In this series, we are looking at the importance of branding and why it is imperative for a business owner who is looking to grow and expand their empire. In PART ONE we looked at the importance of branding, and how it helps to establish a company’s identity by building trust with consumers. We also looked at a few key reasons why as entrepreneurs, creating a brand for your business makes sense, as opposed to selling and trading in a personal capacity.
In case you missed PART ONE and would like to enjoy it I have included the link for you:
So now that we all have a better understanding of why branding is OBVIOUSLY something every woman in business should be paying attention to, we going to set you off in the right direction with a few more handy tools, resources, and tips, aimed at empowering you to level up your professional image.
WHAT IS A GOOD STARTING POINT WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING A BRAND?
When starting to build a brand, there are a few key things that you should keep in mind as a starting point:
Understand your target audience: One of the most important things to consider when building a brand is who your target audience is. Knowing your target audience will help you to tailor your branding efforts to the specific needs, wants, and interests of your customers.
Develop a unique value proposition: Your value proposition is what sets your brand apart from your competitors. It should clearly and concisely convey what unique benefits your brand offers and how it meets the needs of your target audience.
Define your brand’s visual and verbal identity: Your brand’s visual and verbal identity should be consistent across all of your marketing materials and customer interactions. Elements such as your company name, logo, color scheme, and messaging should all be carefully chosen and used consistently.
Be authentic: Your brand should reflect your company’s values and mission. It should be a genuine representation of your company and what it stands for.
Be consistent: Once you have established your brand’s identity, it is important to maintain consistency in order to build trust and credibility with your target audience.
Measure and adapt: As you start building your brand, it’s important to measure the effectiveness of your efforts and adapt as needed. This means regularly analyzing the data and feedback you receive, and making adjustments to your branding strategy as necessary.
Building a brand takes time and effort, but by following these key starting points, you can create a strong, recognizable, and differentiated brand that will help you to attract and retain customers, increase revenue, and support the growth and scalability of your business.
WHAT ARE THE TOP PROFESSIONAL COMPANIES CURRENTLY THAT HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB AT BUILDING THEIR BRAND?
Corporate brands have the advantage of holding massive advertising budgets and a team of professional marketers dedicated to growing and promoting their brands. All of the below brands are known by everyone, and there is a lot we can learn about marketing if we take a closer look at the success of these brands. Their marketing approach has been so triumphant I can see their logo, catchphrase, or perhaps even hear their company jingle in my mind’s eye. This is POWER!
We can all apply some of the same techniques to grow our own brands. With consistency, discipline, and patience, we can all successfully start to grow our professional image by focusing on positioning your brand as reliable, durable, and unique.
There are many professional brands that have done an outstanding job at building their brand over time. Here are a few examples:
Apple: Apple is known for its sleek, minimalist designs and innovative technology, as well as its emphasis on user experience. The company has built a strong brand that is synonymous with quality and style.
Coca-Cola: Coca-Cola is one of the world’s most recognizable brands, thanks to its iconic red-and-white color scheme and catchy slogan. The company has a long history of effective marketing campaigns, and its brand is synonymous with soft drinks and the idea of refreshment.
Nike: Nike is a leading global brand in the sports and athletic clothing and accessories market, known for its iconic “Just Do It” slogan. The company has built a strong brand that is associated with quality, performance, and inspiration.
Google: Google has built a strong brand by providing reliable and easy-to-use search services. Over time it has diversified in a number of other businesses such as advertising, cloud services, mobile software, and devices. The brand is now synonymous with innovation and knowledge.
Amazon: Amazon has grown from an online bookstore to one of the largest e-commerce and technology companies in the world. The company’s brand is associated with convenience, variety, and low prices, and it is known for its customer-centric approach.
These are just a few examples of professional brands that have done an outstanding job at building their brand over time. There are many more brands across different industries that have also built strong and recognizable images that have helped them to attract and retain customers, increase revenue, and support the growth and scalability of their business.
WHAT ONLINE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO USE THAT WILL HELP YOU TO BUILD YOUR BRAND?
Most of us reading this today have little to zero training or experience when it comes to advertising and marketing. Thankfully, with the help of the internet and many free resources available on YouTube, etc, many small business owners have been able to self-teach and successfully apply punchy and effective online marketing strategies. Creating a strong online presence is liquid gold in today’s day and age.
Below are some free resources you can look into to help you level up and grow your business and brand:
Canva: Canva is a graphic design platform that allows users to create professional-looking designs without needing to have advanced design skills. It offers a wide range of templates and design elements that can be used to create marketing materials such as logos, business cards, and social media graphics.
Hootsuite Insights: Hootsuite Insights is a social media listening tool that allows users to monitor and analyze conversations across social media channels. This can help users to understand how their brand is being perceived and to identify opportunities for engagement.
Google Analytics: Google Analytics is a free web analytics service that allows users to track and report website traffic. This can help users to understand how people are interacting with their brand online and to make data-driven decisions about their branding strategy.
Mailchimp: Mailchimp is an email marketing service that allows users to create and send email campaigns. It can be used to build and maintain relationships with customers, which is important for building a strong brand.
Brandfolder: Brandfolder is a Digital Asset Management tool that allows users to organize, share, and distribute their digital assets and brand guidelines across different teams and platforms.
Unsplash and Pexels: Unsplash and Pexels are two of the most popular websites to find free and high-quality images for personal and commercial use. They can be used to create visual content that aligns with your brand.
These are just a few examples of online resources that are available for free that can help people to build a brand. The best way to find the right resource for your specific needs is to research and explore what’s available and experiment with different tools to see which works best for you.
I hope you have enjoyed PART TWO of our branding series. Stay tuned for PART THREE where I will be sharing how to conduct market research effectively. Once you have clearly defined your target market, you can begin to work on a strong branding image that encapsulates your essence, mission and ethos.
Keep following us for more inspiring and insightful content to help you along your journey as a woman, wife, mother, MomBoss in Business, and everything else in between. We would love to hear your comments, suggestions, and feedback! What topics would you like us to talk about?
This blog is for informational purposes only and the views expressed on this blog are solely those of the author. The information presented on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified healthcare or mental health professionals with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. The author of this blog is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the information presented on this blog or for any actions taken based on the information provided.
