How to develop a successful brand strategy from scratch
More than a recognizable name and a distinctive logo, a brand – your brand – encompasses how people look at you whenever and wherever they interact with your company. So it encompasses impressions both inside and outside your control.
Think of your brand as a person. We all have names, faces, styles and different methods of communication and therefore different impressions of each other.
Likewise, companies have names, logos, mission statements, products, services and reputations that influence how they are perceived.
Building a successful brand from scratch is no easy task
It requires consistency and passion to show customers who you are and what benefits you can offer them.
Branding is about delivering on the promises you make to your customers and making sure their mental image of you matches the image you want to convey.
However, here are eight steps to help you develop a successful branding strategy for your small business.
Understand the “why” of your brand
Why do you get up every day to do what you do? What keeps you going? That’s your “why.” It represents your brand mission and vision ; in other words, the value your company provides.
To build a trusted brand, you must be able to articulate a clear expression of that future, that ambitious statement of one day that drives your business. You must visualize and project the heights your brand wants to reach, the missions it wants to accomplish, and the impact it wants to have on the environment.
It’s not just about the future.
Your mission statement also covers your “now.
It’s an everyday commitment that helps you achieve a set vision.
Confirm that your purpose aligns with the values of your audience
It’s not enough to just identify your potential customers – a key part of developing a successful brand strategy is making sure their values align with yours.
Consumer expectations are constantly rising. People make purchasing decisions based on an organization’s mission and are more likely to purchase goods and services from companies that share personal values and beliefs. Therefore, the need for transparency and trust is higher than ever.
It’s not enough to say you’re purposeful. Instead, you need to do thorough research to find out what qualities are most important to your customers and align your brand with that.
You can research your customers by checking their conversations and product recommendations in forum sections related to your niche.
Research your competitors
Almost every industry is highly competitive, afb directory and that is why it is important to understand the market, especially the competition.
You want to research some competitor brands and pay attention to what they do well and where they fail. Study how well their brand is built. Find out about their marketing channels, product or service quality.
However, this doesn’t mean you can copy them word for word. Rather, you should use this information to differentiate yourself enough to make your brand stand out from what’s already out there.