The business world is really competitive, and that makes it really difficult for growing businesses to thrive amidst the harsh conditions.
One reason it gets too difficult is that a whole lot of businesses are carried away by the work, that they forget their identity – what they are known for, what makes them stand out in the marketplace.
Back then, your logo was your brand. But in a world of over 2 billion active social media users, and with a greater population being in just 5 social media platforms, you are competing with top brands to grab the attention of these large numbers of people.
So, while your logo may be in fact your brand, you need some other things I will be sharing with you.
So, here are four easy steps to build your brand.
1. Identify your core values and core philosophies
Intrinsic values win almost all the time. One big problem with a lot of businesses is that they don’t want to think too much because of all the work they have to do. Rather, they just want to get through the day and keep “hustling” day after day. But core values, what you stand for, your purpose, and your mission are really important stuff to figure out when building your brand.
Take out time to map out a vision for yourself if you have been running without one, and try to model your present with what you see in the future. That’s what Michael E. Gerber calls the Entrepreneurial perspective.
2. Tell a story
Once you have identified your core philosophies, had a clear mission, and stated clearly your values, you can use those to tell a story. A story that aligns with the purpose of your business, and use characters that depict your core values to connect emotionally to your customers. That’s a great way to be a motivation that people just want to see, and you could also build a following through that.
Loyal customers may just keep sharing that story, whether online or off, because, who doesn’t like a good story? So, tell a story… People want to listen to a good one.
3. Audit your marketplace
You may not particularly have anything special in your business that you stand out for, but you could always use your competition to make something your business could be known for – that’d be your brand!
Go out there, check out the strengths and weaknesses of your competition. And ask yourself if your business could capitalize on any of those weaknesses you find in your competition.
If yes, great! Then work towards communicating that weakness a lot of people seem to be frustrated about and you have successfully created a brand out of a pressing issue.
4. Look, Feel, Voice
Now, this is the part of your business that makes your business stand out from others and makes your business easily spot able. This ranges from your brand color to your logo, and even your customers’ experience using your product or patronizing your business.
Ask yourself, how do I make my business absolutely unique, and also compelling?
While you try to figure out possible answers, one way is to paint a picture of your business using your core philosophies and values.
Building your business brand is very important in running a successful business. Because business is war, and truthfully, it is only the strongest brands that win out there.
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