The Basics of Branding for Your Small Business in 5 Easy to Follow Steps

Never underestimate the importance of branding. Not only does this make you instantly recognizable as a business, but your brand is who you are, what you do, what you stand for, and how you add value to the lives of your customers. The small business that takes the time to understand the importance of branding and the basics of building that brand in five easy to follow steps is the business that will succeed.

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1. Create an Awesome and Memorable Logo

Think back to the last time you received a letter in the mail or purchased a product at the grocery store. What is the first thing you saw? Most people will say the logo. For instance, the Golden Arches of McDonald's, the Nike check or the iconic apple for Apple products need no further introduction. Those logos are instantly recognizable and through superior marketing, those logos are synonymous with brand. If you are not artistically inclined, simply start with an idea and use a free logo creator online and you’re good to go. It may take a bit of practice and you might not be content with your initial design, but that logo creator is free, so play around a bit!

2. Develop a Brand Statement

Sometimes called a mission statement, a brand statement says in a few words what your small business stands for. This is the key message behind what your brand, your small business, stands for and it should be a thematic message everyone in your employ fully understands. Use it not only for marketing but throughout all your business dealings. For instance, if your business revolves around creating bridal gowns, go further than just talking about them. Let people know why you make them and why you care about them.

3. Create Your Brand’s Personality – aka – Your Voice

Every company has its own unique personality, a thing vital to brand building. Like people, no two brands are going to be exactly alike in the way they operate or communicate, so it is vital to creating your personality, your voice if you will. Some products or services demand a professional approach while other brands are less formal. Determine who your audience will be and develop a voice that speaks their language. Use this in all written and verbal communications.

4. Write a Catchy Tagline

When developing a brand, your tagline is of vital importance. Take something from your brand statement and turn it into a catchy slogan. Here are some of the most memorable taglines to give you an example:

  • Have It Your Way – Burger King
  • A Little Dab’ll Do Ya – Brylcreem
  • Be All You Can Be – US Army
  • Calgon, Take Me Away - Calgon
  • It’s the Real Thing – Coca-Cola
  • Paris Skip The Line - Headout

And those are just a few of the most memorable taglines. So, you see the importance of creating one? Think just a few words that embody your mission and you can easily have your tagline.

5. Be True to Your Brand

Finally, you’ve seen the importance of a brand statement, a tagline, and a logo, so now it’s time to understand how much more important it is to be true to your brand. Lip service is cheap, and any company can call on Madison Avenue advertising specialists to create a catchy tagline, but that will mean nothing whatsoever if you aren’t true to your brand.

Branding is so much more than advertising or marketing. Branding sets you apart from the competition and helps build instant recognition and a sense of trust. Are you looking to grow your small business? Branding is a surefire solution each and every time.

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