The failsafe formula for building a great brand
Did you know there’s a formula for building a great brand in a competitive market?
Your brand is the way your customers perceive you, so having a brand that represents your business personality, values and culture is not just an optional extra in business but a core necessity if you seek longevity.
Effective branding is more than just a good logo. It’s ensuring that every touch point of communication with your customers encapsulates your core brand and key message. Great branding offers a distinct competitive advantage, as your competition can’t easily imitate or replicate your brand, or your customer’s perception of the brand.
So if you need to create a brand for a new business idea or redefine your existing business’ brand, here is my 5 step formula for getting it right:
Your brand is the way your customers perceive you, so having a brand that represents your business personality, values and culture is not just an optional extra in business but a core necessity if you seek longevity.
Effective branding is more than just a good logo. It’s ensuring that every touch point of communication with your customers encapsulates your core brand and key message. Great branding offers a distinct competitive advantage, as your competition can’t easily imitate or replicate your brand, or your customer’s perception of the brand.
So if you need to create a brand for a new business idea or redefine your existing business’ brand, here is my 5 step formula for getting it right:
1. Discover what your brand should actually look like.
Notice that I said ‘discover’ your brand – not create it? You’ll discover your brand attributes through examining your offer, your mission and your culture – don’t try and create something that isn’t real. Understanding what differentiates your business from competitors and how you can communicate this to your customers can make a world of difference. You MUST get across your business character and personality in your brand!
And whatever you do – think it through and keep it real. As Richard Branson says, “Too many companies want their brands to reflect some idealised, perfected image of themselves. As a consequence, their brands acquire no texture, no character and no public trust.”
2. Put a strategy in place
Not only is a clear strategic position needed to differentiate one brand from another – it’s imperative to have this strategy in writing as your roadmap to follow. Nothing will get you off track faster than NOT having a plan! Having your defined brand in place is required before you even begin marketing/advertising plans – as it becomes the source of what your business will be about, and how it will be perceived.
Your branding strategy should include your brand logo, brand elements, keywords and key messaging, marketing collateral and communication tools – all designed to represent your brand, and reflected in marketing tactics to reach your target audience. This strategy step is one area it might benefit to get some outside Marketing Strategy help!
3. Engage with your audience
Social media is one of the most effective platforms to grow your customer base and engage with your audience. Your audience can become the heart your business by becoming R&D, brand evangelists, and so much more. Another perk of social media is that it becomes the voice of who you are and what your brand stands for. Gone are the days where branding communication went one-way through print ads and paid TV advertisements, now you can let your audience take an active role.
Or as Scott Cook, Founder of Intuit shares “A brand is no longer what we tell the consumer it is – it is what consumers tell each other it is.”
4. Take yourself out of the brand
Whilst it is important to build your personal brand, you shouldn’t focus too much on yourself. It’s less relatable, can be perceived as irrelevant to customers, and can also muddy the waters of what the brand should look like. This can be a difficult one for small business owners and startups, where the core business idea is their “baby” and they feel a big part of the brand. There’s no reason why your business can’t be reflective of your personal values, but try to remember it’s about the brand, not about you.
5. Be Consistent – be your brand at all times
As the old saying goes... keep doing what you’ve always done and you’ll keep getting what you’ve always gotten.
So if it's time to take your business to the next level, get in touch with Lisa O'Keeffe at Marketing Eye.
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comments ( 9 )
Maud
17 Jul 2018Great post! "A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person ", Jeff Besos
ReplyIts necessary to have a well tough brand strategy!
Maud
17 Jul 2018Great post! "A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person ", Jeff Besos
ReplyIts necessary to have a well tough brand strategy!
Claudia
09 Jul 2018definitely agree, you need to think how your consumers will think about your brand and how they will perceive your brand. also, you need to be careful with how they will interpret it.
ReplyClaudia
09 Jul 2018definitely agree, you need to think how your consumers will think about your brand and how they will perceive your brand. also, you need to be careful with how they will interpret it.
ReplyKarthik
13 Apr 2017Nowadays building branding through online especially social media and search engines is helping to grow the business as well as improve the engagement to our audience. You have described the great points about building branding for the business.
ReplyKenny
14 Jun 2016I completely agree, branding goes way beyond just a logo or graphic element. The brand represents so much more. It should represent everything from your website, logo, the customer experience, to the way you reply to your target audience. Very insightful article! Keep it up!
ReplyAged care nursing
30 May 2016I’d like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this blog. I am hoping to check out the same high-grade blog posts from you in the future as well.
ReplyIn truth, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my very own website now..
Amogh
26 May 2016Well written post! A lot of businesses fail to understand that brands are co-created and belong to the customers. Only through constant engagement can a brand be relevant with the times and with the advent of social media, sky is the limit for innovation!
ReplyRoy
23 May 2016Amazing post about effective branding. Today, every business needs to connect with social media activities. I agree with you. Effective branding is more than just a good logo. Langoor is a digital marketing agency in Australia which helps in creating effective branding.
Reply