Any serious business owner wants their brand to be recognizable. A survey carried out by Nielsen found out that up to 59% of customers prefer buying new products from brands they’re familiar with.
As a startup, you’re up against bigger brands. On top of that, they have loyal customers and the money to spend. That’s why you have to think outside the box if you want to do something solid.
So, how do you build a brand?
See, it takes more than a super cool logo or a well-placed advertisement.
You have to do a little bit more.
Organize your Website Assets
Here’s the thing – we’re living in the era of internet connectivity so you should make sure that your brand has an online presence. And no, this isn’t a hurriedly organized site. Your online assets include everything from your website to your hosting provider and social media accounts.
You should optimize all relevant assets for your brand. For instance, you must include keywords you’re targeting in your social media and web pages. In other words, you should integrate them into your marketing plan.
Also, perfect the art of making your website standout for target keywords. Remember, you have to rank well on SERPs for people to discover your brand. Hone your SEO skills to add the ante to your marketing campaign. On top of that, be sure to increase your ROI through guest posting as it earns you quality backlinks for your website.
Establish a Mission Statement
You should know your brand’s mission from the get-go. In other words, you must have a clear-cut expression of what your business is passionate about.
Yes, your company’s purpose is the reason you get up every day.
So, before you even start to figure out how to build a brand your target customers trusts, you have to know what value your business is providing. Everything from your logo to your tagline, personality and message should reflect that purpose. You could also hire a branding agency in Hertfordshire that will help you create a brand identity to give your brand the best possible start.
Think of Nike, for example. Their mission statement is Just Do it! But, are you aware of their mission statement? Well, it is “to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.”
The company has created a solid reputation and brand following because it makes virtually everybody feel like a target customer.
Research About your Competitors
Now that your website and mission statement in place, it is time to know who you’re competing with. Don’t imitate what bigger brands are doing but you should try to find out what they do to remain in business.
The idea here is to be different even though you’re on the same niche. It’s about convincing your customers to buy from you. Put differently; make your brand stand out.
Determine What Sets You Apart
As stated, brands with bigger budgets are likely to command your industry. However, you don’t have to dig deep into your pockets to outwit them. Focus on giving your customers a unique experience. Strive to come up with ways that improve your buyer’s lives.
One of the easiest ways to do so is to have an authentic and transparent customer service desk. Find better ways to support productivity and drive down costs for your customers while providing quality.
A good example here is Apple. One of the qualities that set this company apart from its competitors is the clean design coupled with ease of use. The packaging is on point too not to mention that Apple keeps reminding its users that they can use their products right out of the box.
The Bottom Line
The business world is changing and evolving every day. You should, therefore, try to remain on top of the latest trends. And, things will not work overnight, so you have to be persistent. All you need to do is to keep doing the right thing and remained focused.
It is essential to mention that you should know when to call it quits. At times, even the brightest of ideas fail. One of the biggest challenges you’re likely to face as an entrepreneur is to know when it’s time to move on. It makes no sense to try to revive a dead duck. Consider taking some time off to take stock and develop a new strategy.