Everything Starts With Your Brand! Why Branding Is Crucial for Your Success
Many entrepreneurs create a website without thinking much about branding. In the short term, this shortcut may seem to save them time, but in the long term, it often results in goals being missed.
Branding is not a gimmick that marketers like to tout to sell you their services. It is crucial for your business success.
A brand that resonates with potential customers creates loyalty and valuable repeat business, but it also attracts new customers through free word-of-mouth marketing. Saving on expensive advertising while steadily increasing sales may be a good reason to spend some time on branding.
Everything Starts With Your Brand!
Whether you work on your website, prepare a customer presentation, or post on social media, your marketing messages are less likely to resonate with your audience if you don't know why you are in business or what your company stands for.
Here are four essential steps every small business owner should consider before spending considerable money on digital marketing, especially on paid advertising.
Step 1: Define Your Brand Purpose
Defining why you do what you do is probably one of the hardest tasks. However, a clear brand purpose is so foundational that it influences many downstream decisions about who to sell to, who to hire, and what products and services to develop.
Step 2: Define Your Brand Promise
A brand promise is a solemn pledge that commits your company to deliver on this promise every single time, even if you have to sacrifice a portion of your profits.
A brand promise is based on your values. These values are beyond debate and usually consist of moral, ethical, and philosophical imperatives, principles you won't give up under any circumstances.
Step 3: Define Your Brand Personality
If your brand was a person, who would your brand be? Just like a person trying to connect with others, customers look for brands that resonate with them and are relatable and approachable. Defining this unique set of characteristics and behavioral traits is crucial for developing trust and customer brand loyalty.
Step 4: Define Your Verbal and Visual Design Elements
When your logo, colors, typefaces, photos, and videos align with your brand's purpose, promise, and personality, they create a memorable, easily recognizable look and feel.
Without a Coherent Brand, Your Business Is Less Likely to Reach Its Full Potential
A coherent brand focuses your marketing activities, making them more targeted and engaging.
Understanding your customers' needs, sharing their values, and knowing how to connect with them allows your brand to develop products and services your customers want to buy, resulting in excitement, strong brand loyalty, and increasing referrals. These are vital for growing profitably and reaching your brand's full potential.