Bulletproof Your Brand Using these Six Branding Strategies

Written by: Nera Joy Cruz

It can be very difficult to set yourself apart in an increasingly competitive market. For your business to succeed, you must understand and apply the art of becoming knowable, likeable and trustworthy in order to stand out. This is basically where branding comes in.

Your  brand is a reflection of your company values, what you are all about, and basically what sets you apart from other businesses in the same niche. It is not just about coming up with a cool logo design that catches your consumers’ attention, but more about the heart and soul of your business. Here are some bulletproof strategies you can try to improve your business branding:

1. Establish a position in your niche

Establishing your niche in social media is one of the most effective ways to build your branding. The use of social media attracts your targeted market and engages them to the relevance of your product or services according to their needs.

Here are some ways on how to establish a position in your niche:

1. Create a list of your competitors and determine their strengths and weaknesses.
2. Make your brand unique and different from your competitors.
3. Know your strengths from your consumers’ point of view.
4. Use brief, yet catchy words to describe your brand.

2. Define your brand

This is a crucial step in the development of your branding. Define your brand clearly. Describe your business and brand with clarity: How can your business serve consumers?. What do you want people to know about your brand? What are your company values that you want to emphasize? Answering these questions will help you define your brand.

Follow these important steps in defining your brand:

1. Make a list of your skills.
2. Know the needs of your customers.
3. Focus on what makes your small business different from your competitors.

Create your business’ mission and vision. Indicate the features  and benefits your products or   services have, and can offer. Do your research to know what your consumers think about of you.

3. Invest on a writer, someone who can build authentic content for your small business

A writer and content creator’s job is to help you connect  with your consumers through blog, vlog or podcast.  A seasoned writer should be able to effectively sell your brand’s personality to deliver a positive impact to keep your customers engaged with your products or services.

A good content showcases your brand’s story in a manner that is relatable to your consumers. Keep the story sincere and real. Most of all, be creative and entertaining in presenting your story, and never boring.

4. Take advantage of social media

Having a social media account is not enough. You must get your brand out there and engage with your consumers.  Take time to consistently post about your products or services.  Make your consumers feel that you are always available when they need answers to their questions.

Invest time in defining your brand and staying on the same page with your consumers. Social media platforms are valuable in creating a strong brand that can determine your targeted market.

5. Put up a catchy name and logo

Create an excellent logo for  your business and position  it everywhere possible –  your social media accounts, websites, etc. This way, you will get noticed in the market, catch their attention, and eventually help you get popular among your targeted consumers.

Get a good graphic designer. Someone who understands and appreciates your thoughts and ideas, and can execute and deliver them as you want it. This is a huge factor in your branding identity.

6. Deliver your brand promise

Are you setting the right branding expectations? Keep in mind that it is highly important to establish your brand within your organization before heading out into the open. This will give your internal and external brand a firm connection.

You and your brand must be reliable. Keep the promises made to both your employees and consumers just like a performance bond, and in return, gain loyalty and a firmer foundation for your business.

You may think that your small business won’t stand a chance in competing with others,  but having effective branding strategies can definitely get you going up on the ladder or e-commerce and eventually succeed in selling your products or services to your consumers.

About Nera: 
Nera Cruz is a technical writer and a web merchandiser for different online marketplaces around the globe since 2011. Nera gained tons of experience working with several e-commerce platforms. She spends her free time selling her fashion products and gadgets on Facebook (Nera Shoppe). You can also follow her on twitter @Nera_Cruz.