77% of marketing leaders say a strong brand is critical to their growth plans according to a study done by Content Marketers Institute.
Using a combination of both branding and marketing in your strategy are vital to the growth of your business. A solid and effective branding strategy usually comes first while marketing follows second.
A strong brand is more than just a great logo and catchy slogan. It’s the sum of all the touchpoints that a customer has with your company, from their very first interaction to their ongoing relationship with your brand. A strong brand is built on a foundation of trust and customer loyalty, which is why it’s so important to create a brand that is authentic and true to your company’s values.
You need to start with a clear understanding of your target audience and what they want and need from your company. Once you know who your customer is, you can create a brand that resonates with them on a deep level. Your brand should be reflective of your company’s core values and mission, and it should be consistent across all channels.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when building a strong brand:
Develop a well-defined brand story
Your brand should clearly define who you are as a brand. Before you develop your visual identity, having a well-defined brand purpose will lead you to a strong start. What message do you want to convey? What problem do you want to solve? A good story connects to the audience needs and evokes emotion from them. Take for example the brand slogan of Nike, “Just do it.” Their products, commercials and marketing are all based on their effective storytelling.
Having a well-defined story is also a great way to start a conversation. It gives the other person a chance to share their own story and connect with you on a deeper level. When you take the time to ask questions and really listen to the answers, you create a bond that can last a lifetime and allow your audience to build trust in you over time.
Have clear brand messaging
Develop a strong and clear brand message so your ideal clients can connect to your brand. Be careful not to confuse your ideal audience with your messaging. Stay consistent and true to your brand purpose and story.
Clear messaging is key when communicating with customers and clients. It is important to be clear and concise when conveying a message, as this will help ensure that the intended audience understands the information. Additionally, using simple language and avoiding jargon will also help to ensure that the message is clear. Ultimately, clear messaging is essential for effective communication.
Have a consistent brand identity
Your brand identity should be reflected in everything you do, from your website and social media to your marketing and advertising. The reality of it is, confused customers don’t buy. Some brands fail because they’re inconsistent with what they say and do. It only takes consumers 10 seconds to form a first impression of a brand’s logo, but it takes 5–7 impressions for consumers to recognize the logo. A consistent brand identity is essential for any business that wants to be successful.
Having a consistent brand identity requires introspection of what your brand actually is. It is the deep root and heart of what you do and why you do it. It’s what sets you apart from your competition and tells your customers who you are and what you stand for. It is important that we have a solid brand core so it’ll manifest on all other aspects of our brand. The goal is to connect to your audience and establish a good reputation with them. By having a strong and consistent brand identity, you’ll make it easier for customers to remember and recognize your business, and you’ll build trust and credibility over time.
Identify brand objectives
In order to create a successful brand, it is essential to first identify the objectives of the brand. What is your brand’s purpose? Why does it exist? Identifying these will help you align other aspects of your brand in reaching your objectives. These objectives will serve as a guide for all future branding decisions and will help to focus the brand message.
Some common brand objectives include increasing brand awareness, generating positive brand associations, and driving sales. By clearly defining the goals of the brand from the outset, businesses can create a more cohesive and effective branding strategy.
Research your market and understand your customers
There are a few key things to remember when researching your market. First, you need to know who your target audience is. This will help you determine what type of information they are looking for and where to find it. Second, you need to be aware of your competition. This will help you position yourself in the market and find ways to differentiate yourself. Finally, you need to understand the current trends in your industry. This will help you stay ahead of the curve and be able to anticipate changes in the market.
Strong brands are not created overnight. It is the result of careful planning and execution. Brands have to stand the test of time by being both memorable and relatable. It doesn’t come and go like a celebrity or fad. Strong brands stick around, build an audience, and expand their reach over time as long as it’s recognizable, consistently understood, and relatable. When executed correctly, a business is able to command higher prices and establish a major competitive advantage while building equity and creating a loyal customer base. While it takes more time, effort, and dedication to build a strong brand, it’s all for good reason and will ensure your brand will last for years to come.
Working with a brand strategist means you don’t have to overthink all the bells and whistles that come with building a brand. Strategists draw out the information you have stored in your head by asking all the right questions, organize the information and work together with you to strategize a complete roadmap that will set you up for success for years to come. With the proper positioning strategy along with a thoughtfully-designed & magnetic online presence, you can start attracting the high caliber clients & opportunities you align with.
Sounds pretty amazing, right? Making that change though, starts with you. Are you ready to step into that confidence and start showing up in a whole new way? Sign up for a complimentary brand strategy session and let’s have a chat to see how we could better position your brand as an authority in your industry.