Four Steps to Building a Solid Brand

Branding is important – it is a basic element of any business. With many competitors, developing a cohesive brand can align a business with an opportunity to go above and beyond the competition. It can provide your business with a unique opportunity to build a trusted brand. Here are four basic steps that you need to know to start building your brand and reputation:

1. People are highly visual, so graphic images should play an important role in a branding strategy. Whether it’s high-resolution photos or a modern, eye-catching logo, developing this imagery will allow customers to put a ‘face with the name’ and quickly grow the company into a recognizable brand.

2. Once the brand’s visual elements have been created, repetition is key. Be sure that all marketing collateral includes the brand’s logo and a similar color scheme.

3. Build a website for the brand and consider implementing a social media strategy in order to communicate with consumers. With so many people using the Internet, it is critical for a brand to establish a presence online. There are an increasing number of consumers primarily using smart phones and tablets to access information online, so it is also very valuable to include a presence on a mobile-optimized website or app as part of an overall branding strategy.

4. Having a reputation management strategy is very important. It is much more valuable for a brand to be flawsome – having imperfections but showing understanding through truthful and transparent communication with consumers – than it is to sweep concerns under the rug. Reputation management does not require perfection; rather, it requires the brand to speak honestly and humbly to their customers.

Creating a consistent brand image and being available to all consumers across a variety of channels will increase brand awareness, drawing attention to your business and what you are able to offer the consumer. It is very important to build a positive relationship with all customers. Cohesive branding demonstrates organization and professionalism, which will forge trust.

With an organized strategy in place, a brand can begin establishing itself as the reputable, trusted choice for consumers.

via Business 2 Community http://www.business2community.com/branding/four-steps-building-solid-brand-0631793?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=four-steps-building-solid-brand