We regularly witness individuals turning their passion or hobbies into businesses and then earn a decent living. However, they sometimes fail to reach their audiences correctly through the marketing channels available to them. Not just that, many of them do not do something remarkable to change the world. For example, see how Nike has transformed the world of sports and fitness and is now one of the topmost global brands. Branding as a notion has existed for decades. Yet, to become a brand from a business, entrepreneurs need to put in years of effort and ingenuity.
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Why do you need to be a brand?
Regardless of how hard you try to sell your products/services, people have blind faith in big brands. Such brands assure them excellent quality, and customers don’t mind paying the premium price for buying them. If you are not a renowned brand, it becomes hard to convince your target audience to choose you over the competitors. Building a brand adds value to your customers’ lives. When you become a brand, people start noticing your company more and grow fondness towards your products/services. They also recommend your products to others, and therefore, they help in word-of-mouth publicity.
After understanding why you need to become a brand, read on to know how you can be a brand, not just a business. Here are some simple ways to guide you further-:
Create and tell stories
Stories and ideas sell more than products today. Tell your brand’s story to your customers and clients. If you think you do not have a story to tell, you are wrong! Your story begins with the idea of why your business is here and how you build it. Share your experiences and tell people about the hurdles you had to cross to reach where you are today. Express how much you want to help others to learn from your stories. Your story will make you bond well with your target audience.
Define your Unique Selling Point (USP)
Know what makes you different from your competitors. It will be challenging to define your USP at first because of the numerous similar businesses existing in the industry. Study the market, the competitors, and understand your business well. It will take time but eventually, you will find your USP.
Provide value to your customers/clients through daily operations
Interacting daily with clients and customers keeps the business running smoothly. Especially in the case of service-related businesses, appointments are their daily hustle! Hence, you must automate daily tasks to increase efficiency. Use a free online appointment scheduling & booking management software like Picktime. It is accessible via any web-based device without installation. Picktime empowers your clients/customers to self-schedule appointments at their convenience through your customized online booking page. So they do not have to make phone calls anymore to book an appointment! Picktime offers a free online calendar service for 24/7 monitoring of staff schedules and appointments at all your office locations. You can also send automated email and text reminders to your clients to reduce no-shows.
You can accept advance online payments from customers via credit cards, PayPal, Stripe, or Square. Send automated invoices and feedback forms to clients after service delivery. Also, download insightful business reports from your dashboard to measure business performance!
Create memorability through brand elements
Make your brand recognizable and memorable through essential brand elements such as visual imagery, words, and music. These are the core characteristics of your brand that must be reflected in your marketing efforts. Your brand logo, slogan, images, color, website design, and everything else counts for building a brand personality. Put these brand elements in all your advertisements and make sure they are visually pleasing and catchy.
For example, you can recognize Apple Inc. for its unique half-bitten apple logo. Samsung has a distinct tune that is memorable and catchy. So, these are the brand elements that have set Apple Inc. and Samsung apart from their competitors.
Work with your sales and marketing team
You cannot market your products/services without the help of your sales and marketing team. Professionals who are into research, strategic planning, content writing, designing, and video editing will help you shape your marketing efforts for maximum effectiveness. Conduct brainstorming sessions to discuss branding, product launches, and repositioning. Ask for their suggestions and insights to gain a new perspective.
You cannot build a brand overnight. Brand-building processes evolve as you make mistakes and learn from them. Follow these above-mentioned ways to shine through all odds and become a brand. Remember that your brand is an emotional element that binds you with your customers in a long-lasting connection. You are the face of your brand, and you have to work proactively towards strengthening connections with your audience. Never lose your authenticity because that sets you apart from the competitors.
