Before we get into branding basics, let’s define “branding” in the context of this discussion:
Branding is what differentiates you and your offering from that of your competitors. Like strategically using a business canvas model template for your startup.
With that definition in mind, let’s get into some specific branding ideas to get you started. Here, in Part 1 of Branding Basics, we’ll cover 3 ideas to help you get started on your brand marketing journey:
Unveiling the Fundamentals of Branding: Part 1
1. Begin by defining your brand.
This will be an exercise in self-discovery for your business. To effectively define your brand, you must, at a minimum, answer the following questions:
- What is your company’s mission?
- What are the features of your products or services?
- What benefits do your products or services deliver?
- What do your existing customers think of your company?
- What do your prospects think of your company?
- What qualities do you want people to associate with your company?
- What are the needs, habits and desires of your buyer personas?
Once you’ve defined your brand, it’s time to market it.
2. Create a great logo.
A great logo is an absolute must if you wish to differentiate your business from the competition. And, because you want your logo to be the first thing people remember about your business, make it permanent, at least in essence. For example, since 1977 (one year after the company began), Apple’s logo has been a graphical representation of an apple with a bite taken out of it. It has changed a few times over the years in terms of color, etc., but the essence has not. It’s still an apple with a bite taken out of it.
When creating a logo, consult a professional logo designer for help. Even the marketing genius, Steve Jobs, recognized that Apple’s original logo, which he and Ronald Wayne designed themselves in 1976, was not what it should have been. So they commissioned designer Rob Janoff to design a new logo. The rest is marketing history.
3. Put your logo on everything.
The whole point of a logo is to enable people to immediately think of your company when they see your logo. Of course, this will take some time, but that’s what branding is all about – investing the time and other resources in making your brand immediately recognizable. When you see the Coke logo, you think of the Coca Cola brand; and, when you think of the Coca Cola brand, the Coke logo appears in your mind. That’s the goal of your logo in relation to your overall branding strategy. The only way to achieve that goal is through repetition.
Stay tuned to our blog for Part 2 of our Branding Basics series. Meanwhile, we invite you to contact us online for help with your digital design and development needs.
