Questions

Currently I own a brand by the name of The UNXPSD (The Unexposed) and still trying to decide on where I want to take this brand. This brand that I created stands for showcasing undiscovered creatives (musicians, artists, dancers, clothing designers, photographers, etc...) across all the social media platforms that The UNXPSD is placed on. I am on all major social media channels such as Instagram (8k followers), Twitter (5k followers), Facebook, YouTube, blog, etc... Ever since I started doing this I have been gaining great feedback and responses from all my following and creative people that I feature. As I begin to get further into this and see my following is rising, I have been trying to think of how to make money with this concept/brand. I currently have a blog (currently have 3 writers) that gets a good amount of views and all my social media has pretty good engagement/growth (1500 followers/month). Since I do have a loyal following somewhat, where do you guys think I am able to take this to start bringing some money in now or in the future? I have a few ideas but not sure yet: Online Publication/Magazine, Production/Media Company, Entertainment Company As I am somewhat scattered since I am interested in all of them, maybe someone can help on where I need to get started or throw me some insightful tips. Thanks!

How to monetize your blog? There are all sorts of ways, all of which entail their own challenges – paid advertorials, banner ads, contextual PPC ads, pre-packaged affiliate programs, negotiated sponsorships, etc.

Now, listen; don't take this the wrong way, but not everyone will be smitten by the brand name "The UNXPSD". As things stand, I find it a bit unwieldy, since any time the site is mentioned in conversation – i.e. without a visual – it involves a cumbersome explanation about spelling. That does inhibit word of mouth growth, which ultimately holds you back.

The creative misspelling may also be an obstacle for sponsors and customers. Some will like the style, but some will see it as "cutting corners". So I can't help wondering if this will lower your chances of attracting sponsorships and advertorials. Obviously this is no reflection on the quality of what you're doing, content-wise. But books ARE judged by their covers.

I'm not necessarily suggesting that you ought to rebrand. But it might do you a world of good to obtain the naturally spelled domain name and forward it to your website. That way, there's no longer any concern if people don't "get" the weird spelling.

It's not uncommon for startups to begin with deliberately misspelled brand names, since this enables them to find a cheap domain. Likewise, it's not uncommon for the more successful brands to circle back later and buy the "upgrade" version.

If you eventually decide that this may be worth pursuing, I can help you save time, effort, and possibly money – either advising you on how to proceed or even negotiating a domain acquisition on your behalf.

Domain names are what I do professionally. So your situation – with all its pros and cons – is a common situation for entrepreneurs to be in.


Answered 8 years ago

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