Every business needs to have a clear idea of what they offer to their clientele. They should also have plans of where their company is heading in the future. During the planning stage, you should consider what makes your business unique. All of this contributes towards your brand identity.
Branding lets your customers or clients know what your business is all about. Your brand can become a powerful marketing tool. Building a brand also makes it easier to get the spotlight on your business and grow.
For examples, just think of brands you respect. Names like BMW and Mercedes-Benz are linked with quality cars. When you think of sports gear, Nike and Adidas probably come into your mind straight away. You want the same to apply to your brand for whatever it is you’re offering.
There are many considerations to make when formulating your brand identity. There are also many ways to start getting your brand recognized. Here’s some useful advice for startups to start building their brand from the get-go.
Figure Out What Your Brand Is About
Before anything else, you need to determine what your company ethos is. Creating a clear image of what your business does and what makes it the best will resonate with customers.
A smart way to do this is to figure out your unique selling point. If you’re a clothing manufacturer, maybe you specialize in budget clothing for women. Maybe you make the greatest knitwear in America. If you’re a restaurant, perhaps you’re experts at mixing Asian and American cuisine. Maybe you’re ideal for families.
Once you determine what the best aspects of your company are, you’ll find it much easier to start building a brand around it.
Create A Name, Logo, And Slogan
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Your name will become a huge part of your brand awareness. Make sure you choose it wisely. Picking a catchy title that rolls off the tongue is the best option. Many prominent brands have one-word names, such as Apple and Levi’s. Some prefer abbreviations, such as KFC and IBM. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s marketable.
You should also have a logo professionally designed. Your logo is an icon that will become a huge part of your branding. Many companies create logos that reflect their brand identity. Some prefer ones that are simple and easy to recognize. You may want to look at some creative logo designs for inspiration.
A slogan can also help. Things like McDonald’s “I’m lovin’ it” and Apple’s “Think different” are huge brand identifiers. Your slogan might change throughout your company’s lifespan, or you may have multiple ones. Either way, it can help build your brand, especially when it comes to marketing.
Make sure you legally protect all your brand materials. You may want to consult with an experienced trademark lawyer to copyright your property.
Launch A Marketing Campaign
With your brand clearly identified, it’s time to get it recognized. An excellent way to do this is to launch a marketing campaign built around your brand.
Advertising your products or services with an emphasis on your brand identity is an excellent idea. Not only can it boost your sales, but it can instantly raise brand awareness. If customers use your company and have a good experience, they’ll associate your name and logo with quality.
There are many different ways to create a marketing campaign. In the past, television commercials were a huge way to build a brand. Nowadays, TV viewership has decreased. However, online video content is more popular than ever. An engaging YouTube video can bring recognition to your company- especially if it becomes viral.
You could also try street marketing. Plastering your name and logo around the streets can instantly get people curious. Make sure to lead people to your website to learn more about your company.
Exhibit At Events
Events are a great way to start building brand awareness. You may want to host a function yourself or exhibit your company at other events.
Hosting a simple event such as a networking party can bring in potential clients. You could also host a marketing event. For instance, if you’re launching a product, invite members of the public to test it. A good way to build brand awareness is to provide every attendee with a custom ribbon displaying your name and logo.
You should also exhibit your company at trade shows and business fairs. Set up a great booth with branded signs and start talking to potential clientele. You could also hand out leaflets, gifts, or even free samples of your products to get people interested.
Another option is to sponsor an event. Many businesses help fund and set up charity events. You might also want to contribute money to a local sports team to get your logo displayed on their kits. This way, your brand gets promoted at various sporting events.
Use Social Media
Social media is a fantastic way to get your brand recognized. You can build up a following for your company and easily communicate and interact with your followers.
Different platforms can help your brand in various ways. For instance, Instagram is great for posting pictures of products or short videos. Facebook is fantastic for customer service and communicating with clients. Twitter is another highly effective network for brand awareness. Look at how some of the top brands use it to catch people’s attention
Make sure to make interesting posts. Don’t be afraid to be informal- many people like this in a brand. As you start to develop a following, it will become easier to build your brand identity and generate business.
Create Content
Creating content based on your brand might be the most impactful way to let people know what you’re about. You can create blogs to deliver information about your business. You could also make infographics which outline why your services are valuable.
Content doesn’t have to be serious, either. Creating comedy videos on YouTube to advertise your brand is a fantastic idea. Share all your content on social media. If it’s entertaining, your follower can even spread it further. It’s an excellent way to get your brand noticed fast.
This article was provided by ellie jo