subject: Three Free Tools to Help Define Your Brand Identity [print this page] Three Free Tools to Help Define Your Brand Identity
Three Free Tools to Help Define Your Brand Identity
Whos got the biggest, baddest blog on the block? Well, if youve got a strong brand identity, you do. Part of your brand strategy should be making your blog or your website the one people turn to when they need to know whats going on in the world.
Fortunately, there are a few great tools that can help you be the first on your block with the inside scoop. Even better news? Theyre free!
Back in October 2009, Google reached an agreement with Twitter to get access to the services fire hose of tweets. The result of that unholy union is Google Realtime. A Google spokesperson described it as Google relevance technology meets the real-time web.
Enter keywords, such as Egypt news, and youll get a page of results that lets you know whats being said right now. Theres a constant feed of new Tweets and posts and blogs as they happen. Have Google Realtime up and running on your computer all the time and youll have the latest news at your fingertips.
So how can you take advantage of Google Realtime to define your brand identity? Well, you can get the jump on competitors and post breaking news relevant to your market on your website, Facebook page, YouTube Channelyou name it! Be the first one to blog about the latest tax law. Tweet about the coming cold snap that will really put orange juice futures in the toilet. Being the first to comment creates strong brand identity and marks you as someone with their finger on the pulse of the industry.
As the news becomes older, keep an eye on what people want to know about it. Write a blog addressing the top questions, then drop a Tweet with a link to the blog. Keep posting updates about the original news, and pretty soon people will automatically turn to you to get the latest scoop. Its this kind of brand strategy that will keep the hits a comin!
Good brand strategy includes posting articles and blogging at regular intervals. You want to let your subscribers know youre dependable, that they can count on you to deliver the goods. When theres nothing going on at Twitter and you need something to write about, head on over to WordTracker.com and check out Keyword Questions. Not everything on WordTracker.com is free, but Keyword Questions is. This nifty little tool will show you the top questions surrounding any keyword you enter into the search box.
For example, in February 2011, typing in Obama Health Care gets the following top two questions:
1. How will Obama pay for national healthcare?
2. What is Obama healthcare plan?
These are the questions people want answered about the new health care system. So if you write an article titled How President Obama Will Pay For Health Care, your article will turn up anytime someone searches with those keywords. Its a great way to create strong brand identity as someone who knows the answers to timely and important questions.
Subscribing to Google Alerts is a good way to keep on top of whats happening in your market, too. Breaking news will drop right into your inbox, allowing you to be among the first to comment on a new trend. Its very easy to use, but, depending on what keywords you enter, you might find your inbox inundated with alerts.
Being a first responder to breaking news will help grow a strong brand identity. A little detail like this will really help you get out from the crowd. If youre a newcomer to the Internet and are looking to find something to jumpstart your presence, this tactic can really make a difference.
