The Importance of Building a Strong Brand

Building a brand is how you set yourself apart from the competition. There are a lot of myths around building a brand that can leave new business owners and marketers unsure where to begin. As you develop your brand, you also develop your voice. Your brand gives you a clear way to communicate your message to the right audience, and that’s how you make a mark in today’s industry. Keep reading for a guide to building a brand for your business that gets noticed.

What are the biggest branding myths?

One of the biggest mistakes of new business owners and marketers is falling for some of the most common branding myths. These myths can get in the way of creating a powerful business, and that’s why it’s so important to recognize myth from fact! Let’s talk about the most common branding myths and why they’re wrong.

New businesses don’t need to worry about branding.

A lot of new businesses think they can overlook branding because they think it’s something that only big businesses need. Think about what makes you choose a brand over another? Is it the logo? The colors? The way it makes you feel? These are the things that separate some brands from another. The big businesses wouldn’t have gotten where they are today without spending time on branding.

Businesses need a lot of money to create great branding.

Branding isn’t something that takes a big budget. While it’s true a bigger budget means more resources, that not what really matters about branding. Instead, it’s about your message and knowing your audience. These are things that don’t rely on your budget! As long as you focus on the right things, the price tag doesn’t matter.

Offering great products or services is enough to find success.

In this competitive industry, having great products or services isn’t enough. You might think that offering the most value is key, and while it is important, it won’t carry you alone. Branding can make the difference in a customer choosing you or your competition!

So why do I need a brand?

Now that you know why you shouldn’t buy into the most common business myths, it’s time to discuss why you need a brand. It’s about more than just choosing the right colors and designing a great logo. It’s about knowing who you are as a business and where you’re planning to go!

Stand out from the competition.

There’s a lot of competition in all industries nowadays. Branding is no longer optional as more businesses are finding unique ways to stand out. Your brand is how you’ll be recognized compared to your competition. You don’t want to blend into the crowd as a business. If you plan to compete on a larger level with your business, your brand can help you gain an edge on the competition.

Understand your messaging.

Your branding is your story. It’s how you represent yourself to the world. If you want to understand your messaging, you need to know your brand and vice versa. The first step to compelling branding is to create a mission statement that connects with both employees and customers. Once you know your messaging, the rest of your brand strategy will follow easily.

Referrals will come more easily.

Your branding will act as a referral for your business. Think about when you’re shopping for products yourself. You’re more likely to go with the product with branding that speaks more to you, right? It’s the same with your own business. Your branding speaks for itself. It lets your ideal audience know you mean business and that you understand their needs. Referrals will come quickly and easily with the right branding.

Branding creating a promise for your customers.

Great branding is a promise. It lets your customers know you have something worthwhile to deliver, and that you take yourself seriously. Ultimately, branding builds trust with your customer base. It’s hard to build trust authentically. The right branding is a strong promise to your customers, and it will keep them coming back again and again.

How can I get started with my branding?

Now that you know just how important branding is for your business, it’s time to get started with your branding. It doesn’t take a big budget to create something that gets your business noticed. As long as you focus on the right things, you’ll create a compelling brand that speaks to your audience. Here are the first few steps for building your brand!

First, develop your message.

As we’ve covered, branding is about so much more than color and logos. It’s about creating a message that resonates with your audience. Your messaging is your story. It’s what sets you apart from your competition and connects with people on a real level. Think about what it is that makes your business unique. What do you offer that other businesses don’t? This is the foundation for your messaging.

Second, know your competition.

It might sound counterproductive to spend time learning your competition, but this step is key to your branding process. Learn more about what your competition is doing and learn from them. What are they doing well? What could they do better? Research these things and find a way to improve on their efforts!

Third, create the basics.

Now that you have an idea of where you’re going with your brand, it’s time to focus on the basics. That means you need to create a logo, choose colors, and create an overall brand identity that fits your business. You might need to use a professional agency to make sure these aspects of your branding reflect your business, but feel free to use the free resources at your disposal.

Finally, go the extra mile.

Now that you have the basics out of the way, it’s time to go the extra mile. Think of the brands you recognize the most. Most likely, these go above and beyond to stand out. If you are planning on attending a conference, seminar or a trade show, you can create customized tablecloths at theteehive.com to share your unique brand! If you’re an e-commerce business, create content to share on social media that speaks to your audience. These extra steps show that you care about the little things with your business, and customers will remember these small touches.

Build a Successful Brand

Branding isn’t an optional thing in 2018. For businesses looking to succeed in the modern day, they need to know the best way to build a brand that connects with the right audience. Behind every successful brand is a great story and compelling message. As you build your brand, don’t sweat the small things and focus on how you can stand out in your industry!

This is a Guest Post by Wendy Dessler. 

Wendy Dessler is a super-connector with Outreachmama who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing and focuses her efforts on developing customized blogger outreach plans depending on the industry and competition.