In a traditional publishing house, there are many different kinds of editors—associate editors, copyeditors, managing editors, and editors-in-chief. With your blog, you have the unique opportunity to be both the editor-in-chief AND the writer. Cool, huh? But even with (or maybe because of!) this major difference, you can still learn and apply techniques from professional magazine writers and editors.

As Blogger-in-Chief, you’ll especially want to focus on keeping your blog in the right mindframe. Borrow from the magazine EIC—consider your branding and hiring team members.

1. Your Brand

Decisions, Decisions

Before moving forward with your blog and its design, always consider its branding. Who’s your audience? What’s your niche? What do you want people to remember your blog for?

For example, what do you say when you tell people about your blog? Can you explain what it’s about in just a few words? Or, do you have to go into more detail?

Also define your focus by asking what your concept is. Your blog’s name is one place that should definitely highlight your focus—readers should understand what you want to say as soon as they see it. Quick question: Who’s the primary audience for Seventeen Magazine? What about Discover Girls?

Branding Tip: Think of what sets your blog apart from all the other blogs in the sea. Raise those sails!

Designer Blogs

It’s tempting to use the first pretty template you find out there, but you want your blog to look different, so a clean, default template won’t help you in the long run. Instead, create and/or use templates, banners, and icons that are one of a kind. That’s how you stay memorable in readers’ minds.

Remember to search for a good designer that has prior experience in your blogging area or niche. Also find out what other bloggers in your niche are doing. Don’t compare yourself to them or be competitive. Just take a peek to know what blogging trends they follow.

Find all these tips and more in Book 3 of Blogger Babes Blueprint, Blog Content: How to Write Blog Posts That Get Your Readers’ Attention.

Protect Your Brand

You probably know this by now, but your blog is an extension of you. It’s the result of your passion and hard work. That’s why, when you’ve finally built your brand, protect it.

Only take on projects that align with your principles and brand. Don’t ever settle. If you ever get offers from people who would like to collaborate with you but their project doesn’t really fit with your vision or ideals, don’t be afraid to say no. Do you! 

2. Hiring Team Members

Now, one of the primary goals of both a blogger and a magazine editor is to produce exciting content that keeps coming. However, running a blog alone can be tiring and get a little lonely… but the beauty of being the blogger-in-chief is that you can hire people to help you run your blog better!

When it comes to hiring, first define your own strengths and weaknesses. Are you good at writing? Photography? Graphic design?

Then decide where you might need help. Perhaps you’re an excellent writer, but you actually need help with graphics. Maybe you can hire a freelancer to do your graphics for you. Or if funds don’t permit, considering offering an exchange of services—you can write articles for an artist in exchange for their graphic design services. Don’t be afraid to ask!

Blogger Babes has an awesome, flexible staff that delegates work to each other to increase our efficiency. Without my ladies, we wouldn’t be where we are today. So, I want to know—do you have a team? Tell me all about your hired and ghost staff below.

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