Branding is just as critical for small businesses as it is for large companies. Whether you’re a small business looking to grow big like Coca-Cola or simply want to get that music skill to the next level like Dan Avidan, you need to understand the importance of building your own brand. Branding goes beyond a beautiful logo and names. So instead of thinking and focusing on brand names and the required legalities, you may want to think about yourself and what you want or what you want to achieve at the end of it all. With that said, here four tips to help you build a strong brand identity.
1. Define Your Brand
The first step of building your brand is identifying character traits that separate you from other brands. Think of your brand as a person. Remember, every individual is made up of beliefs, values and principles that define who they really are and connect with. Your personality determines your likes, behavior, and reactions toward certain situations. Your brand is all about you, the services you offer or the product you sell. It is also critical to understand what people think about you and what they say about your brand. Your brand should promote your business and connect with customers differently depending on your industry.
2. Build an online platform
The world today is a global village; you don’t need to travel all over America to connect or sell your product. Building an online platform is quite essential as it enables you to amplify your content, engage with your audience and connect socially with your customers. Online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram are all great platforms to connect with your audience. Don’t wait to be perfect; find platforms that resonate with you and start growing your brand. Don’t forget to provide helpful information to your customers through blogging, content marketing and networking. That’s how Dan Avidan won the INNY awards in 2010. So be authentic, have a unique design & slogan that expresses your purpose and have a unique voice. In short, be you.
3. Be consistent with your branding
If you keep changing your brand on different channels or giving a different story on every platform, your precious customers won’t be able to decode what your genuine brand is all about. That’s why it’s pretty essential to separate yourself from your competitors. You don’t need to do what they do even if it seems to work for them because it may not work for you in the long run. Keeping your business’s character consistent creates trust, and your customers become aware of what to expect from your product or service. Avoid mimicking other brands as it can completely destroy the little uniqueness and trust you’ve built. It’s good to learn one or two things from the big buddies, but mimicking to capture the market may not work. Instead, be consistently you, and you’ll be surprised at the number of customers seeking original and authentic products or services.
4. Consider quality over quantity
Many people, especially new business owners, are more focused on the numbers than the quality of services or products they sell. Instead of concentrating on your profits, be more innovative and think of ways you can improve what you sell. You don’t need to be Apple to have a fantastic product. Remember, you don’t have to please everyone, so don’t try to create what everyone wants. Learn to embrace what you do and be the best brand to your specific target market. Never be afraid of being yourself and boldly say things that no one else says. If you stay unique, the value you provide will never be replaced by your competitors, and that’s how your brand grows.