Mary DeMuth
This is a Guest Story by Mary DeMuth, an author and speaker who helps others live an uncaged, freedom-infused life. She’s authored 14 traditionally published books, including her latest, Everything: What You Give and What You Gain to Become Like Jesus (Thomas Nelson). When she’s not training for a scary half marathon, she hangs out with her husband and three teens in Texas. Find out more at marydemuth.com.
I’ve been blogging since the ancient days of yore (2004). I’d signed my first book contract, then headed to France to start a church with my husband and family. Blogging was a perfect way to keep in contact with our community back home. At that time, my blog’s name was RelevantBlog. I don’t even know why I named it that, to be honest, but boy-howdy did I want to be relevant.
That blog lasted several years until we moved back to the States in 2007. It stayed on a blogger platform for three more years, connected to marydemuth.com but not integrated to it. In 2010, my website and blog converged in a hallowed WordPress party, and it became fully operational like the Death Star.
Right before the Star Wars party, I consulted with a marketing guru. I learned a lot in that process, the main thing being people don’t really care about how cool you are; they care about how cool you can help them become. I shifted the focus of my blog to be more reader-centric. This felt natural to me, since my hope has been to help people be set free from the past so they can live fully alive in the present.
The problem with all my marketing gleanings is that sometimes I’d get obsessive compulsive about things like blog stats and sales numbers and Amazon rankings. My happiness would decrease as my stress levels grew teeth. I lost the sheer joy of writing to change lives and became far too concerned about the periphery of my writing business.
This is still a temptation for me.
Live Uncaged
The tagline the marketing expert helped me developed was this: Turning trials to triumph. Though I was very thankful for the help he gave me to get to that place, I still felt unsettled about the wording. This played itself out when I’d speak. People would approach me and say, “From your website and tagline, I expected you to be Debbie Downer, but you’re funny and full of joy.” I realized then that I had a true disconnect with my tagline and who I really was.
Last summer, I knew it was time to re-evaluate. So I went fishing (in an Internetty way). I asked my email distribution list, Facebook fans, and Twitter followers this question, “When you think of me, what is the one thing you think of?” After several weeks of compiling responses, praying, and asking wise folks in the publishing industry for their perspective, I had two problems:
- Turning trials to triumph didn’t fit.
- I had no idea of what my tagline should be.
But one day, problem #2 solved itself. In a quiet moment, “Live uncaged” popped into my head. And I knew. Those words were me. They captured what had happened in my life, moving from a girl deeply entrenched and wounded from the past to one who had learned to soar beyond circumstances. And those words blessed my audience, because my passion is to help people live uncaged lives. A win-win!
What does this have to do with you? If you’re struggling to corral a bunch of words that typify you and what you’d like to do for your audience, follow these simple steps.
- Ask everyone and their dog (woof!) what your one thing is.
- Compile the list of what people say, ordering that list from the most mentioned to the least.
- Give yourself a few days to mull over the list.
- Ask advice of professionals in your field who know you well.
- Wait patiently for the tagline to find you.
It’s been an energizing journey finding my tagline, starting on the soil of France on the Blogger platform, to hanging with marketing peeps, to becoming a fully operational WordPress Jedi, to helping people live uncaged lives.
[Interested in sharing a Guest Story? Read more here.]
Mary – this is music to the soul of my quiet prayers. I feel disjointed. I was reminded today how my words are for encouraging and refreshing others. Thank you! Thanks you for these steps to take.
I’m glad that the post blessed you, Alene.
Great advice! Always love your wisdom and your heart!
As a new blogger who just kind of fell into it as a ministry, I appreciate this post. I am just now figuring out what the user stats mean on my site, and while they interest me I am not in it for the numbers. I don’t have many comments on my posts, but it get texts and emails from people who let me know that it spoke to them and that rocks!! Now, to get the courage to ask for that one word description. Who knew I needed a tag line? See?? Total novice here…
Isn’t it great when we find out we’re writing to actual people who READ our posts? Such a cool thing.
What a great lesson for all of us who think once we have some type of mission statement or tag line we are stuck with it. I think one of your beautiful strengths that you role model for us is your conversational style and willingness to be vulnerable and ask. I love your openness!
Thanks Jean. It’s not easy to change directions, or realize you’re headed in the wrong direction. But I feel so much better having changed!
Mary,
Awesome post! I joined twitter last summer and just doing that was difficult. It sent me reeling over the edge of techi-land. Then to find out I needed a blog. And now a tag line. My blog is still in toddler-stage and I see the value of a tag line (thanks to your post). I asked my peeps to help me figure out my writing voice, and I guess asking them to give me a description of my “one thing” would be helpful too.
Thanks Mary. You rock!
Don’t rush the process. I’ve found that taglines are organic and they find you.
Love this post. Just what I needed to read today:)
That makes me happy!
I was so clueless when I started blogging and I truly just fell into my tagline. There’s still a part of me that feels like it could be improved but at least it’s a start.
Having it started is good. Going through the exercises above will help.
Thanks! I actually did ask friends and Facebook friends for my “one thing.” It left me a bit frustrated, because although their comments were very encouraging and kind, they focused on generalities such as “kind, good listener, leader, influencer” etc. The words that most helped me were “explorer, insightful, and coach” – because these words feel more vocation oriented than personality oriented. It would be so helpful if someone wrote a blog/book, etc. on how to put the concept together to create a powerful, fitting tag line. Anyone?
Thanks for the privilege of sharing my story! It’s been an interesting journey.
I really enjoyed reading your post Mary!
My 6 year blog anniversary is this weekend and I have been mulling over the aim and pursuit of my writing. I have changed in 6 years, my writing has and I need to keep the focus clear. I will be using your steps to finding the tagline that resonates.
Thank you Mary!
Happy 6! I hope you find the best Helen-shaped tagline there is.
Thanks Mary for your great words! I’ve heard about tag lines for years, and I’m still looking for an effective one. Thanks for sharing your process of discovery. I’ll take your steps to heart.
Awesome, Nancy.
Thanks for sharing more of your story and the process of how you came up with ‘Live Uncaged’. Love it
God Bless, Mark
Thank you kindly. Your “millionaire missionary” name intrigues.
Great advice, as always, Mary! We need to find something that fits with who we are. Thanks for always sharing your great tips!
Yes, it’s certainly not one size fits all.
Mary, it’s cool how finding a perfectly fitting one has been a journey for you.
Reminds me of the entire process of blogging – I started out thinking I would blog on some topics, and now I am feeling more led in a specific direction.
Now, I just need to find the courage to ask friends/readers to tell me my one thing!
You can do it. It’s just a simple request. It might be easier to ask them to fill in the blank. Deanna helps readers/listeners to _______________.
Mary, it’s cool how finding your perfect tagline has been like a small journey for you!
Reminds me of the entire process of blogging – I started out thinking I would blog on some topics, and now I am feeling more led in a more specific direction.
Now, I just need to get the courage to ask friends/readers what my one thing is!
Yes, it’s been an adventure! And it’s actually quite eye opening to ask your friends. I found that I learned a lot about who I was in the process.
Great story Mary! This blogging thing is definitely a journey. I know that in the short time I’ve been doing it my voice has changed as I’ve become more comfortable with who I am in the blogging scene and where it’s leading me. And yes…my tagline needs some help! Ha! Ha!
The more you write, the more your voice hones itself.
I remember when you were “RelevantBlog”! It’s been exciting to watch the transformation of your site over the years, but even more exciting has been how God has used your ministry to impact my life and that of my family. This is a timely post for me as my blog is at a transition point right now and I’m seeking God’s direction in that. I’ll be coming back to this post as I work through the transition.
Wow, you’ve been around a long time, Jen! Transition is hard, but also exciting!
I love this…
I honestly have no clue what my tagline is…
And I’m just getting to know you.
But already– “Living Uncaged” rings absolutely TRUE.
Hmmnnn…ready to consider the possibilities…
That’s great to hear, Kara. And yes, there are so many possibilities for you!
I love your tagline — it totally fits you! I think asking others around us for feedback is so important on many levels. Often, I’m so critical of myself (my own worst critic), and it helps me to step back and see myself through the eyes of others. They often pinpoint my gifts and mission better than I can!
Yes, that’s a great point, Allison. It’s humbling but helpful to ask for insight from others.
I feel like I’m still trying to find my tagline and my writers voice, but with each article published I feel a millimeter closer. I feel much better knowing that my tag line will find me–if I put in the work.
Love that: a millimeter closer. Keep writing. Your faithfulness will be honored.
It gives me great hope to know it was a process for you to find your tagline…Thanks, Mary…and Live uncaged is a great tagline
Thanks Dolly! You can do it!
Mary, what I love about this is the process … and how as you have changed and technology changed, it’s OK for the tag line to change. I think too many people stress over finding JUST THE PERFECT one right off the bat. Sometimes it happens, but it if doesn’t that’s OK too.
It has been a process, that’s for sure. And I don’t think we ever “arrive.”
Yeah, Mary! Thanks for being such an encouraging example! Great post. BLESSINGS!
Thanks Mari-Anna!
See, you’re opening the cage door for us and giving the freedom to change! Love it. I get so bound up in expectations and insecurities, so thank you for this.
Yes, be free. Open that door. Be all you!
Mary, I love everything you write. I mean that sincerely. Great post!
You are quite sweet, Pilar. Thank you.
Nice to hear it was a process for you, and ultimately your tagline found you. Very cool. I love that! Still trying to figure mine out, it hasn’t found me yet.
My hunch is that you’ll find it while you’re running.
Mary – this is music to the soul of my quiet prayers. I feel disjointed. I was reminded today how my words are for encouraging and refreshing others. Thank you! Thanks you for these steps to take.
You are most welcome, Alene.
Thanks Kurt.
Finding a tagline that fits is like coming into your own.
I think one’s tagline can really change in the course of one’s life too. We are more idealistic in our teens and twenties. Full of passion and excitement, ready to take on the world (some of us) and action oriented. After kids, or marriage or life happening, trails refine us, we have to deal with baggage from the olden days, and our roots go deeper. Different things become important to us, and maybe we’ve changed direction or careers too. In midlife (35-55?)…which means many different things…but many seem to get more reflective, even spiritually contemplative (or plunge into a midlife crisis!)
For some, to keep a tagline for even 5-10 years seems unrealistic. I’m so glad you found a good fit. Viva la Mary’s Uncaged Life!
(I haven’t been able to track my many shifts, but with each one, I feel more like I’ve found my voice more and fit better overall.)
Love the tagline! Thank you for sharing your story. I’m gonna have to borrow the strategy.
Feel free!
Back in the late 90s, when we were fairly fresh in our role as church planters in Taipei, we spent a month going through an intensive training program on developing very large scale strategies to reach the entire city.
We were challenged to think what would a church planting movement in Taipei look like.
The first thing that popped into my head was, I believe, an experience of divine inspiration (a God-thing). The first thing was this: “as many churches as convenience stores”
If you’ve never been to Taipei, there are convenience stores everywhere – sometimes the same chain store multiple times on the same intersection.
When your tag line “came” to you, I think it was likely divine inspiration. “Live uncaged” shouts fun!
What a great, great thought on Taipei and the church there. Very cool.
I’ve been trying to come up with a tagline that’s “me”. You’ve inspired me to dig deeper and be more patient to find that golden nugget. Thanks!