I learned more than I ever thought to contemplate about branding, marketing, and SEO at the Blogging for Business conference I panelled at last week. I’m working on a post on the business, technology, and art of blogging, since I figure maybe I’ll learn something that way. Kind of like Pray Until You Feel Like Praying, only Blog Until You Know How to Blog.
The conference was fun: I got to see my fun Utah blogging friends, Sheri and Laura. (I used to just roll my eyes when I read other bloggers’ rhapsodies about blogging buddies, but now I aspire to that). I also met someone who I was not at all surprised to learn later was 1st runner up in the Mrs. Utah pageant. She just had that Mrs. Utah glow and charisma. Sometimes I get twitchy around pageant-type women, but before I comment on that, I should probably disclose that Kelly King Anderson and I have something in common. Something about beauty pageants, even.
She won Interview at the Mrs. Utah pageant, and SO DID I. At the Miss Salem Pageant, fourteen short years ago. Can I tell you that I couldn’t have been prouder (I mean, unless I’d won the actual crown) to win Interview. You know, because that’s the thinkin’ part, darlin’.
Kelly was on the panel with Laura and me. Her blog/online magazine, Startup Princess, is a good example of serious branding. ‘Startup Princesses’ are women entrepreneurs, and the more experienced women who mentor them with great advice, encouragement, and support are ‘Fairy Godmothers.’ Kelly even attributes much of her site’s success to the simple fact that she was fortunate/bright enough to not call it something dull like “entreprenuering mentorship for mom entrepreneurs.”
So I’ve been thinking about the branding thing, and, too bad I chose a dull name like What About Mom for this site, although it made sense at the time because of that movie What About Bob?, which totally inspired me with the idea of the normal-seeming guy going insane while Bill Murray starts to look better and better.
It’s probably too late to change my blog to Mommy Princess or Who’s Going to Clean this Room? Princess. But it’s not too late for my friend Tara to come up with a great brand idea for this super cool website she is going to launch and make a million dollars and take me to Europe with her.
She and I were brainstorming on the phone the other day. I came up with smokin’ ideas like Handy Princess and Princess Handyman, because I’m so original and creative that everything I propose is a copy of Startup Princess.
Then today as we were driving to Grandma’s house, Sally said, “Mom, you know how you were talking to your friend about needing a good title for a blog for someone who’s really a girly girl but also good with power tools?” And I said, Yes, because it was just the other day and my short-term memory isn’t that bad.
And she said, “I have a great one for you. How about: I’m Cool With A Tool.”
Dick and I could not be prouder that our seven-year old is thinking up domain names in her spare time. Watch for her in Miss Utah 2019. She is gonna OWN Interview.
Tags: blogging, branding, business conferences, Kelly King Anderson, Mrs. Utah, pageants, SEO, Startup Princess
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Hi Jane
I love that you have an alias.
What a fun surprise to see your link coming into my site and to see this very kind and generous post about Startup Princess. I actually worried that I had blown my chance to connect with you because of the girly factor associated with my brand and then mentioning the pageant during the panel! You know, it’s not typical that a girl who go to Dooce book signings would have nice things to say about pageants let alone have been in one herself!
Fellow Interview winner!!
I love your daughter’s “I’m Cool with a Tool” tag would be perfect for “handy princess URL” so indeed, you’re a great team. What a bright sweetheart your daughter is, perhaps my prince charming could be her escort in 2019.
email me!
Kelly King Andersons last blog post..Wanted! Women Entreprenerus to Speak for the Fall Startup Princess Conference
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“I’m Cool With a Tool”–can’t stop laughing.
Carolinas last blog post..El Abuelo
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i’m loving a kid who comes up with domain names. that’s awesome.
the mama bird diariess last blog post..sound of music revamped
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Sounds like an awesome conference. I need to see if there’s something in my area.
I like ‘what about mom’ It has many meanings!
We are THAT familys last blog post..MEN’S WEEK: My Hubby’s Favorite Blog + Giveaway!
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I like What about Mom actually. I’ve been snooping now and then and I actually found you from your husbands blog (we are on the same techwr-l list).
I’m Cool with a Tool does have a nice ring to it.
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I love “I’m Cool…” and “What About Mom”!
I cracked up at KKA’s comment, too. =)
Marigolds last blog post..Father’s Day
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It sounds like you had a great time! Kelly’s site sounds amazing, I think I’m definitely gonna head over there to check it out. While I may not be an entrepreneur myself, I know a couple and I want to help in any way that I can. I’ll let them handle all the creative stuff, I’m not too good at that, haha.
But, I’m an ambassador for Microsoft and right now we’re trying to reach out and connect with influential bloggers, like you, and try and offer some help to those women trying to get their business started! I’d love to share some information with you on how we can do that!
We just wrapped up a women’s entrepreneurial tour across the US called “Vision To Venture;” the response and turn-out was great!
I’d really love your take on these offerings we have right now; I would have contacted you via email but I didn’t know which was the best way to reach you.
Thank you so much, I hope I didn’t overstep my bounds by directly contacting you. Get back to me if I’ve caught your interest– I’d love to share more info with you.
Best,
Bianca Russo
Official Microsoft Ambassador
bianca.russo@live.com
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Miss Salem?! My parents are from Benjamin. I feel a weird suburb-of-Spanish-Fork kinship with you.
EMamas last blog post..Customer Service
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