So you’ve started a new business. Congratulations! You have probably heard by now that all businesses need to have and focus on developing a so-called “brand.” A brand is, quite simply, who or what your company is and the portrayal of that. When planning out your brand, it’s important to take some things into consideration, such as what products or services your business offers, who it caters to and its values. To make your mark, utilize these five branding tips to help your new business stand out from the crowd.
1. Have a Logo
A logo that can be instantly associated with your company is one of the simplest and most effective steps you can take towards creating your brand. Unique, simplistic designs with one or two bold colors are usually best.
2. Utilize SEO
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the practice of incorporating key words and phrases into online text so results for your company will appear when those keywords are searched for. To use SEO most effectively in your brand, you need to use the same group of representative words and phrases throughout your online presence, on your website, social media accounts and articles that might be published on other sites.
3. Have a Uniform
Having a uniform will allow customers to immediately associate your employees and everything they say and do with your business, so while having them is a great tool for recognition, it’s also important to hire good people and make sure they understand your company’s values and mission clearly. Having uniform T-shirts made by a company like Absolute Screen Printing is an effective and cheap option so your employees can match and stand out to customers.
4. Have a Unique Voice
Any written, or even verbal, communication that is put out by your company should convey the same tone and use the same voice. Be personable—think of your company as a person and how it would talk to your customers.
5. Don’t Over-complicate Your Brand or Be Vague
Don’t try and convey too many things at once in your brand – it will suffer and appear less clear to customers. Keep it simple—don’t use a ton of different colors in your logo or focus on a bunch of perhaps even unrelated products or services. Conversely, don’t be vague about your brand – it will sound generic and won’t tell your customers anything about who you are.
Creating, showcasing and policing your brand is the key to success in today’s business world—it is one of the most oft-cited pieces of advice for budding entrepreneurs looking to start their own business. Utilize these five tips and your own creativity, and you should soon have a brand that will help your business appeal to its target customers.
