Building your company up from scratch is not easy. There are many things you need to consider in order to launch your business and be successful. One of those things is branding, and it is arguably one of the most important. Why? Simply because if your brand is strong from the start, you are more likely to attract a larger customer base, therefore increasing your chances of success.
Today, in collaboration with our partner POWr, we are sharing five branding tips for your business that you should work on right away!
1. Create a strong brand strategy
First and foremost, you need to create a strong brand strategy. Here’s how to start: write down a list of words , expressions or slogans that come to mind when you think about your business. Keep these words in mind when you create your various branding elements, such as a logo, social media pictures, website, etc. Keep in mind that your branding should always reflect the core of your business: colors, values and mission. Here are 5 characteristics of a strong branding:
- Relevant
- Consistent
- Timeless
- Memorable / Recognizable
- Distinctive
2. Have a meaningful social media presence
With the number of people on social media these days, it would be crazy to pass on having an awesome free web presence. Carefully choose the platforms that best reach your target market and focus on quality instead of on quantity. Post regularly in order to keep your customers informed of news, blog articles and other important information. Engage with your followers by encouraging them to like, comment and share.
Make sure you post relevant and interesting content for your business, and that it’s always appropriate. Don’t post anything that could offend your potential customers and try to take a neutral stand on controversial topics. Remember, social media is a place where you can showcase your business, engage with your customers, gather feedback and new ideas...but only if you use it wisely!
3. Focus on consistency
Consistency is key. For your small business to operate like a well-oiled machine, you need determine what your goals are early on and make sure you stick to them. Get organized and create a posting schedule for your social media posts or your newsletters. If you do decide to create a blog (which you should: it’s great for customer retention and your SEO optimization, among other things), publish new content every other day to keep your customers informed of news, or to educate them on relevant information associated with your business.
4. Aim for customer loyalty
As a business owner, you should never underestimate the power of word of mouth! Customer loyalty is very important and it will cost you 6X more and take twice as long to gain a new customer than to retain one.
You should always spend that extra time on your customer to make sure they had an enjoyable experience and would recommend your business to their peers. Shoot them an email, to see if they are happy with your products or services and gather comments, suggestions and ideas. They will be helpful when you want to make small changes to respond to the needs of your customer.
5. Create an awesome website!
When creating a website, luckily for business owners, there are a lot of different options. You can use the expertise of an agency, at a higher cost, or ask a friend or a colleague. But why not do it yourself? With tools such as WebSelf, you don’t need any programming or coding skills to create a professional-looking website for your business.
Simply choose a template that fits your needs, edit the content with a drag and drop editor: add your pictures, a contact form and explain your products/services. Publish your website on the web and see your online presence as well as your business bloom in no time!
In conclusion, keep in mind that a good branding has a better chance of success for your business. You want people and future customers to easily remember you, whether you have a strong social media presence, an awesome logo or a successful reward program! In fact, there are many things you can do to strengthen your image and increase your customer base but it always starts with a good branding strategy! Good luck!
Élisabeth Dignard is a communication officer for Webself.net
She loves to spend her free time outdoors: hiking, skiing and playing tennis. She will be happy to assist you with your online goals.