Have you ever thought about what would make your blog stand out? Maybe you have, but didn’t know what would work. Through my own experience, I’ve found that having a mascot does help, and I’ll talk about how today.
Quite recently, Lovelyduckie commissioned me to do some freelance work for her blog. She wanted a new blog banner, and couldn’t decide at the moment whether to do an update with some nice figure photoshop work, or to create a mascot.
She eventually decided to go with a mascot idea. (explained further below).
Some of the specifics she wanted was a character that was carefree and easy-going about life (sort of like Yotsuba). I asked her many questions, including what color represents this carefree attitude, and I came up with this:
As you can see, her most unique distinguishing feature is her duck-themed hat, and her duck tail hair style. Green was the color lovelyduckie thought represented her carefree attitude. Her clothing style, and the hat type was based on her other personality traits, which narrowed her down to a very pleasant all-American girl.
Here’s a youtube video of her mascot being born:
[pro-player]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTbkU01TIPg[/pro-player]
Overall, she tells me that she’s extremely happy with the results. [rss]Looks like you’re a feed subscriber! Copy and paste this code: 78de9 into the comments on the contest page to enter![/rss]
There are several benefits to creating a mascot for your blog. The most important is self-branding. When you have a mascot on your site, that mascot represents your blog in a unique way. You can also show that mascot around via your avatar. And when anyone sees you comment, they’ll know that “oh hey, that’s Lovelyduckie!” and not “oh hey! That’s a Konata avatar!”
Many users like to use images of their favorite character or something, and stick with it for their avatar, or even have it represent their site (sort of a pseudo mascot). The problem with this is that for one, it’s extremely limiting. You’re limited to whatever designs the original artist had created. Secondly, there’s nothing stopping someone else from using the same character. (I use a revolving Konata on neogaf, and have been confused several times when I see other posters commenting, and thinking “I never said that!”) and of course the most obvious is they won’t be thinking about your blog but instead of Konata or whomever you had chosen.
When you have a custom character being your mascot/avatar picture, there is an immediate uniqueness that nobody else has, and that has serious advantages to the exposure of your own blog. The next time you see that above mascot you will NEVER forget that it’s lovelyduckie. That’s how powerful it is.
Not only that, but your mascot can also take part in your blog posts, or sit on your sidebar, and really bring personality to your blog!
If you haven’t created a mascot, I strongly suggest you do. If you want to learn how to get started with that, I can definitely help. Drop me an email, or leave a comment.
I’m not really back yet…
While life does take precedence, I’m starting to ponder the future of radiantdreamer. I’m not yet ready to say anything yet, because I haven’t quite reached a decision on what to do. But please, do stay tuned by subscribing to my RSS feed, so that you’ll know, for whatever I decide.
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I have been thinking about a mascot for a while. But still need to figure out what would represent the best my site ^^;;
Your post reminded me that I shall decide myself soon! enough wait hehe.
oh and lovely art =)
Mascots are definitely a great way to bring uniqueness to your blog and your avatar. It’s such a powerful branding tool. I mean, even Danny Choo uses it, and is successfully marketing her, branding her, and selling her. You see Mirai in an anime, and you’ll automatically think of Danny Choo. That’s seriously powerful stuff right there.
Adding a mascot is definitely something that has come to my mind on numerous occasions. Personally I think that you should draw your design and draw your own mascot since you’re the one that truly knows what you want the mascot to look like. Drawing it will make it your own. This is where it’s difficult for most people since not everyone is artistically talented (you’re awesome Radiant!). Maybe I’ll get around to making and drawing my own someday (an imouto of course)…
You’re absolutely right. Not everyone can draw, so it can be difficult. But, everyone has some sort of idea, and one that they think would work.
Even if they have the idea though, because they can’t draw well enough, sometimes that idea doesn’t come out right, and people end up being fixated on how “bad the art is” rather than the mascot.
It’s not hard for an artist like myself to take those ideas and translate them into reality. It’s my job to do that after all.
I think an imouto would be an awesome idea for a mascot, but you’d really have to figure out “what represents an imouto? what sort of distinguishing features should my mascot have?”
Anyway, should you need any help with figuring that out, don’t hesitate to drop me an email, as always. 😉
Nice! She is cute! That cap fits “duckie” theme ^^
You sure have skills with drawing and coloring ^^ Wah I still don’t rly get how to color various lightings and shadows so I always admire when I see some1 just painting them as nothing and or even redoing cuz some details ^^
How long it took you from 1st sketch to final version? ^^
Hi Shiddo! Thanks for the complement! ^^
The sketch itself took me about 2 or 3 hours, if I recall correctly. I think the sketching is the hardest part, imo. It’s hard to decide what kind of pose you want that best represents the character (and also getting the proportions right).
My problem was that I started detailing the head too soon, which lead to the pose being a little limited. I should have gotten the whole pose out first before starting the detailing. ^^;
tottemo kawaii mascot~!
That’s usually how I end up drawing… I don’t plan it out or use thumbnail sketches, (really ought to though) I just go at it from one part of the sketch like the head, then just make it up as I go along.
Looks like you spent alotta time trying to figure out her pose. I kind of rather liked how you tried to put her hand up on her head to hold her hat, that pose I think would’ve suited the tongue-in-cheek kind of character. But I think you managed to pull off a good pose in the end. Maybe if you had asked LovelyDuckie what kind of pose she would’ve liked to have seen her? I struggle with that too at times… I will sometimes refer to this modeling pocket book I have that has a plethora of pictures of models in different poses, really helps to get some realistic ideas. I love the soft cell shading you incorporated in the coloring too, awesome stuffs!
I think it’s really interesting how (at least it is the case for me) characters are better made when you have a really good idea of their personality, back story, etc. I find the more information I have, the better I can shape a character towards the goal of portraying those ideas; to instill those qualities into a visual representation.
You’re right, I did spend a lot of time trying to figure out her pose. While the V pose was more dynamic, I think the heart pose was more suitable. I usually don’t put finishing details in until I’m sure of the pose, but this time, I don’t know what happened. 😛
I had asked Lovelyduckie what she liked, and she liked the heart pose, so we went with that.
Oh, do you mind telling me what the name of that modeling pocket book is? I might want to grab it myself…
The shading technique is a sort of eroge hybrid. I think it turned out well, though I could always improve!
Definitely personality and background is key in making a believable mascot character!
Wow amazing job with their mascot design! I love how you coloured the hair!
I have to agree with you about the whole mascot thing though, a cute or interesting mascot burns an image in a viewers mind and keeps them coming back or remembering your blog at least
Really tempted to try and come up with my own mascot now >_< lol
Thanks, taketombo! I’m glad you liked the hair. 🙂
Having a mascot is definitely a powerful tool in promoting your blog and adding personality, but not everyone can make one (because they can’t draw).
I hope to see what you can come up with, and if you need help, drop me an email! 🙂
Haha my laziness might prevail and i might be dropping you a line XD
Oh by the way, loving the new lay out as well!
lol! Well then, I would be more than happy to do a mascot for you if you are too lazy to do so. 😛
I’ve thought about creating a mascot, and you’ve definitely made me think harder about that. I do actively think about the branding of my blog from naming to consistent colours and styling, and I suppose a mascot feels like it would be the last piece of the puzzle in that regard.
Great work on Lovelyduckie’s mascot (almost made a particularly bad typo there ^^;) – I know I’d be happy with it if I was her! – and I quite like the new theme you’ve applied to your blog, too.
Thanks! Glad you like the new theme! It’s one of the latest on wordpress. It has a sliding photo option, but instead, I just left it blank, and it seems to do alright featuring my drawing in the background. 🙂
I like your new blog look too, btw! 🙂
Wow congratz in making one, >.<
i should have my own instead of using a character from a series.
nice you have the skills in PS!
Thanks! I actually quite like the girl that you chose for your blog. She looks nice. ^^
Hehe thats truly one lovely duckie ^^
I do think aswell that a mascot can be a powerful tool.
Most bloggers do use existing characters though because they dont have the time and probably money to comission someone to design something that resembles their blog when theres a huge variety of “free” characters avaiable on the net.
Id also ponder where to find an artist to design a mascot for me.Most people I see around the net dont have that particular artstyle id be looking for ^^;
Thanks blowfish! 🙂
I totally understand the time and money thing. It just seems like an expensive thing to do. But I believe it’s well worth the investment. In reality, it would cost less to do a mascot than a monthly loot, really.
With the huge variety of “free” characters available, you really do get some nice stuff, but again, it goes to the idea of whether or not you can consistently get the same character in the same consistent style, and nobody else is using it too.
I have had several avatars over the years and I usually don’t see the same avatar next to anyone else’s name. My current avatar with Mio took a while for me to get as it is a screen shot of the Don’t Say Lazy ending song for the first season, I wanted that exact moment captured and it was hard lol. Something of a one second image on the screen. I like the mascot you created for Lovelyduckie and when I first saw her use it I was thinking “that’s a very nice and interesting avatar, but I don’t know who that is in anime.” Now that I read your post I know its history.
I suppose there is that, in regards to custom mascots. Other people don’t know who they are. But, that’s the way things always start out anyway.
If you promote your mascot enough, and bring more exposure to it, then it will eventually carry itself, much like Danny Choo’s Mirai.
Nice work ^o^! I have some original characters but not really sure if they actually “stand out” stand out ^^; I probably don’t plug them enough ^^; And keep this place up la 😉
Hi Chun! Haven’t seen you here in a while! 🙂
I think that you’ve got a great mascot character already. That dog is so awesome!
We’ll see about keeping this blog up… still trying to decide on some things.
Nice new theme BTW! Happy to see something with your touch in it, even if it isn’t as flashy as those Premium themes. What’s the story behind this character?…
Thanks. The story behind her is nothing more than something I did for Halloween a while back. I really liked how it turned out, and it looked like it would make a decent background for this new theme.
She’s cute, I love the duck cap and the way you coloured the eyes. I’ve actually been thinking of getting a mascot myself, but I just simply don’t have the time to draw anything up right now.
Thanks Nopy! 🙂
I wasn’t aware that you did art yourself!
Nice avatar you’ve made there for duckie!
I have heard of using mascots to bring up your profile/blog/brand/website before, and you’ve brought that up here as well as strongly recommending other bloggers for taking up a mascot. I’m sure it will help when it’s pulled off well.
I know lots of things in Japan likes to have a mascot for their own, ranging from personal blogs, companies, or even the JSDF (armed forces) if I remember correctly. Definitely a popular thing in Japan I must say, along with things that are cute in appearance. But sometimes I think to myself: “Do I really need one? Do I really want to promote my blog like so?” Thinking about it maybe I am quite casual on my blog so I consider not to have a mascot of some kind for my blog. At least if I should have one it probably isn’t going to be a human / anime character since most people have that. On the other hand, I kinda felt that the “Q” logo that I have kinda represents myself quite well enough. Now only if Gravatar allows my name to be one letter long then I would have gladly used that by now when commenting on wordpress blogs (or should I just sign up a wordpress account for the sake of that?).
Enough rambling from me. Sounds like you’ve taken lots of info from clients and thought things through carefully even before starting the sketch. Seeing your work from start to finish in videos is great and interesting as usual!
You’re so right about Japan culture and their mascots. They realize the power of branding their products with a spokesperson mascot to represent. Compared to a logo, a mascot has the added advantage of being identifiable to the target audience.
The question of whether you really need one or not stems deeper – you blog because you want to share your ideas with people. You want as many people as possible (who are like-minded), to read your blog and share their opinions. In that regard, you want to promote your blog in some form or another.
With the help of a mascot, you’re promoting your blog with an added identity/theme that people can relate to.
While I do like your Q logo, it doesn’t really represent your blog all that much other than it being “Quentin’s Blog”. Your blog is mostly about Hong Kong, and plamo, so I think that your banner and avatar should show that.