Starting a business is no easy task. It takes a lot of time, energy, and money to get a business off the ground. And once it’s up and running, you have to work hard to keep it going. One of the most important aspects of running a successful business is creating a strong brand that people can identify with. Here are some tips for branding your startup business.
Establish a clear and consistent brand identity from the beginning
It’s important to establish a clear and consistent brand identity from the beginning. Branding is not something you can change on a whim because it involves creating a unique, recognizable image for your business. Branding is essential to marketing as it helps people identify what kind of products or services you offer.
Choose a name and logo that are unique and memorable
Creating an original logo for your business is the first step toward establishing a brand. Think of it as your business’s face and you want it to be memorable! Try looking for inspiration on the web, in magazines, or by talking to people about your business. You can design a logo yourself with free software such as GIMP, Inkscape (similar to Photoshop), and Adobe Illustrator. However there are some very important things to consider when exporting a logo to use across all mediums and channels.
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Use colors that represent your brand
Colors are an important part of branding. They represent the culture and image of your business. If you’re just starting out, it’s best to use colors that are neutral or common but still show off your brand identity. You have to think about how the color options will look on different mediums as well as in relation to each other.
Think about what the colors say about your business
Every color has specific psychological effects, and when used correctly can help convey your brand identity. For example, red is associated with love, aggression, passion, urgency, and energy. Blue is perceived to be trustworthy, dependable, stable and secure. Branding is all about creating an image so keep that in mind when choosing your colors.
Develop a marketing strategy that aligns with your brand identity
Marketing is another key piece of branding. Branding and marketing work hand in hand, as your brand image affects how you market yourself and what new customers think about your company. It’s important to develop a unique selling proposition (USP) that differentiates your business from the rest of the pack.
Develop a unique selling proposition (USP)
Creating a unique selling proposition (USP) is essential to branding. A USP is what sets you apart from your competition. Branding expert Mike Robinson advises that businesses use their USP as an “attention-getter.” Keep in mind what makes you unique from your competitors. Customers are always looking for a better deal, so make sure you can offer something unique and relevant to your customers.
A strong USP will help keep your brand identity on point while differentiating you from the competition. Make sure that your USP is consistent with all marketing materials including ads, signage, product labels, etc. Brand consistency is key!
Use your USP to attract customers
When you have a unique selling proposition, it creates an emotional connection with the customer and gets them thinking about your company in a different way. When creating your USP, keep in mind what makes you unique from your competitors. Customers are always looking for a better deal, so make sure you can offer something unique and relevant to your customers.
He also stresses the importance of having a USP that’s “compelling…different…and clear.”
A strong USP will help keep your brand identity on point while differentiating you from the competition. Make sure that your USP is consistent with brand strategy and brand guidelines.
Create engaging and visually appealing marketing materials
Whether you’re designing a logo, postcards, business cards or website — you have to keep your audience in mind. Robinson also suggests thinking about who you are targeting and how they will respond to the message your marketing materials convey. Keep in what will carry your brand identity forward – colors, slogans, etc.
Invest time in quality marketing materials
Marketing material can make or break your company. The more you invest in professional looking materials…the higher the perceived value of what you are offering is with your target market. Marketing is about persuading customers, so it’s important that you have professional looking marketing materials to back up your product or service.
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Be consistent with your branding across all platforms
It’s important that your brand is consistent through all aspects of your business. Your logo, website, social media profiles and even business cards should reflect the same style and image. This will help people identify you as a unique company.
When it comes to branding, uniformity is key. Whether you’re creating business cards or website design, everything should look uniform and flow together. The same color scheme should be present in all mediums as well as the
Make sure your website is easy to navigate
You may have limited funds for branding your business, but don’t skimp on the creation of your website. The more professional it looks, the more prospects you will attract. It’s important to maintain your web presence too, so invest in hosting that is reliable and fast. Branding doesn’t have to be expensive!
Customer service
Customer service is an important part of your brand. Keep this in mind when creating marketing materials, web design and even business cards. If you are courteous, friendly and professional — your branding will reflect these characteristics.
Be authentic and genuine in your branding efforts
Customers are looking for authenticity in brands. It is important that you be yourself and do not stray too far from who you are as a company. Even if you have to tweak your brand slightly, try to maintain the true roots of your business.
Don’t limit yourself
Perhaps you position yourself as the company you strive to be. Let your brand shape your companies culture and let your culture shape your brand.
Although a start up business, you still need to focus on your branding and providing an excellent customer experience.
This is where Adept Creative can help. We are experts in creating an entire brand ecosystem that will reflect your start up’s personality and ethos.
From developing a logo and style guide, to crafting engaging website content and building intuitive user interfaces, we take care of all the details so you can focus on what you do best – running your business.
If you want to put your best foot forward and make a great first impression with potential customers, contact us today for a free consultation.
We would be happy to discuss how we can help improve your brand’s visibility and engagement online.
