Branding Tips for Beginners
“How do I brand my business?” Great reflective question to ask If you feel like you’re not attracting your ideal client, experiencing a lull in new business, or are simply ready to take things to the next level. Branding can be as overwhelming or simple as you make it. At the end of the day, it’s the element of your business that should be attracting new customers and keeping your current clients coming back for more. We’re listing out 3 basic components of branding and the biggest asset you want to make sure you have to wrap it all up.
How to build a brand –
1. Brand Audit
First, conduct a thorough audit for your existing brand. This may seem like a baby step but it’s important to understand where your business is, and where you would like to take it. Ask yourself these 10 questions when considering a rebrand - “Should I Rebrand my Company?”. After determining where you stand against your competition, what brands and businesses do you look to for inspiration, and have a clear understanding of what your strengths and weaknesses are. It’s time to determine who your ideal client is.
2. Target Market
What do we mean by “target market?” Your target market or “ideal client” is essentially who you would consider your perfect customer. Someone that has a need for your services, is enjoyable to work with, and will keep coming back for repeat business. When you’re thinking through step 2, it’s important to define your ideal customer as specifically as possible. Where do they work? What is their age, occupation, and salary range? Really honing in on this aspect during your rebrand helps keep you on the right track in developing a brand that appeals to the type of customer you want to attract.
3. Building your Brand
Now to the fun part! There isn’t a “right” order when it comes to developing the assets of your new brand. However, we suggest starting with color palette, typography, logo, and then developing your brand messaging (or “brand voice.”) You may know exactly what aesthetic you’d like for your brand. However, if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, start with a mood board to narrow down the key visual elements of your brand.
After your brand has been fully developed, we HIGHLY recommend creating a style guide. A brand style guide clearly defines all of the specifications for your brand. What color codes to use, typography, how logos will be used on various mediums, etc. This ensures that your brand has consistency moving forward and everyone from internal teams to outside vendors truly understand the “foundation” of your brand.
Recap:
Like any other business strategy, preparation is key. The same is true when approaching a new brand or a complete rebrand for your business. Make sure you’re diving in to the process with a clear understanding of your current brand position in the market, focus on who your ideal client is, and begin building from the bottom up!
If you’re still feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start, shoot us a message. We’d be happy to help!
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