Guest post by Chelsea Lamb
If you’re new to entrepreneurship, branding might be one of those vague and confusing marketing concepts that fall outside your realm of experience. But branding is a powerful tool that should not be overlooked. A strong brand strategy will set your business apart from your competitors, generate trust in your products, and help customers connect with your business on a deeper level.
Branding doesn’t have to remain mysterious. If you’re not sure where to start, a reputable marketing agency like Evolve Media can point you in the right direction. That said, here’s a quick guide to help you learn more about branding and how it can benefit your new business!
What is Branding?
Put simply, branding is the message you want your business to convey to the rest of the world. It’s what identifies your product or service as distinct from all the similar options out there. As HubSpot explains, branding involves a number of key elements that define the unique aspects of your brand and work to create a cohesive image for your business. These elements enable consumers to recognize your brand across all communication avenues and marketing channels.
Some important branding elements include:
- A unique brand name.
- A recognizable logo.
- Cohesive graphics and images.
- A color scheme to incorporate into your logo, marketing materials, and graphics.
- A consistent set of fonts.
- A tone and voice to convey your brand personality.
Signs Your Branding Could Use a Boost
If you’re new to entrepreneurship, it can be tough to identify whether your business could use a branding boost. Keep an eye out for signs that you need to change your branding practices. For example, if you can’t identify what sets you apart from your competitors, you need to determine the unique benefits you offer to consumers and promote this value through your branding practices.
A high website bounce rate could be indicative of weak branding. Visitors may be leaving your site because your content doesn’t resonate with them. Good branding will captivate your audience immediately, encouraging them to stick around and learn more about your business!
Hiring Someone to Help
While you can DIY your business branding, you’ll extract much more value from your branding efforts if you hire a professional. Branding and marketing professionals know how to leverage customer research, website analytics, and personalization technologies to bring your business to life and maximize the ROI of your branding efforts.
Building your business brand will likely mean working with a few different professionals, including a graphic designer and web developer. Make sure you’re prepared to manage your branding team effectively. The right tools will make it easier to communicate with your team members and send design assets back and forth. For example, look for an easy PDF compressor so you can shrink large files for easy sharing without compromising the quality of your file content.
How to Start Building Your Business Branding
Ready to start working on your brand? First, you need to discover the purpose behind your brand. Why do you do what you do? What problems do you solve for your customers? What sets you apart from your competitors? Keep in mind that you may have to determine your target audience before you can answer these questions. Pinpoint who exactly you are trying to reach with your business and try to be as specific as possible. This will enable you to tailor your branding to meet the unique needs of your customers instead of trying to cater to everyone.
Branding holds a lot of value for small businesses. By building a unique and engaging brand, you’ll be able to win over more customers and run circles around your competition. Start implementing some of these branding best practices today so you can see the results for yourself!
Are you looking for an affordable and experienced digital agency to bring your branding ideas to life? Evolve Media offers a variety of creative services, from web development to branding design, to showcase the unique personality of your business. Call today so we can discuss your needs! 714-528-1133