Hints, Tips, & Suggestions To Re-branding Your Blog or Website
If you are a follower of the blog (if not, you should be and can sign up here 😉 ) you know that Parenting Beyond! recently rebranded from Parenting In Northern Kentucky. I rebranded for a few reasons.
1. When I started the blog, the intention was to focus on the NKY area. That changed a bit once the blog was actually up and running.
2. I wanted a national reach while keeping a NKY section
3. 90% of the blog following was/ is national and not local to NKY
4. PR and marketing reps often misunderstood our reach and audience
Maybe you have similar reasons for rebranding. Maybe you just want a fresh start. Whatever your reasons, rebranding can make a huge difference in your company’s success: good and bad. Before you rebrand, here are a few things to think about and lessons I learned.
1. Keep the new name broad, but not.
A blogger friend of mine mentioned how cool she thought it was that blogs can have completely random open names, like Dandelion, etc. Another suggested the name being super specific to what you are doing with your blog, like Parenting In NKY. I tried to find a balance between both. I wanted something that let someone know right away what the blog is about, but broad enough that I can shift gears later if I wanted. I don’t want to have to rebrand again.
2. Think long term.
Think long term. Choose a site name that will work from now until forever. Will the new name likely work from now on? You don’t want to have to rebrand again for many reasons. Again, keep it broad and general enough that it will work even if you shift the site focus a bit. Another reason, you can only change your Facebook name once- ever. If you rebrand more than once, you will have to start over with a new FB page and start a new following.
3. Add the old site name in the tagline.
I worried about how followers would find me if they somehow missed the news that the site moved. In hopes I could still be found with the old name, I added it to the tagline of the new: Parenting Beyond! ~ Parenting In NKY and Beyond!
4. Check social media availability.
Hit all the social media sites and check to be sure the handle you want is available. If someone already has the handle matching your domain/ site title, it can be confusing to your followers.
5. Check similar domains and social media handles.
Check the availability and use of similar domains and handles. If your site is “Parenting Beyond”, is someone using “Beyond Parenting”? Do your best to avoid follower confusion.
6. Price potential domains before making a final decision.
I really struggled with finding the perfect name and tag line for the blog. After months of consideration, I FINALLY came up with something I really liked. I excitedly clicked to purchase the domain only to find out it was a premium domain and was currently priced at $4963. Say what?!?! Only the hour before I had complained to a friend that there weren’t any current domain promo codes and I may have to pay…are you ready for it….(gulp)…a full $12!! Needless to say, I was put in my place by the domain world and went back to the drawing board.
7. There is a 90 day waiting period to transfer domain hosts.
I didn’t realize until after the fact that there is a 90 day waiting period to transfer your domain name to another host. I purchased my domain name through one site, but had to wait 90 days to be allowed to transfer it to Bluehost, my hosting site. If you don’t want to have to wait 90 days to have your new domain up and running, be sure to purchase it through your hosting site.
8. Purchase similar domains.
Wait for a sale. When a domain site runs a great one, stock up. Purchase variations of your domain (.org, .net, etc) and similar domains.
9. Changing your Facebook page name and URL.
As I mentioned above, you can only change your Facebook page name once- ever. If you change again, you will need to start a new page and a new following. To change the page name, FB will ask for the new name and evaluate how similar the old and new names are. Chances are they will then follow up with an email asking for documentation proving you own that domain or site (I had a friend rename from Bluegrass Mom to Bluegrass Moms and FB wanted documentation b/c the names were too different- LOL). A copy of the receipt from your domain purchase can be used as documentation. It took a couple of weeks, but they approved my name change and notified all my followers of the change. You can change your FB URL multiple times I believe.
10. Changing your non-Facebook social media handles.
Most social media platforms are fairly easy to change and update. One thing you can do after changing the name of your accounts is set up new accounts with the old name. For example: after I changed my accounts to @ParentingBeyond, I set up new accounts with @ParentingInNKY informing followers we had moved should they end up at the old URL. Check out the Twitter account under the old URL and you will see what I mean: Twitter.com/parentinginnky and follow the blog on the new twitter.com/ParentingBeyond
11. Make sure your followers know you are rebranding.
Write up a post, send out emails, post on social media, etc. Get the word out! Make sure your followers and companies you work with know it’s still you and where to find you. When mentioning your site the first few months after rebranding, be sure to throw in the old site name: ex- “My blog is “Parenting Beyond” (currently rebranding from “Parenting In NKY”).
12. Update business cards and marketing tools.
Make sure you purchase new business cards and marketing tools with your new locations.
12. Keep your old email address.
Chances are you will also set up a new email address when rebranding. That’s a great idea, but keep your old. Keeping your old will save you from having to reset all of the many accounts you’ve already set up with the original email address. Even better, set up your accounts so your mail sent to the old address will automatically forward to the new. Want to personalize your email address? Check out this video and learn how.
Rebranding can be a scary thing. At least, it was for me. However, if you go in prepared it can be a bit less stressful. Good luck!!
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How helpful were these suggestions? Have you rebranded?? Have any other tips? We’d love to know. Please share with us in the comments below!
Disclosure: All opinions expressed above are my own and are in no way influenced by companies or brands mentioned within. Post and page may contain affiliate links and advertising. Thank you for clicking through them! It helps keep Parenting Beyond! here for you 
