Branding is key - do you have a "brand"?
Do you have a company brand?
A personal brand?
Branding has to do with identity, which is “close to us”.
“Branding is the process of creating a strong, positive perception of your company, and it's products in your customer's mind”- oberlo
Branding is really important for start-ups and all new products
So how do I go about branding my products or services? -Are you having questions about branding and moving forward with your ideas?
What branding does is help ensure people know your product(s), your expertise, AND your needs to move forward!
When it comes to start-ups, your BRAND is really key, and you need to establish it clearly.
Branding is key to a new business and to continuing onwards and upwards as an established enterprise. Keep it clear and keep it in front of your potential customers and clients.
But what is branding and how do I go about it as a start-up? First you need a name (or name of the product), then a logo, website, and URL. There are more steps, but that is the very beginning.
Then you need to know why you are even doing this (and the answer is NOT to make money!). sometimes this is called a “mission statement”.
The product and its purpose: know your WHY and your USP
There is much to be said about your why, but here, it’s enough for now.
Then you want to be seen as the go-to person for this area/niche.
Everything needs to be consistent: logo, colors, language, even fonts, if at all possible.
Then what can you DO. Personally?
Become an expert in your field: how? Write a book, speak at meetings and conferences, attend fairs, write a good (and consistently branded) blog – join the local business leaders’ group, etc… get yourself out into the public, somehow.
Of course, there is marketing (and good market research needs to be done BEFORE you launch). The where and how of marketing is also very important.
Know how you are going to market your product(s) - where do your potential clients “go” to look for information and for products. Make sure you have a link on Google, for instance.
Then, stick to your branding.
Keep your brand “clean” and sharp (in other words, be consistent)- unless you are planning a shift of some sort. But this blog won’t deal with that.
Finally, know who your “people” are and find them. Then make a real community with them.
You need to establish a community, and it’s not just a tribe, but more. You community is where word of mouth is spread- both for your product and your needs. For example, perhaps you have specific employee needs. Get that information out to your community.
These are just the bare bones of branding. For mor information and branding coaching for your start-up, you know where to find me.
Tell your story or the story of your product.
“A personal brand story is a cohesive narrative that encompasses the facts and feelings created by you, your brand, or your business. It defines a fundamental purpose and identifies beliefs, personal objectives, and outlines a set of goals (short-term and long-term) that embody those values.” – Forbes
A lot can be said about this (and I help coach in this direction), but it’s enough to say that everyone loves a story, and when you make your customer the hero of the story, they listen!
Books, other blogs and articles have and will continue to be written about your branding.
Because it’s vital to have a good branding plan.
“By carefully constructing your brand through stories, relationships, marketing messages and visual assets, you have the opportunity of shaping your customers’ expectations and creating a unique bond that goes beyond the buying-selling relationship.
Good branding is strategic, while marketing is tactical. When you establish the higher objectives and clearly define your brand promise, you can start crafting a marketing plan that’s geared towards achieving those goals.” - oberlo
Have a great week, especially finding “your people” – make a new friendship.
Patricia Jehle
