Branding a business is emphasizing a different look, feel, or style from the competition. It is promoting an ideal that appeals to consumers. A brand is a way to set your business apart by describing who you are and what you do. Not only does a brand reflect your business, but it also creates instant recognition, offering people a way to distinguish your business from others like it. Here are six simple strategies to begin building your brand:
Use Social Media
You may have a great business with an effective logo, but none of that matters if your target audience doesn't know about it. One of the most important things you can do to brand your business is get online and utilize all the services out there to connect with potential customers. Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Pinterest are great places to start. Since most people are online, it's an ideal place to get your brand out there.
Use a tagline
A tagline can be a bold promise. Domino’s Pizza’s former tagline about getting pizza in 30 minutes or it's free made the company millions. The focus of the business was not providing better pizza, but on delivering it while people were still hungry and while the pizza was still hot. Pick a powerful tagline to get your customers to really understand what you do and take action.
Differentiate
Focus on what makes you different from others in your industry. What do you do better than others in your niche? What unmet need does your product fulfill? No matter what industry you are in, there will be others similar to you that become your competition. Do something different to make the customer pick you over them. Whether that is social media contests, freebies, newsletters or discounts, find out what is missing with the competition and fill the gap to differentiate your business from theirs.
Describe
Describe your brand through your marketing materials. Find the images that reflect your business, as well as write descriptions in your brochures and your website about what it is that you do that makes you unique. Use video to bring in more emotion and reflect what your business stands for rather than saying it in a blog post.
Style
Find ways to create a unique style. For instance, you could use certain colors consistently in your marketing materials or use distinctive furniture in your offices, showrooms, restaurants, etc. Your sense of style will make you stand out from the competition. Restaurants should use customized furniture to help them stand out and give them a unique style. Online companies should have unique videos and engaging blog posts to keep people coming back for more similar content. Cultivate a distinctive look and feel to your brand that distinguishes it from others in your field.
Woo your target market
Make your target market feel special by directing all your marketing to address them directly. For instance, Apple products target all their marketing to people who like aesthetic, high-tech devices that are very user-friendly. It has a very sophisticated tech-savvy consumer base.
Building your brand is one of the best ways to help your business flourish. These six steps will give you a fast start to creating a successful business.
Informational credit to Jamco Wood Products Ltd.