{"id":4647,"date":"2017-07-06T21:33:18","date_gmt":"2017-07-06T21:33:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/startwp.logomaker.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/06\/how-to-build-a-brand-7-tried-and-true-tips\/"},"modified":"2024-03-07T16:10:12","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T16:10:12","slug":"how-to-build-a-brand-7-tried-and-true-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/startwp.logomaker.com\/blog\/how-to-build-a-brand-7-tried-and-true-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build a Brand: 7 Tried-and-True Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever feel like you’re working too hard to keep customers coming back? Too often, small business owners make their jobs twice as hard because they don’t take the time to build a brand. They think of branding as optional, instead of treating it as the key to a strong business model.<\/span><\/p>\n

Imagine meeting a person with no memory and having to introduce yourself over and over again. You would have a hard time building a deeper relationship. Running a company without smart business branding presents a similar problem. How do you convince people to see value in your business if they don’t know who you are and what you stand for?<\/span><\/p>\n

Branding motivates customers to view your relationship as more than a transaction. And as a result, they believe your products offer more value than competitors. Ready to make a lasting impact on your customers? Here are seven tips on how to build a brand for a small business.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Create a marketing plan<\/h2>\n

Even great ideas need lots of editing. Writing a marketing plan forces you to think about how your business will survive in the real world. Who will buy your products? What will make customers willing to pay your prices? How will you identify and reach the right customer base?<\/span><\/p>\n

The answers to these questions are <\/span>the foundation for brand building<\/span><\/a>. Not every product or message appeals to every person. A strong marketing plan helps you decide what image to project to your customers. In other words, learn what matters to your ideal customers, so you can tailor your brand to fit their needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Give your brand a personality<\/h2>\n

Big brands have one major disadvantage \u2014 they rarely interact with customers one-on-one. In reality, people connect with other people. Small business owners often have more time for authentic interactions with customers. And that means you have more opportunities to back up your branding with real connections.<\/span><\/p>\n

With this in mind, envision your brand as a real person. Is your brand a tranquil, free spirit? An environmentally-conscious activist? A lover of luxury with an unlimited budget? A conservative, serious-minded manager?<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider how this fictional person would look, think, and behave. What drives him? What types of people does she spend time with? How would we react to different situations? You can’t develop a successful brand until you know what defines your business.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Choose your positioning<\/h2>\n

You’ll never hit any target by shooting wildly in every direction. The same goes for company branding. Study your top competitors, and make a list of qualities that set you apart. <\/span>Brand positioning<\/span><\/a> is the process of emphasizing specific traits to make a distinct impression on customers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taco Bell doesn’t target people who want fine dining or hamburgers. Instead, the company positions itself to serve people who want fast Mexican-inspired food. Taco Bell also appeals to specific segments of the fast food market. People who like creative food combinations. Convenient ordering options. Late-night snacking. Don’t try to please everyone. Focus on a few customer segments who value what you offer.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Fine-tune the customer experience<\/h2>\n

Delivering an awesome customer experience is one of the best ways to stand out. Customer loyalty often comes from small, thoughtful touches that competitors overlook. Talk to your customers, and find out:<\/span><\/p>\n