Building a Website or Building a Brand

Today's post idea comes from John Mihelakis of Apps HQ

“Hey Vinny, post suggestion: Its about personal websites. It seems that ultimately everyone is branding themselves in the end. Most affiliates have their income sites & also their personal blog sites. Just curious on how you see things.”

Thanks for the suggestion on the post John. It is something that I have been seeing more and more of lately myself. The answer is really simple. Most affiliates want a site they will be able to sell someday. If you make your site a personal one odds are it won't be worth money to someone in the long run.

Most affiliates that I know use their personal blogs to blog about issues they are seeing or for more personal stuff that doesn't really belong on a money making site. The money making branded site should only be about the topic at hand. I am sure you won't be posting political stuff on the Apps-HQ site anytime soon. A personally blog would be a much better spot for it.

A lot of affiliates I know are building brand sites. This is for two reasons:

• Brands are getting better rankings in Google. There is no in and or buts about it. Most big affiliates are seeing this also happening and adjusting their business for it.
• It is easier to sell a brand site. They will also get more money for it.

I could never sell vinnyohare.com for anything close to what I would want for it. I could build a brand-able site with similar focus and sell it 5 years from now for a lot of money if I wanted to.