Importance of having a well-defined tagline
I have changed my blog’s tagline from “Helping you become better blogger. Everyday, Continuously!” to… well, to the above (see below the logo. For RSS readers who can’t see the new tagline, it’s - “Blogging Tips, Entrepreneurship, Usability, Making Money Online”). It’s a generic tagline, not so unique like the previous one, but it gives an idea of what this blog is all about, especially to the new readers.
So why the change?
- First of all, I thought blogging tips niche was too narrow for me. I found, there were so many topics (articles) were left unblogged, which I wanted to blog but somehow due to my chosen niche couldn’t blog.
Also, lately, due to my mba (exams, papers) I was not able to fulfill my promise of blogging everyday (continuously). And that’s the last thing I want to do - to NOT fulfill my promise.
- Secondly, I thought not all my readers have blogs. So they wouldn’t benefit if I keep writing about blogging only.
- Thirdly, I am quite positive that many of you want to read about Entrepreneurship, Usability, Making Money Online, Web Marketing, SEO and more.
How important is Tagline?
It’s very important. Here are some of the benefits of properly written taglines:
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Usability factor: For your blog’s reader (especially to the new readers) it gives a snapshot of your blog’s content. New readers will be able to tell what topics you discuss in your blog, without going to your “about page”.
It turns new readers into regular readers: This happens when someone stumbles on a new blog that he/she has never seen before, usually it happens through Search Engines. Personally, often times I subscribed to certain blogs’ RSS this way. I would search for something in Google, find some results, find some good blog articles, look at their logo and read the tagline…. and that tagline would be the deciding factor for me to either bookmark the blog or press the small [x] button in Firefox tab.
If the tagline is something that interests me and that I can relate to, then I would subscribe to its RSS. On the other hand, if the tagline is something that is not in my interest or if it is totally missing, I wouldn’t bother to subscribe.
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So, if you want to turn first-timers into regular readers, avoid “my personal ramblings” type of tagline for your blog. (Unless of course if your blog is not a niche blog).
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It sets your blog a course: Your tagline is basically your mission statement, your promise to your blog readers and your niche that you have chosen to blog. Carefully crafted tagline will become your course that you will follow through. It will be your personal guideline on what to post and what not to post (deciding factor for staying on topic).
Disadvantages of a Tagline
I do not see any disadvantage of having a tagline, but I see how wrongly set (defined) tagline can have adverse affects on the blog or blogger. Like in my case, my previous tagline was not accommodating enough. So in that sense it was constraining me from blogging (growing) more.
Every blog has to decide to have a tagline at one time. SEOmoz didn’t think it needed a tagline until this post. And Problogger.net is still deciding, since 2005. How about you? Do you have a tagline?
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By Christopher Borja on Feb 4, 2008
I have a tagline but I included it in my title field, so the tagline field is empty. It’s just an experiment though. :)
By Recliners on Feb 4, 2008
Hi there! This is my first time on your site and i am very much put in the picture, so to speak, as to what your blog is about. I sounds interesting and i liked your post about taglines. It is important to have a clear, self explanatory tagline.
By balootisme on Feb 4, 2008
Well, its probably an easy sell when someone has been reading your blog for a year or so!
By balootisme on Feb 4, 2008
I have read your for blog one years and found that it is really helpful.
By Dining Room Furniture on Feb 4, 2008
As a visitor without a blog of my own as yet, I find your logic impeccable. I look forward to all your posts including on blogging as it won’t be long before I have my own blog too.
By Dining Room Furniture on Feb 4, 2008
Incidentally, I also intend reading all your popular articles by and by.
By Eddie Poh on Feb 5, 2008
Yes, I would put tagline to define the blog’s objective(s) and readers can tell what to expect in it. Tagline can change from time to time, it can help to pave to a new niche. Who knows?
By David Bradley on Feb 5, 2008
I recently changed the tagline on Sciencetext.com to “Helping you, by helping myself with blogging, browsing, and tech tips”, which hopefully spells out exactly what the site’s about.
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By Andrew Pavelski on Feb 5, 2008
A good tagline can definitely make a difference! Nice article.
By Thomas Sinfield on Feb 5, 2008
I was about to mention the SEO benefits they I realised that it is an image and wouldnt provide any :P
By Ades on Feb 6, 2008
- Recliners, welcome! Hope to see your more often here.
- balootisme, thanks for being a regular reader of AdesBlog. I will try my best to continue benefiting my readers, Inshallah.
- Dining Room Furniture, welcome to AdesBlog. I hope you will find the past articles useful.
- Eddie Poh, I also think that tagline can be changed ;) but maybe it’s shouldn’t be too often.
- David Bradley, that tagline sounds good. But maybe you should try to emphasize on your expertise. People might think you are not good at what you are doing, when you say helping myself… just a thought.
- Thanks Andrew!
- Thomas, that was a good one ;) I guess putting the tagline in the alt tags can bring SEO benefits.