Branding is the representation of your business. It is both the first and lasting impression that a prospective customer gets before and after experiencing your products or services. It is what your brand stands for and includes your logo, color scheme,tagline, name and voice of your brand. Branding your business can be likened to the act of branding cattle by marking them with hot iron stamps. This provides proof of ownership and can even signify the quality of the beef.
Branding your business is of utmost importance as it increases perceived professionalism. It also generates a unique brand identity which customers can recognize anywhere, for example the iconic red and white of Coca-Cola. There are several factors which determine the branding of your business including the quality of the products, your pricing, reliability, quaality of customer service etc. So how do you brand your business effectively?
The first step is to define your brand.
1.What is your brand purpose? .2 What do you want your brand to be associated with?3. Where do you want to be in the next few years as a business? 4. What is the personality and voice of your business?5. What is your brand story?
The second step is to do your research.
1.What are the spending and purchasing habits of your prospective market? 2.What appeals to them? 3. What they need in order to trust and to find your business appealing?
The last step is to work on your brand persona and image.
1.Get a suitable logo 2. Develop a tagline, which is a memorable meaningful and concise statement that captures the essence of your brand. 3.Discover your brand personality, whether formal or relaxed 4.Last but not least, be consistent. Stay true to yourself and to your business and you will see it flourish.
