You can either look at branding as a buzzword, or something very valuable for the continued success of your business. For the sake of this post we’re going to investigate the latter definition.
Every company has a brand whether they’re aware of it or not. However, not every company has a brand that matters. In this post we’re going to examine what makes brands matter and how to transform your brand from boring to brilliant.
What Is A Brand?
The moment a person thinks about your brand the feelings they feel, or the thoughts they think are the backbone of your brand. Your brand extends way beyond your logo and what font you use on your website.
Think of Apple. The moment you think about their company, or hold on of their devices in your hand you automatically think about simplicity, sleek design, attention to detail and beauty.
What kind of feelings do you make your customers feel?
Sadly, most brands aren’t making their customers feel anything. Most brand are bland and don’t inspire action in one direction or another. The worst feeling your customers can feel when interacting with you is ambivalence.
In another way you can think of your brand as the experience you deliver to your users.
Make Your Brand Matter
How do you exactly engineer a brand that makes people stop in their tracks? It takes more than a fancy website and sleek logo. It takes asking the right questions to get to the center of why you do the work you do, and what it looks like.
1. Why Are You Different
Different is good. People have more choices than ever. By trying to cater to every style of customer you end up appealing to no one. By taking a stand about what you believe in you can create a brand that others believe in as well.
This goes in line with what makes you different. Why would a customer choose you over the competition?
2. Discover Your Values
Your company values run deeper than your products and services. Your values are your core reasons for doing business in the first place. Why are you doing what you do?
Is it for freedom, for love, or for making a difference in the world?
Patagonia has a deep environmental ethic that runs throughout their entire business. As a result, every aspect of their business caters to this ethos. From their website, to their products, to their images and even storefronts.
3. How Will You Communicate This?
In what style will you communicate this message? Will you be stylish and clean, or brash and crude?
Whatever you choose is up to you. But, it will come across in your web copy, your overall design and how you interact with your customers.
Building a brand that people care about takes time. It takes being honest, and it takes brining every aspect of your business into alignment. However, the results are well worth-it. By building a brand that matters you’ll start to cultivate passionate brand evangelists who will do most of your marketing for you.
Kevin Wood writes about technology and human potential. You can find him at his virtual homes Wooden Writing and Counter Culturist.