Angelina Jolie is one of the most popular female celebrities of this era. Her beauty, humanitarian efforts, and success can teach us plenty about blogging.
The concept
Angelina Jolie’s life is a life about marketing and success. Every time she enters the media, she is marketing herself either directly or indirectly.
Celebrities love the media, as long as it makes them look good. When a celebrity is given that extra minute of media-time, it means more money from the next film no matter how badly the acting is.
What Angelina Jolie teaches bloggers
- Sex Sells – Whenever someone speaks of Angelina Jolie, their first words include “she is hot.” Never once is her acting ability the first trait mentioned.
Create sex appeal for your blog by using images and CSS to improve its overall feel.
- You are being watched – Anything she does makes the news. She was on the beach yesterday, news headline! She bought diapers, news headline! There’s nothing she can do without being frontpage material on every tabloid.
Everything you say online is stored somewhere on the internet. Don’t say something unless you are ready to take the consequences.
- Commercial success isn’t always from best performance – Angelina Jolie’s best commercial success: Mr & Mrs. Smith. Her best acting performance: Girl Interrupted.
Commercial success doesn’t always happen because of great writing. Sometimes it happens when we least expect it.
- Create your own image – A little known fact about Angelina Jolie is that she is the daughter of Jon Vought. She created her own image and garnered much success because of it.
Pull yourself apart from the blogging community and create your own style. Just because DoshDosh or Problogger does it doesn’t mean you have to (and vice-versa).
- Patience is success – At a young age, Jolie was teased for being extremely thin and wearing glasses and braces. She became so depressed that she cut her arms and legs to suppress the emotional pain. Ten years into the future and she is one of the most successful female actresses, and most beautiful, in present-day Hollywood.
Many bloggers expect to see results right out of the gate. This rarely happens. Keep writing and find your voice; success will find you when it is ready.
- Goodwill brings good publicity – Her humanitarian work has brought her name into more newscasts than any movie ever did. Her humanitarian efforts has helped gain her many awards and she is now seen as environmentally friendly and overall a great person.
Doing something for other bloggers or a charity is a great way to gain attention. Do something for a fellow blogger and they might do something for you.
- Branding is everything – Angelina Jolie is known for her tattoos, lips, and figure.
Create a brand for your blog. When someone sees your brand they should automatically think about your niche. When you hear the word “coke”, chances are you think of coca-cola.
As bloggers it is important to look at what is being successful and to reproduce it with our own touch. Whether it is an actress’s success or directions on the back of a soap bottle, there is always something to learn.
Written: Sep 24, 2008
Carol
September 24, 2008 @ 9:05 pm
I can not believe I’m saying this but, excellent analogy! Very well thought out post. Just had to stumble it.
Gary R. Hess
September 24, 2008 @ 9:26 pm
@Carol thanks for the Stumble!
Scott Lackey
September 24, 2008 @ 9:40 pm
Gary…great fun and smart….and, of course, you chose a terrific image of Angelina…certainly it’s not overused.
Diane Scott
September 24, 2008 @ 10:08 pm
Agreed! I wasn’t sure what I expected, but since I’m a fan I stopped to read. I’m glad I did. Nothing fluffy here, just a great analysis of how to make the most of what you’ve got – and how to keep on keeping on to stand out from the crowd!
daria369
September 25, 2008 @ 1:15 am
I think the key for anyone’s success is to be yourself (in whatever you do) and Angelina certainly isn’t copying someone else, does she?
Descartes
September 25, 2008 @ 12:49 pm
Of course, it helps to have famous parents and never having to worry about where that meal is coming from. Easy to Live the Life if your born into it.
I like the idea though.
Dennis Edell
September 25, 2008 @ 4:02 pm
I must agree with carol LOL. I’m not a fan to say the least, but you did that very well.
Jordan
September 27, 2008 @ 1:25 am
Creative analogy. I was entertained on the marketing perspective.
Tony
September 28, 2008 @ 11:23 pm
I don’t have any thoughtful input. I just wanted to grab the pic of Angelina and say that she is hot.