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6 Keys for Branding Success

BrandingIt’s very important to realize that your brand is one of the most important aspects of your business. It can differentiate between visitors and buyers, and can also be the determining factor for success or failure. As with any other project, there are several things to consider when building a successful brand for your company. Below are some suggestions for things you can do to come up with a great brand that will imprint itself in your consumers’ minds.

1. Define

Making sure that your brand is defined is a very important key to successful branding. You can’t expect people to recognize your brand with minimal effort from you. If you want your potential customers to recognize your company as a coffee company, make sure that your brand ties back to coffee in some way. We can expect our customers to define our brands to some extent, but first we need to start with our own vision.

2. Personalize

Another crucial element of a successful brand is that it is personal. You never want people to look at your business as another run-of-the-mill company that only wants their money. You’ve got to let them know that your company and brand are made of real human beings whose priority is their happiness.

3. Business Name

When considering different business names, keep in mind that the easier it is to remember, the better chance your business stands. It’s nearly impossible to have a superior brand when your business name is difficult to pronounce or remember. By keeping this point in mind, you’re doing your business – and your wallet – a huge favor.

4. Social Media

Make effective use of some of the top social media sites. If you take a few minutes to look at successful businesses, both online and offline, you will undoubtedly notice that a whole lot of them have shifted a very large percentage of their business to popular social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Social media is the future, and it would be detrimental to ignore this fact.

5. Creativity

Don’t be afraid to get creative! Regardless of how much you like your brand right now, chances are that it won’t last unless you are creative with it. To a point, the more creative your brand is, the more likely it is for your brand to grow and thrive. Also, keep in mind that you can’t expect things that worked for you last year to work this year. Make sure that you remain creative and flexible, and stay on top of the latest trends.

6. Customer Support

Your customers have the ability to make or break your business. If you treat them poorly or aren’t available for them when they need you, they will most certainly let other people know of their experiences. Word of mouth travels quickly. Make sure you stay on the good side of your customer, and take great care of them. Also keep in mind that your customers need to be able to get in touch with you in a timely manner. Make sure that you are there for them as respect is reciprocal.

By following these few simple guidelines, you’ll be able to develop a brand which will benefit you for years to come. Take your time, make decisions wisely, and remember that your customers are your first concern.

 

Matthew Toren
 

Matthew Toren is a serial entrepreneur, mentor, investor and co-founder of YoungEntrepreneur.com. He is co-author, with his brother Adam, of Kidpreneurs.org, BizWarriors.com and Small Business, BIG Vision: Lessons on How to Dominate Your Market from Self-Made Entrepreneurs Who Did it Right (Wiley).

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