Building a strong brand image is a lot like carving your name into a tree – it’s not easy, but it’s there to stay when you finally get it right (not that I recommend vandalizing trees). The question of the hour is how do you do it? How do you create a brand image that’s as unique as your business and resonates with your target audience?
Brand building is a tad more complicated than carving a tree. But that’s why we’re here to talk about it today. We’re going to take a look at five steps for building a strong brand identity that’ll leave your competitors in the dust. So sit comfortably and let’s get to work.
Note: This is not a detailed guide. It’s more like a bird’s eye view of what you need to do. If you want to talk things over in more detail, you know how to find me.
Create a brand strategy
Brand strategy has become the cornerstone of my copywriting. I rarely take on projects without developing a brand strategy first. The reason is simple – your brand strategy provides clarity for all the other steps to come. It includes your target audience, positioning, mission, vision, values, and more. It’s the blueprint you use to build your brand.
Your vision, mission, and values are the foundation of your brand. They’re the north star that guide everything you do. Make sure they’re communicated loud and clear to your target audience, and let them shine through all your branding efforts.
Create a unique visual identity
The next step is creating a unique visual identity. I can’t assist you with that, but I know who can. My friends at Embrand Studio have helped many businesses from all over the world transform into brands that move and captivate their audience (with my help for the last few years). If someone can turn your business into a world-class brand, it’s them.
Your visual identity has to be unique, memorable, and consistent across everything from your website to your marketing materials. Your logo, color scheme, and typography all have to work together to create a visual identity that stands out from the rest.
Develop a consistent brand voice
Having a unique visual identity is great, but it’s not enough. Your brand voice has to be just as consistent. Make sure it reflects your brand and speaks directly to your target audience. From your website to your social media profiles to your marketing materials, keep that voice consistent and true.
The whole point is to have people recognize your brand voice even among your competitors. Considering that we’re constantly bombarded with advertising, recognizability is worth the investment. It’s the only way you’ll cut through the noise.
Leverage the power of storytelling
And let’s not forget the power of storytelling. It’s a tool that can elevate your brand image for all to see. Use it to communicate with your audience in a way that’s engaging and relatable.
This will help you establish a connection with your customers in a way few brands can. Brand loyalty, social bonding, and positive emotions stand on the other side of proper storytelling.
Establish a strong online presence
Last but not least is your online presence. It has to be professional, consistent, and up-to-date. Your website, social media profiles, and online reviews are all part of your brand image. Make sure they’re optimized for search engines to attract new visitors and keep your brand relevant.
Focus on your efforts where your target audience tends to gather. Targeting zoomers on Facebook or boomers on TikTok will most likely be a waste of time. As with everything else related to branding and marketing, start with the audience and work your way back.
Conclusion
So there you have it. Building a strong brand image isn’t for the faint of heart. It requires planning and hard work (and probably the assistance of the right team), but if you follow the steps above, you’ll be on the right track.
Till next time.
