog!
4- Listen to y'all. Yes, there are three ways to share your thoughts, ideas, requests, and experiences about history, and learning it, with me.
- Comment in the comments section at the bottom of each post.
- Message me using any of the social media accounts.
- Subscribe to this blog and connect via email.
5- Keep this blog authentic, fresh, and unique. This blog started as place for me to share my passion for history, as well as the cool things I learn and muse over. It's been pretty much journal-style.
I've evolved it a bit using the structural concepts I've learned as a blogger to make it easy-to-read, but one thing has not and will not change:
- it will continue to be my authentic thoughts and voice
- be fresh from the perspective of things I find and learn, and of course
- be a unique way of accessing history, from the main focus of early American history to the before and after of our Colonial era
Now back to work but of course, I'll drop some closing words from history- as always!
Merchant's Square seating
Closing words from history.
Today's source: the 16th edition of Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, original copyright 1882, published 1992.
From Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanac, May 1738:
"If you would not be forgotten,
As soon as you are dead and rotten,
Either write things worthy reading,
Or do things worth the writing."
My goal with this life I've created as a blogger: both!
There is a huge practical disclaimer to the content on this blog, which is my way of sharing my excitement and basically journaling online.
1) I am not a historian nor an expert. I will let you know I’m relaying the information as I understand and interpret it. The employees of Colonial Williamsburg base their presentations, work, and responses on historical documents and mainly primary sources.
2) I will update for accuracy as history is constant learning. If you have a question about accuracy, please ask me! I will get the answer from the best source I can find.
3) Photo credit to me, Daphne Reznik, for all photos in this post unless otherwise credided! All photos are personal photos taken in public access locations or with specific permission.
Are you enjoying the blog? I'm enjoying researching and writing it- so keep me going!Tip me using my online tip jar!
