Most simply put, your brand is your identity, the pieces which define your business, and its personality. Some of the most globally recognized brands are Facebook, Apple, Coca-Cola and McDonalds. When you hear these brands certain images and feelings come to mind almost instantly. When you think of Apple you think of innovation, design, and the grey Apple logo. Coca-Cola reminds us of the feeling of happiness (the basis of most of Coke ads) as well as the colors red and white.
Having a strong brand is one way you can STAND OUT from the competition. Branding will create trust and an emotional attachment to a product or your company. It also allows you to influence a buyer’s decision making process while carving out a unique experience. Finally a brand will help you articulate your company’s values and explain your company’s mission.
A company can never have too strong of a brand, so that’s why we are here to help you. Here are some of our tips to build a stronger brand:
-Associations. Take a look at the companies which you may partner with. Brands tend to rub off on one another. If you find yourself talking with brands which have fizzled out or never really taken off then you may want to look elsewhere. Although, find a company with a good brand and when you partner their brand will cling with yours.
-Be consistent. When we look at McDonalds we see the golden arches. This logo in red and yellow is synonymous with smiling faces which you can see in just about every advertisement of theirs. They found a great message to convey the personality of their company and they stuck with it. Imagine if they constantly changed, you wouldn’t be sure what message they try to spread.
-Social Media. Using sites such as Facebook or Twitter for your company can really work wonders. Many think these are places where you can just simply spread your message, but it also gives you a chance to listen to what others are saying about you. Maybe you think your companies image is about team-work and working towards a common goal, but after listening to what others tweet about you, it may be perceived as completely different. When you spread messages on social networks it’s like having a 5-10 second commercial. You are able to capture someone’s attention for a few seconds to either draw them to a funny video you saw, the latest office decorations, or news about upcoming products or sales.
If you follow these tips you will be on your way to creating a stronger brand for your company. As usual, nothing will happen overnight. Branding takes consistency, consistency, and m
