As a small business owner, you step into the industry with an ambition to turn your passion, your dream into a successful enterprise that provides for you and your loved ones. You may even have more lofty goals like turning your small business into a massive company like Amazon or Apple. You would want more people to know your company, make purchases and be famous. Some of the famous examples of such businesses are Amazon, Apple, Nike, etc. Well, what makes the business successful and massive? The key is getting wider audiences to your business, and you can accomplish that through branding. And branding has very little to do with the amount of money you invest in your business and more about making connections with your target audience
Branding doesn't mean only printing out fancy business cards and wearing t-shirts with your logo on it. Instead, branding is more about how people perceive your business and what they feel when they see your logo, your website, your product, etc. Branding is vital for any business that aims to go big, but small businesses need it just as much and they have a better opportunity to make a greater impact with their brands than larger companies. Keep in mind that 91% of people trust their favorite brands. People tend to buy and interact with brands that they trust. Sound familiar? It’s almost like brands are people. In fact this is why small businesses can easily create impactful relationships with their customers and develop brand loyalty because small business owners have a better chance to interact with their customers and audience easier than a larger corporation.
Thus, if you have recently ventured into business, it's the best time for you to create your brand image. And that image starts with you. If you’re struggling to understand how to do this, take my advice from over 10-years of providing digital marketing services to small businesses and helping create profitable brands for entrepreneurs like yourself. You can accomplish this by hiring a professional branding agency as your business grows and you can focus on conducting business. Until then to get you started, read the seven points below that will help you create a brand strategy to set your small business apart from your competition:
1 – Creates your unique identity in a competitive market
Whether you're into healthcare, sports, finance, digital, legal, or anything else, each small business has some competitors selling the same products. Not to mention, giant online retailers are also keeping an eye to divert and attract your customers to them. In such a highly competitive market, you need to make your business unique and identifiable.
By branding your business, potential customers can recognize your business and what products or services you offer. When people start noticing your brand, and they know what it stands for, then people are more likely to choose you over other competitors. In simple words, branding improves recognition for your business.
2 – Customers develop trust in your company
The fundamental factor in creating trust with your business is consistency. The branding agency you hire will design an apt logo for your company. Further, the logo will get printed on physical things like business cards, staff uniforms, storefronts or business building, etc. In digital space, your website will get optimized to project your brand image perfectly.
You might not know, but 81% of customers say that trust in a brand is a necessary element to make purchases. When customers see what your brand stands for across real-world and digital space, then they start developing credibility in your products and services. The same look, feel, and colors get used to making your brand appear professional and authoritative. And customers are more likely to trust brands that seem more polished and professional.
3 – Advertising and branding go well together
With little branding when you make a mark in the market, it becomes more convenient to advertise your business. Since your brands have already established its values, its look (logo, colors), and its tone, people are more likely to recognize your brand when they see your marketing campaign.
When your brand gets established, your marketing will get more time and cost-efficient. You no longer need to create campaigns from scratch. Instead, you can refer to the brand guidelines to make your efforts count. Whether it's apparel, packaging, printed materials, or online content, hiring a branding agency can indeed make it easy to advertise your business.
4 – Customers find it convenient to approach you
Being a small business owner, you might not be selling your products or services online. But, a vast majority of customers out there expect you to have an omnichannel presence. It includes e-commerce and social media presence too. When your brand has an excellent online presence, then customers find it convenient to look you up online and engage with you.
Also, when you have a social media presence, your customers can closely follow your brand. When people see others following and interacting with your brand, and they spot your logo on different profiles, then your company appears as unique and authentic. If you want to ensure an omnichannel presence, then hiring a branding agency is your best bet.
5 – Motivates your employees
Often, employees need more than work; they want to follow and work towards a bigger picture. Branding helps your employees learn the mission of your business and its core values. Also, when your brand receives acceptance and love from people, employees too feel pride working for your company.
Also, a reputable image of the company motivates the employees to work harder to achieve the goals you have set. A strong branding not only attracts customers but also motivates your staff. That's how hiring a branding agency can motivate your employees.
6 – Generates new and loyal customers
Whether or not your new customers will return to you depends largely on your brand image. When customers first spot your logo, they get an idea about the attitude and environment of your business, which helps them form first impressions. And you should know that first impressions influence the loyalty of your customers towards you.
A branding agency ensures that your brand has a professional image across all channels. So that when people spot your logo or watch your ad, they can find you as trustworthy. Further, customer loyalty leads to referrals. It means your loyal customers will go about spreading a word about your company and get you more business.
7 – You can influence people's perception of your business
Your customers form opinions about your business after their first interaction with you. But, there are things you can do to influence how they perceive your business. Essential elements like color, logo, theme, and tone make up your brand image. You might get surprised, but using a signature color can improve brand recognition by a whopping 80%.
When you hire a professional branding agency, they will make sure that your logo, color, and tonality, etc. work to create a spell around the customers. Professionals at the agency ensure that when people see your brand, they instantly fall in love with what it offers, which further results in high conversions for your business.
I created EMPro, Ltd to be the best digital marketing company for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Put us to the test and see how we help you reach your goals.
Got questions about branding? Got some knowledge to drop? Hey, stay in touch. Drop me a line. I'm always happy to work with entrepreneurs and help them accomplish their goals. It's my passion and a part of my brand.
I'm Ehren Muhammad, Founder of EMPro, Ltd
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IG: EhrenMuhammad
Twitter: ChiBrother85
EMPro, Ltd - Branding & Digital Marketing
We Help Brands Grow
Chicago, IL