What is branding? What are the steps to success? This post will explain the branding process and the value of brand strategy.
Conduction of Research
First, you must conduct research. How is your business’s market? Who are your competitors? How does management see your firm?
To find answers, you must look both inside and outside your own structure. It’s time to define the team’s vision. Review your goals and strategies for achieving them. Do you all agree on your company’s values? Interview senior management to find out.
You’ll need research outside your team. Examine your rivals. Carry out marketing and technology audits. What makes up existing brands and how do they work?
Defining Plan
Now that you know the landscape, examine your own brand. What position do you want in a customer’s mind? Are you the company that offers quality products at a low price, or the opulent high-end brand? Make sure your brand positioning aligns with your other branding elements. If you don’t already have one, this is a good place to start.
It’s time to define your company’s core values. Define your values and the attributes that support them. Consider the value as a guideline. The attributes are the concrete manifestations of those values. Assume one of your brand values is integrity. From there, you can be approachable, genuine, and stable. Remember that 89 percent of shoppers stay loyal to brands that share their values.
Identify your future goals at this stage. Get a creative and strategic vision of the future. It can help to look at examples of how to represent a brand. If you’re having trouble visualizing these abstract concepts as a finished business idea, take a look at Target’s.
Designing Identity
The visuals start here. Think big first. Instead of designing business cards, consider the overall brand’s look and feel. Continuing with Target as an example, you have a strong visual sense of their company. Red, the bullseye motif, simplicity and boldness all say who they are. How does your firm look? If your team lacks a designer, now is the time to hire one.
A logo is not an identity. Develop your design, imagery, sensory inputs, color palettes, and typography to create a strong brand. Overall, you’re giving your company a personality.
Creating Touchpoints
Finishing your identity and using it in applications are next. Touchpoints are the next consideration after look and feel. A touchpoint is any point where a customer or potential customer interacts with you. Several uses for touchpoints A brand’s experience is enhanced when they interact with them.
These include websites, letterheads, print materials (such as brochures), packaging, advertising, and store environments. These are all chances to establish your brand. It also presents a chance to mislead customers. That’s why creating a brand identity is critical.
Asset Management
The final step involves others. If applicable, share your growth with non-decision makers. Internally first to iron out kinks. After fine-tuning any touchpoints or restructuring strategy, it’s time to go public. Ensure everyone understands how and when this step occurs.
You can create brand standards and guidelines for future use. Consider it a brand map that employees can use in future applications. Color palette, type usage, powerpoint templates, copywriting voice, and other elements that ensure future cohesion. In fact, presenting your brand consistently across all platforms can increase revenue by up to 23%.
In Conclusion
Knowing your brand process helps you stand out in your customers’ minds. There are probably many great products and services in your market segment. Branding can help you discover and communicate your uniqueness. So you can get more customers. Keep in mind the value of a strong brand.