Few people consider this when the start within the online world because often times it feels as though they are “attempting” to make money.

That is part in parcel the problem. This is not an attempt at a real business. By coming to Wealthy Affiliate, you are learning how to properly build a business within any vertical or niche online, starting with your website and your domain name.

And this WILL become your brand. Your website is your brand. Your activities are your brand. And with time and as you accumulate authority within a given niche, your brand is only going to continue to increase. Every action you take online could potential lead to the creation or the depletion of your brand, so it is something that you need to take seriously and that you need to be “aware” of every step of the journey.

That is why you need to think long term, right from the very outset of your business

Think of some of the most successful brands.

I can think of a few off of the top of my head. Apple. A famous brand. They afford to sell things at a higher price than other companies because (a) they have an excellent product (b) they have excellent customer service (c) their focus is building something that is of the utmost quality. The focus on “being better”.

Think of how a brand has captured and KEPT your interest over the years. Was it because they were good at selling? Partly maybe. Was it because they had a great product/service that delivered? Yes. Was it because they helped you solve a problem and did so in a way that was very thoughtful? Yes.

Did they put the customer at the center of their developments, innovations, and support? YES!

That is how you build a brand.

What about an affiliate marketing site or an authority site?

So how does this translate into an online business, one that is being started from a mere “seed”, working towards something of much more substance.

Your branding online starts right from your domain name that you choose/purchase. This is going to be your personal brand and that is why we always recommend that you choose a domain name that is “brandable” when you build your business, versus targeting keywords or including a “trademark”.

You want to own your brand, you want to take hold of it, and you want to build out your website with a long term vision right from the get go. If you do, your chances of actually building a long term and very lucrative business online will increase drastically.

Need a "class" on branding?

Jay recently did a live class on branding, one that will offer you an incredible amount of insight into how to properly brand your website, your online business, and how to do so right from the get go.

You can watch the replay here (as many times as you like):

https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/training/branding

Here are some of the topics that will be covered within this training

• What EXACTLY is Branding?
• How Branding Will Make You More Money
• Some Awesome Branding Examples
• The 4 Pillars of your Brand
• The Tools for Branding
• Live Q & A

Your website is a brand, regardless of whether or not it is an affiliate marketing business, an ebay business, an etsy store, a software company or an offline business. Just remember that and keep the idea close to you ever step you move forward in your business.

If you have any questions about branding your business online or you have any stories or experiences you would like to share, please leave your comments below.