In this era of digital marketing, the term “branding” has taken on a new meaning. It’s not enough anymore to list your company in the phone book and advertise through flyers and other print handouts. Rather, branding has come to mean establishing a 360-degree view of your business through multiple platforms including e-mail, social media, a website presence, and more. Though there are now more ways to promote your brand, it’s critical that your message across each is clear, consistent, and concise. With so many options at your fingertips, that can be hard to do. Today, we’re discussing branding ideas that can jumpstart your creative process.
Ready to learn more? Let’s dive in!
1. Don’t Fake It
This is one of the top ways to attract customers to your brand and earn their trust. Second only to discounts and loyalty rewards, consumers crave authenticity, research reveals.
As you throw around branding ideas, consider the message you want to get across, then think of the most honest and straightforward way to say it.
Today, prospects can quickly hop online and read reviews and recommendations about almost any company they’re thinking about patronizing. To this end, transparency is key.
Remember when Domino’s totally re-branded its image in 2010, fessing up to a less-than-stellar product and failing business model? Its sales grew 16.5% in just six months after that, revealing that there’s power — and profit — in honesty.
2. Build a Team that Believes
You could have the most amazing product or service in the world, but if your teams don’t believe in it, chances are even your best branding ideas won’t give you the results you want.
So start from within.
Focus on cultivating a team of employees as passionate about your brand as you are and can clearly articulate its message. These will become your first brand ambassadors and advocates, convincing others that you’re worth checking out.
A recent Gallup poll revealed that out of 3,000 workers, only 41% strongly agree that they know what their company stands for and what makes their brand different from the rest. Where do yours stand?
If you’re not sure, consider training your employees on how to effectively deliver your brand’s vision across every customer touchpoint.
3. Stay a Step Ahead
You already know that understanding your audience is critical and that the customer is always right.
While those mantras are true, it’s important to not stop there. Instead, leverage that knowledge to find the unmet needs that only your brand can supply.
Though the accuracy of the quote is disputed, many attribute Henry Ford as saying, “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
The takeaway? Meet your customers where they are, but when looking for branding ideas, anticipating their needs before they even realize them makes all the difference.
Every great invention was created because someone looked around at the status quo and thought things could be just a little better. You don’t have to create an entirely new industry, just consider how you can shine a little brighter in yours.
Of course, you can’t think ahead like this until you have an in-depth understanding of who you’re targeting. So invest in audience analytics to see who’s buying from you, what they’re most interested in, and what their pain points are.
4. Grow a Personality
As technology infiltrates almost every aspect of our lives, we often interact with our favorite brands on a daily basis. We follow them on Facebook, read their Twitter updates, receive emails offering their promotions, and so forth.
As such, a “brand” is no longer a faraway entity defined by a physical storefront. It’s a living, breathing being that we talk to, share our feedback with, and go to for support.
For your brand to be considered that way, it’s important to inject personality into your branding ideas. Before you can do that, you’ll need to think about what type of identity your company should take on.
Are you the company-next-door with no pretension, or are you a high-end aristocrat rubbing elbows with the elite? Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, wear that persona with pride.
5. Get Tech-Savvy
To succeed in today’s highly competitive market, companies are increasingly turning to digital branding ideas to connect with customers and spread their message.
With just a few clicks, you can reach audiences via social media, mobile messaging, email marketing, viral videos, blogging, and more. This is an incredible opportunity that in the past decade has connected more brands with consumers than ever before.
Now, more than 80% of consumers hop online to do brand research before making a purchase decision. Will they see your name in the mix?
If the answer is no, don’t be afraid to start small.
You don’t have to join every social media network out there to build an online presence. In fact, that’s often counterproductive. Focus on the platforms best suited to your industry, and go from there.
6. Reward Loyalty
Sure, you want to attract new customers. But what about your existing ones?
If your branding ideas don’t include any loyalty rewards or frequent purchase promotions, consider if they’d be a natural fit.
Research reveals 85% of consumers age 18 to 35 (that sought-after Millennial market) participate in at least one loyalty program and about one-third of all consumers have at least two loyalty cards.
Source: https://extension.psu.edu/using-loyalty-programs-to-attract-consumers-to-value-added-businesses
As you reach out to your prospects, don’t forget to turn back around and reward those who have already taken a chance on your company. You’ll grow your brand’s credibility and trustworthiness as you do — the best reward of all.
Your Next Step: Turn Your Branding Ideas into Reality
Are you ready to turn all of those notes, sketches, and brainstorming sessions into a rock-solid branding plan that can transform your company?
If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Our agency provides digital marketing solutions that are smart, future-focused, and tech-driven. We’ll work with you to help you generate leads, scale your growth, and boost the ROI on your outreach efforts.
Contact us today to learn more and take the first step toward transforming your brand for the better!