Creating your brand is a multi-step process, and each component should help you achieve your overall business goals.
No matter what stage you are in in the business development process, it is essential to review these crucial steps to ensure that you are on your way to establishing solid brand recognition.
This summarizes the top branding components you need to establish a solid, consistent, and attractive brand identity.
Your company name represents the service or product offered and differentiates it from other companies. This is usually the first impression you make on potential customers, and they will either remember it or not.
Choose the name that best describes the person you are as a company and what you can offer. It must be unique and easy to remember, and aligned with your brand image.
Choosing a company name can be one of the biggest obstacles for new business owners. However, don't let that stop you from taking your business to the next level!
To get your creative wheels moving, let's look at several different types of business names to choose from:
Traditional trade names are clear about the item or service provided, useful, and have little chance of confusion. A classic name is perfect for companies that want to convey a sense of credibility and professionalism.
The advantage of choosing an old-fashioned trade name is that it conveys the purpose of your business; however, the disadvantage is that it could become unhealthy.
If you can't find the right word that best describes your business, you can always find one from scratch! The names you invented allow your imagination, but they are not easy to think about.
You can combine two different words into the name that best defines your company. Compound names can be used to encourage imagination and also to give a sense of context.
Consider LinkedIn as an illustration. The name accurately describes its services that connect users to their professional networks.
Two-word business names combine strong keywords and the person who founded them.
Many of the best-known companies have developed multi-word company names. Abercrombie & Fitch, for example, was two of the founders of a well-known clothing company.
Logos are the main visual pillar of your brand identity. Think about the message you want to convey to your target audience and your company's message.
It should reflect what you want to convey about your company. Hire a graphic designer or design your own logo. It should be simple, timeless, flexible, memorable, and scalable.
When done right, a well-designed logo can capture your target audience's attention, create a lasting impression, set you apart from your competitors, and build your customer loyalty.
Most business owners invest many hours trying to create the most unique and original design that stands out. Instead, it's best to focus on creating patterns (through colors, fonts, and icons) that create a specific impression on your customers.
Your slogan can be an effective marketing tool based on your company logo and name. A great slogan should trigger an emotional response from your target customers.
A slogan conveys the distinctive value of your brand and helps your target audience connect your company with a broader concept.
Maybe your slogan explains what you do or communicates the essence of your brand.
But a slogan is not a requirement for all companies. Would it be helpful? Yes. Does it matter in the development of your company? Not. You can choose to skip it completely, and that's acceptable! Slogans are also something you can add later as your business grows.
Typography is the general term under which all fonts are classified and is how letters are placed.
The right fonts for your logo will help you build your overall brand. Fonts will help create a memorable packaging experience when your customers receive orders in custom boxes with logos; this is how the font you choose could be crucial to establishing a strong brand.
Of course, these are general guidelines; however, in no case are they written in stone. Feel free to experiment with different font combinations.
The color is the most emotionally stimulating aspect of your brand's identity. The choice of the color scheme is a basic method to improve your brand's image and add variety to your design.
According to the psychology of color, the color psychology theory, colors trigger emotions, such as blue evokes calm, while red is aroused passion. Altering the hue will alter the emotional response. Consider how the color baby blue is a soothing color while a deeper blue color inspires confidence. Understanding the emotions that certain colors convey will allow you to choose the appropriate ones for your business.
Okay, let's do a quick exercise. I'd like you to visualize that Dunkin' Donuts logo, which features words stacked and bubbly letters along with the coffee cup with their signature pink and orange colors.
Imagine the same logo in black. That's not right. Dunkin's use of their trademark colors is the same in the same way as donuts with jelly. Black is much less sweet and a bit sourer and doesn't fit with Dunkin's style, not at all.
Brands employ visual language using images and shape to communicate a unique look across a variety of media and websites.
Shapes can help create an easier picture of your company's image. This is a powerful feature that can be helpful to increase the desired response from your viewers. For instance, let's assume you're a wellness trainer, and you'll want an elongated emblem with soft edges, as opposed to a square with hard edges. What do I mean?
Knowing what the different shapes represent will be easier to integrate them into your designs custom mailer boxes.
The images you select can accomplish two things: captivate or leave no impression in the least. Be sure to fall into the second category, which is possible by staying consistent with your brand!
From your homepage's header to your social media sites, every place you put images should be unique to yours.
Imagine your site as your company's home.
Invite people to your place and invite them to stay for a while. Your guests come to learn more about who you are, what you do and how you accomplish it, and why you do it. The most important aim is to create an impression and create lasting relationships with your visitors.
It's important to remember that a website isn't essential for brick-and-mortar stores; however, it is essential for digital services or e-commerce. You can also sell online without having a website.
Social media is a crucial tool to promote your business organically. Organic marketing involves attracting clients to the brand by using non-paid methods like making content for social media. The greater value you provide potential customers, the greater they'll become drawn to your company.
A social media presence branded on channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and Twitter can allow you to connect with potential customers who are not yet there and make relationships with your customers. By doing this, your brand will appear genuine and trustworthy.
In no way is creating an online presence that can be done in a single day. Effective branding on social media is a continuous process where you're always communicating with your users, responding to their posts and comments and seeking out new ways to connect with them, and so on.
However, not all social media platforms are the same, and you need to consider carefully which one is right for your company. Instagram is a great method to showcase rather than inform people about your offerings and services and your unique values and voice. Facebook allows small-scale businesses to present their services and products to a huge crowd. With Twitter, it's easy to interact with customers and remain current.
I would suggest that you focus your efforts on one or two channels. Each one has its algorithm and can be tough to crack. Once you've mastery of one platform for social media and are in a position to improve, you can move on to the next (if you're willing to move on, that is).
People love brands they can count on over and over again. It is important to retain the customers who trust your company by ensuring that you continue to exceed their expectations. (Remember that New Coke debacle?) The consistency of your brand ensures that your customers are happy each time they interact with your company.
Furthermore, everything you do has to be in line with your company's brand. Sticking to the same components over time helps the people you want to attract to stick to your company. The consistency of your brand lets customers be assured that you are reliable and trustworthy, thereby establishing trust in them and loyalty and sales.
A memorable brand identity cannot be achieved in one day. It's a process that starts with selecting a business name and then creating the logo and typography, and the list goes on. Each of these elements will be incorporated as time goes on to create the distinct identity of your brand.
There will probably be some bumps on the road, and that's okay! Many of the top brands we've come to know and trust have made mistakes in their journey. If you adhere to your branding strategy and follow this advice, you will be on the right track to creating a solid brand image.
