Creating an effective blog tagline

2009 June 22
by timethief

One of the major mistakes bloggers make  is not taking the time to:

  • carefully consider the purpose for their blog;
  • express the purpose and the brand  in  key words and phrases that apply to their content;
  • include the same  in their tagline and blog description.

Taglines are branding messages

Blog titles are often confusing about what the purpose is and what  readers can expect. Also,  when  bloggers do not have subdomains and/or domain urls that are consistent with the purpose, keywords  and the brand of the blog, a weak or confounding title can cause even more confusion.

A tagline is a short and memorable branding message that can be expressed as a subtitle.  It can help define who the blog is for, and what’s in it for them if they stay and read the content. (See: How to Become a Better Blogger 4: Essentials)

Business blogs need taglines

Many business people are taking advantage of  social networks to establish internet relationships within niche networks and others,  to participate in blog centered communities, to assert their business presence online, and to reach more potential customers, business partners and employees. It all means there’s increasingly an assumption that in the future most businesses will have both a website and a  blog. (See: Business: Blog, Website or Both?)

Blogging tips for creating memorable taglines

(1)  It’s important to create an easy to remember tagline that  expresses  what you want your readers  to recall, by using words that linger in your readers’ minds about your blog,  and what you have to offer in it. When determining the words a tagline  will contain it will always be more effective when it comes to drawing targeted readers to your blog, if contains the keywords or key phrases that operate as a branding slogan for your blog.

(2)  As you most certainly want to have the best blog in your niche then why not include words that imply mastery, excellence, superiority – the best!

(3)  Including a blog title and tagline in the metadata that contain key words and key word phrases that reflect your brand means you have applied some basic SEO that  search spiders will crawl and index.  When potential readers type those key words and phrases into search engines, the results will be directing an organic (unpaid) for and targeted traffic flow to your blog.

Preparation

(1)  Questions – Ask yourself the following questions and record the answers to them.

  • Who are your readers?
  • What do you provide your readers with?
  • What action(s) are you trying to evoke in your readers?
  • How does your blog differ from competing blogs?

(2)   What are the keywords and key phrases that you want your readers to instantly recall when your blog is mentioned?

Tools:

(3)  Brainstorming

You can define your search for a tagline as a creative challenge for yourself or for you and your  readers.  After you have isolated keywords and key phrases,  brainstorming alone or  brainstorming with your readers can be effective when it comes to determining which combination of words  is  best to use to create an easy to remember tagline that  expresses  your blog’s brand.

(4) Polling

You can select from among the keywords and key phrases  and set up a poll or simply create a post and ask your reader’s to help you create a powerful tagline. Perhaps by onvolving your readers in the process  you will uncover the most  compelling reasons that motivate readers to return to your blog. (See: Blogging Polls and Surveys for WordPress.com blogs)

Reference: Business Name & Tag Line Generator

Related posts found in this blog: Writing effective blog headlines

21 Responses leave one →
  1. 2009 June 22
    wanderblogger permalink

    Great topics. I appreciate your tips for bloggers like me. This helps a lot. Thanks!

  2. 2009 June 22

    I love writing taglines! I had given about 40 taglines to a blogger friend when she was considering changing it!

    Presently I am using a quote as my tagline!

    • 2009 July 2

      @Vikas
      Ah ha … why am I not surprised that you have a hidden talent that I may one day call upon? Your friend has a good friend – you!
      Best wishes as always,
      tt

  3. 2009 June 23

    Hi,

    The link for the Keyword Density Analyzer leads to a 404 error and the link to the Keyword Selector Tool leads to an advertising page.
    cg

    Thanks for letting me know I b0rked the first link. I have also replaced the second link as overture had come and gone and come and gone again. tt

  4. 2009 June 24

    I just stumbled onto your blog today. It’s great! I just started a blog last week and after looking through some of your posts I feel as if I have a long way to go! But that’s alright. Thanks for sharing all your tips and you’ll for sure see me back.

    • 2009 July 2

      @Matt
      I’m so happy to hear you found my blog and liked what you found. Thanks for posting your comment and best wishes for happy blogging.

  5. 2009 June 24

    Good topic, good post. I am glad to see that our tagline fits well with the Keyword Density Analyzer.

    We researched taglines quite a bit and we observed that a lot of leading brands have taglines whose meaning would be obscure to the point of being meaningless but for the fact that the brand is well known.

    So for new sites, or any site whose brand and purpose is not already well known, clever taglines are good, but taglines that explain the site are better.

    Of course, taglines that explain the site and are also clever, are best of all.

    • 2009 July 2

      @David
      So for new sites, or any site whose brand and purpose is not already well known, clever taglines are good, but taglines that explain the site are better.

      Of course, taglines that explain the site and are also clever, are best of all.

      Well said! Thanks so much for being a faithful reader who always leaves me sage comments. I apologize for being so far behind in answering them all. In summer our business is very active, and I don’t have the time I’d like to have to answer comments promptly upon receipt.

      Namaste’

  6. 2009 June 27

    I have rotating taglines, but my friends favorite one seems to be the “Flinging Bras Since 1977″ one.

    • 2009 July 2

      @Jannie Funster
      Rotating taglines sound good on the surface but I question if they are really the best choice from an SEO perspective. However, if they are working well for you then blog on!

  7. 2009 June 28

    Wah, simply great info indeed for such of the bloggers who are serious about successful blogging. Thanks.

    • 2009 July 2

      @Gopal
      It’s great to hear this post was useful to a faithful reader like yourself. Thanks so much for letting me know that it was.
      Namaste’

  8. 2009 July 2

    Hi there,

    Its really a nice post for the beginners like me…
    I had some post previously but was not consistent in posting…
    Now m back in action and I know i am nowhere..cud you pls suggest me a tagline for ma blog…Its about current affairs, creating awareness..etc

    Luv to c ur comment on that….thanx in advance

    • 2009 July 2

      @Abhisek
      I have provided everything you need in the post above to go about creating your own tagline for your blog. I am not a regular reader of your blog and I will not be suggesting a tagline for you because that’s your assignment. Cheers.

  9. 2009 July 13
    Lin Sanford permalink

    I am a new blogger and found you because I need a tagline. I can see lots of good info–I will bookmark your site. Thanks

  10. 2009 July 21
    Charles Rinehart permalink

    Great blogs. Lots of good info. All the best.

  11. 2009 July 22

    Never really understood the awesome potential of assigning ‘tags’. Gotta be more creative now. Thanks. Dilip

    • 2009 July 22

      @Dilip
      I believe you have confused two very separate things. This post is about creating a tagline after your blog name. A tagline is a short and memorable branding message that can be expressed as a subtitle.

      Please read this FAQs and understand that all posts require tagging so search engines will index the tags (keywords and keyword phrases) and send readers to your blog who are looking for information about those key words and key word phrases (tags). http://faq.wordpress.com/2007/09/21/the-difference-between-tags-and-categories/

  12. 2009 July 22
    Dilip Naidu permalink

    Got it! I admit I am a novice. Thanks :)

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