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Branding

BRANDING

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Branding refers to the way in which a company creates and communicates its identity to its customers and target audience, and in many ways it can make or break a company. Creating a brand behind your idea is to give you and your business an identity the consumer can familiarize themselves with. By creating this identity, you can build a reputation for your business that may potentially lead to higher customer retention and new customer acquisition. Through brand representation, you can gain a consistent basis of returning customers, which can lead up to an additional 30% onto your current revenue.

A strong brand can help establish trust and credibility with customers, and most importantly, you can make your business stand out in a crowded marketplace. An example of a brand standing out is Nike. In the 1970s, Nike founder Phil Knight wanted to create a unique identity that would set the company apart from its competitors. He wanted distinctive packaging that would grab the customer’s attention and reinforce the brand’s images. Knight and his team elected to use bright orange packaging, now a signature element of the Nike brand. In the 70s, this was very innovative as Adidas, Converse, and Reebok all used basic colors of black, white, and blue respectively.

Whether your goal is to launch your own website, or sell products on Amazon; the importance of creating a brand identity cannot be overstated. In today’s over saturated market, consumers are faced with an overwhelming number of choices for any given product. You’re going to want to stand out.

Random Branding Facts

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Target Audience

When forming a brand, understanding the target audience is essential. A target audience refers to the specific group of individuals or customers that a brand aims to reach and engage with. In 2018, IHOP (International House of Pancakes) attempted to rebrand itself to IHOB (International House of Burgers) to emphasize its burger menu. The move was an attempt to broaden their customer base and attract a new crowd, however they faced backlash over the move. Consumers felt the rebranding deviated from the brand’s core identity, and the reason for their success. They later reverted back to it’s original name, realizing that maintaining consistency with their core brand identity was crucial for maintaining customer loyalty.

When considering the target audience as you create a brand, it is essential to consider their needs and preferences. If you’re niche focuses on breakfast, don’t try to force the consumer to buy a cheeseburger. You can ask yourself, “Who am I selling to?” By putting your target audience at the forefront of your brand creation process, you increase your chances of building a strong and enduring brand that deeply connects with the people you aim to serve.

Brand Identity

Brand identity is the visual, verbal, and emotional elements that distinguish a brand and shape its perception in the minds of consumers. This would include anything from a brand’s name, logo, color scheme, website design to customer interactions. Developing a strong and cohesive brand identity is crucial for businesses as it helps to differentiate them from competition.

In the fast-paced world of business, where attention spans are short and competition is fierce, a memorable brand name holds immense power. When consumers encounter a memorable brand name, it leaves a lasting imprint in their minds. Whether it’s short like “Nike”, or rolls off the tongue like “Coca-Cola”, creating a name is just as important as the business model. If you were to launch a brand name that is too similar to the competition, too long, or even hard to pronounce – it can be disastrous to your business.

Color psychology also plays a significant role in influencing human emotions, perceptions, and behaviors. Different colors evoke distinct psychological responses, and understanding these associations can help brands effectively communicate with their intended audience. When you look at Whole Foods, the first color you see is green. Green is often associated with health, freshness, and sustainability. It aligns with the brand’s focus on organic and natural products, creating a sense of trust and promoting an eco-friendly image. Wholefoods was able to strategically leverage color psychology to reinforce their brand.

Lastly, a brand’s values are the guiding principles and beliefs that shape its identity and influence its actions. They serve as the foundation upon which the brand is built and provide a framework for decision-making. If you take a look at Ben and Jerry’s, the ice cream brand, their entire value system revolves around around social responsibility and creating a positive impact. From their commitment to sourcing Fairtrade ingredients and supporting sustainable agriculture to even their advocacy for social justice issues. By creating a philanthropical background behind the name, they are able to they are able to actively contribute to various causes and make a meaningful difference in the world, thus creating a positive emotional attachment for the consumer.

Overall, a brand’s identity is a critical component of a company’s marketing strategy and can have significant impact on its success or failure.

Brand Consistency

Consistency refers to the ability to maintain a steady, reliable, and predictable behavior or pattern over time. Whether it’s in one’s actions, habits, or commitments, consistency holds great significance. Consistency opens up the doors of trust, allowing individuals to feel more secure and confident in your words and actions. Now think of this in a business sense, would you conduct business with a brand that’s always changing their brand identity around? To the consumer, they may come off as unstable. If a business isn’t stable, you wouldn’t traditional give them your hard earned money.

Brand consistency is the practice of maintaining a unified and cohesive brand image across all interactions with the target audience. This can be from the initial messaging, the identity, and the overall appearance of all the brand’s components. When a brand consistently delivers its promises and maintains a coherent identity, it creates a sense of reliability and professionalism. This alignment of brand elements reinforces the brand’s values, personality, and unique selling propositions, allowing the brand to leave a lasting impression on its target audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is branding?

Branding is how a business or company communicates its identity to its customers or target audience.

What if I don't know who my target audience is?

Just ask yourself, "Who am I selling to?" Every brand has a target market. As soon as you know what products you're selling, you should be able to determine who the target audience will be.

Many of the names I like are taken, what should I do?

Consider exploring alternative combinations of words that you prefer. And most of all, give yourself time. Don't rush the creative process. It's best to be patient throughout this period as you want to give yourself the best chances of success with attracting customers.

I have a brand identity in mind, what should I do next?

Firstly, you're going to want to double-check and make sure the name isn't already taken. Check for domains, the USPTO (US Patent and Trademark Office), and social media sites. Once you've cleared the name, make sure that your color identity isn't too similar to your competition.

Where can I find inspiration for creating a brand identity?

You can find inspiration all around. Through the internet, taking a drive around the city or town. The key is to venture out and look at how various companies are able to distinguish themselves from their competition. You can even look into the past with how brands like McDonald's or 7-Eleven were able to stand out in very competitive markets.

Do I need a brand name and identity?

It starts with your goals. Do you want to grow into something consumers can familiarize themselves with? Are you in it just to be a side hustle? If you want to grow into something much bigger, it is suggested to start forming the identity early on. If you're in it just as a short-term side hustle, you can probably get away with going brandless.

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