Successfully Building Your Brand Online
Building a well-known, well-loved brand is one of the best opportunities that a business can take advantage of. Think of it as online real estate!
A Nielson Survey revealed that 59% of buyers want to buy from brands that they are familiar with and have had multiple exposures to. If you are just getting started out as a business, you will likely be competing against established brands that have more resources than you do. So, you need to find ways to set yourself apart and make your brand unique.
Developing your brand is not just about designing a trendy logo or getting a hot influencer to retweet a well-placed ad or quippy piece of advice. Successful branding is about sending a consistent message both on and offline and giving your customers/followers a positive experience.
Keep in mind that branding can take years of consistent effort and will not happen overnight. The benefit to you of being patient and consistent is that you build long-term relationships and trust with your customers.
Stick to Your Mission Statement
A mission statement gives your audience a clear picture of what your company hopes to accomplish and what you are passionate about. What value are you giving to your customers via your business?
After you develop your business mission, incorporate it into every aspect of your business from logo to tagline to the messaging of the brand. Starting small with branding at first is key and target a niche audience before trying to throw more paint at the wall and expand your reach.
Focus on Benefits of Your Business
What do you offer that no one else can offer? What is your contribution to customers lives?
What can small businesses offer better than big businesses can? Some examples could be more customized service so customers feel valued instead of like just another number, reducing costs for other small businesses by offering your services at a better value, or helping them try to save time or increase productivity.
Improve Your Tagline & Logo
The logo should be used on every platform you use to advertise your business so its important to choose a logo that depicts your brand and the mission of your company. Color choice is important, too, there’s an entire psychology behind the impact of different colors on the brain that big business has spent a ton of money researching.
Don’t skimp out on your logo and consider hiring a professional if you are serious about building your business for the long term.
Consider these when designing a logo:
• Color
• Font
• Image style
• Web elements
Voice and Messaging
Each brand should have their own consistent messaging that customers know to associate with your business.
Consider the following:
• Be professional
• Use a friendly voice
• Informative and service-oriented
• Conversational style of communication
Choosing a voice that connects to your target audience is most important for your branding and will determine whether or not customers buy from you or return to buy from you again.
What else would you use to establish your brand online? What has helped you to brand your company? Would love to hear what you think!
Thanks for reading,