Branding Options

Entrepreneurs have a lot to think about when starting a business. This may include what angles to consider using when it comes to developing your brand.

Your brand values should be reinforced in every communication piece sent to your customer, even through telephone communication or in person service.

Your brand will come out in things like your business name, your slogan, logo, your products, packaging or even where your business is located, and the office you operate in. It could also come out in your employees, even their attire may reflect on your company. McDonald's and other fast food restaurants always enforce a uniform for employees. Your business may not need to enforce uniforms but it helps to create a picture of how almost anything about your business may reflect upon your brand.

Don't overlook the small things. Consider your options carefully.

Make it clear and memorable

Think of your facourite brand of fast food or soda- it uses images, shapes, colours, logos to make it stick in your mind.
To make people remember your brand, you must make EVERYTHING tie-in. Use a quirky name and buy the dot com site so your online branding easily seen. If you're name involves a colour, it's then a no brainer to merchandise everything with that colour. Familarise your audience with the brand values through repetition and they will soon be positively associated with your brand. Use a slogan that links in the brand to further reinforce the brand concept. Keep your branding consistant through all websites, emails, invoices and stationary so your audience associates the sort of products or services you provide with your branding, ensuring you're their first stop!

Examples of Brands

Do you know the Mickey Mouse Club theme song? If I passed you a Coke can but with the label covered, would you be able to tell me it was a Coke and not another brand simply by the taste?

Most people could probably answer these questions. This is an example of a brand. Coke has a recognizable can but also a taste that makes Coke stand out from other sodas.

A brand could also be a reputation. The Salvation Army has a reputation for being there for people and helping in emergency situations. If you need help, most people know they can turn to the Salvation Army.

These are only a few ways a company brand may be recognized. An entrepreneur needs to be aware that developing a good reputation for your company is just as important as developing a recognizable brand.

What is a Brand?

By definition, a brand could be almost anything that represents or becomes a symbol of a company. It could be a logo, a jingle or a company or product name. It is something people recognize, which could be in a good or negative way. A brand is not just one thing; it is everything that is connected with the company. A company brand is the images you display in your logo and it is also the reputation behind the company. It could be a taste or a smell that is recognized in associated with your product.

For an entrepreneur, achieving a recognizable brand is one of the main goals. It often starts with all the aspects that customers will recognize the brand with. Since brand is everything a company is, developing the brand should be first and foremost when starting a new business.

First Steps Toward Branding

As an entrepreneur, how can you develop your company brand? Start by pin pointing your company's strengths and promote those strengths. These factors could be a consistent high quality product. It could be helpful and always-there-for-you customer service. It could be the value or the savings your product provides for your customers. Whatever it is, highlight these and expose them to your customers.

These strengths, often called “brand values”, may often be found by simply asking your current customers what made them choose your company. Try doing a survey or a focus group to find out exactly what brand values customers really like about your company.

Start Developing a Brand

Brand development starts with your company image. Are you delivering what your customers want? Make your company and your products something you can be proud of. Often, it is the product and the customer service that holds up the brand, and no amount of advertising can change a negative first impression.

Start with a product that does what you say it does and more. Let your packaging speak for itself. Your customer service should be always available and friendly. If you provide a service, get jobs completed on time or sooner. Word of mouth does a lot for your brand.

Be aware of what your customers need and fulfill those needs. You need to be in control of what your brand means to your customers.

Simple Brand Development

Building a recognizable company can be tricky, but it doesn't have to be. If you have developed a logo or catch phrase, use it on every letterhead, envelope and whatever else you have that represents your company to prospective clients. Your products should always carry your company logo. Your customer service reps should always repeat your slogan or catch phrase. Every communication piece should reinforce what your company is all about.

You don't want customers to simply know you are there; you want them to think of you whenever they need something similar to your product. Something as simple as your logo on every advertisement or product can help reinforce your product or service in your customer's mind.