Humans are creatures of habit. We know what we like and usually stick with that. Rather than try something new, we tend to buy products from brands we know and trust. Your brand is defined by your customers perception and is unique to your company. It distinguishes you in a crowded marketplace. That’s why it’s important to learn how to build a brand and set it apart from the competition with these simple steps.
It’s crucial to know who you want to sell your products and brand to. You want to build the brand around your customers and what they want. It wouldn’t make much sense to brand your company as “wild, crazy, and extreme” if you sold pacemakers to senior citizens.
A mission statement will answer the question of “what do you do?” This is an expression of your brand’s core values and what it represents. If your brand wants “to help change the world through artistic expression,” that would be a perfect statement to make your mission.
The brand logo is the most recognizable part of you and your company. The logo is what people associate with your brand first, before any slogans, taglines, or mission statements. This is the visual identity of your brand, so invest as much time and money into this as you can.
Unless you invent something that the world has never seen before, there will be competition. Get an idea of what they’re doing, and what they’re doing wrong, so you don’t make the same mistakes. Through observing your competitors, you’ll make your brand stand apart from the rest.
Building brand loyalty means bragging about yourself just a little bit. If your brand has an excellent safety record, won five awards last year, or has 99% customer satisfaction, let the world know. A new customer will become a loyal customer if you tell them why they should stick with your product or service.
To achieve the goal of customers remembering your brand, consistency is key. Once established, your brand should be integrated into all aspects of your business. The logo and company colors should go all business cards, websites, social networks, and packaging. Branded merchandise should be given to customers whenever possible to keep your brand at the front of their minds.