In today's competitive marketplace, having a strong brand is essential for any business that wants to succeed. A great brand is more than just a logo and a tagline; it's the sum total of all the experiences that your customers have with your company, from the moment they first hear about you to the moment they purchase your product or service and beyond.
Building a great brand takes time, effort, and a deep understanding of your target audience. But it's an investment that's well worth making, as a strong brand can help you to:
Increase brand awareness and recognition
Attract and retain customers
Command premium prices
Differentiate yourself from the competition
Build customer loyalty
So, how do you go about building a great brand? Here are the key steps involved:
1. Define your brand identity.
The first step to building a great brand is to clearly define your brand identity. This includes your brand values, mission statement, and target audience. You'll see this a lot with "Veteran Owned" business.. Without saying anything else you already have a good sense of what the company stands for based on passed experiences you've had with veterans throughout your life. Your brand identity is the foundation upon which everything else will be built, so it's important to get it right.
Brand values: What are the core values that your brand stands for? What are the beliefs that guide your company's decisions and actions?
Showing that you partner with non-profit organizations can help establish what your brand believes in when it comes to doing good.
Mission statement: What is your company's purpose? What are you trying to achieve?
For instance our mission statement is "To help small businesses increase their annual revenue through digital mediums"
Target audience: Who are you trying to reach with your brand? Who are your ideal customers?
If you have a line of say pet supplements perhaps your target audience would be pet owners. As you start to collect data on your sales you can hone in more precise targeting say homeowner moms who drive Hondas for instance.
Once you have a clear understanding of your brand identity, you can start to develop a brand strategy that will help you to achieve your goals.
2. Create a consistent brand experience.
Your brand experience is the sum total of all the interactions that your customers have with your company. This includes everything from your website and marketing materials to your customer service and product quality. It's important to ensure that all of these touchpoints are consistent with your brand identity.
Here are some tips for creating a consistent brand experience:
Use the same branding elements (logo, colors, fonts, etc.) across all of your marketing materials.
Have a clear and consistent brand voice that is used in all of your communications.
Train your employees to provide excellent customer service that is aligned with your brand values.
We think this one can not be overstated. Companies get comfortable once they've "won" the business but frankly you're just getting started. You will now spend every day trying to show a customer why they made the right choice. If you don't, they will get tired of the poor service and leave.
3. Tell your brand story.
Every great brand has a story to tell. What is the story of your brand? Why did you start your company? What are you passionate about? Sharing your brand story can help you to connect with your customers on an emotional level and build trust.
Here are some tips for telling your brand story:
Keep it authentic and genuine.
Focus on the human element of your story.
Share your story in a variety of ways, such as through your website, marketing materials, and social media.
Remember people consume content on various platforms. Just because you don't use X (formerly Twitter) doesn't mean your future client doesn't. So try to participate on as many platforms as possible. Start with once a month, then move to once a week, then hopefully down to once a day if possible. The stronger your brand presence becomes on each platform the easier it will become to get clients, they'll be coming to you.
4. Build relationships with your customers.
Building relationships with your customers is essential for any brand that wants to succeed. Take the time to get to know your customers and understand their needs and wants. Interact with them on social media, respond to their questions and concerns, and offer them excellent customer service.
Here are some tips for building relationships with your customers:
Create a loyalty program to reward your repeat customers.
Host events and webinars to connect with your customers in person.
Encourage customer feedback and take it seriously.
We're constantly speaking with our partners to see if we're headed in the right direction. Poor communication makes it tough for both parties because neither knows what's going on. Weekly check ins just to let our partners know what's happening really helps keep a great relationship.
5. Be patient and consistent.
Building a great brand takes time and effort just like SEO. There is no quick fix. Be patient, stay consistent with your brand identity, and keep delivering value to your customers. Eventually, your hard work will pay off and you will have built a brand that is loved by your customers and respected by your competitors.
How do you build a great brand
Building a great brand is an ongoing process, but it is one that is essential for any business that wants to succeed. By following the steps outlined above, you can start to build a brand that will help you to achieve your goals and stand out in the marketplace.
Here are some additional tips for building a great brand:
Stay up-to-date on the latest trends. The marketing landscape is constantly changing, so it's important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and adapt your brand accordingly.
Be willing to experiment. Don't be afraid to try new things and experiment with your brand. But be sure to track your results and make adjustments as needed.
Measure your success. It's important to track your brand's progress so that you can see what's working and what's