Don't Gamble When It Comes To Branding Your Business

By:David Pritt
Consumers today are faced with a larger body of choices than ever before. Burger King’s “Have it your way” was about the most difficult menu around until Starbucks let you decide just how to create that double shot, low foam, extra tall, low fat, blah, blah, blah. And as consumers we all have deep seated feelings about which burger or latte to order and from where. Why do we have these feelings? BRANDING!

A powerful, emotionally-bonding brand is the key to long term success. Gone are the days when a bold ad in the Yellow Pages is sufficient to separate your business from all the others in the area. In today’s “never ending choices” world, the consumer needs a strong brand to grab on to and then cling to as a long term client.

Fresh original brands don’t just develop on their own. They are not mere logos. They are complete images created from an honest internal search into just who you are as a business and what you want to be for your clients. Is this something you should create overnight? Is it something that comes to you in an exciting burst of adrenaline? Not likely. Some businesses know exactly who they are. Everything from their logo and tagline, to the employees they hire, to their office décor exudes and communicates the same image. These businesses are well branded.

Other businesses are not so lucky. Perhaps you picked out your business cards from a catalog, chose your carpet based on durability and cost, and hired the best receptionist you could find when you needed someone, then failed to communicate to that person exactly what your brand was all about, and how his or her actions need to show that brand. Although these choices were logical when you made them, you may look back and notice that they are inconsistent. They do not work together to show the public a complete brand or image of your business. This is gambling with your brand. Your brand should be consistent. It should be based on thoughtful reflection on what image you want to project, what your customers are looking for, and what niche you serve. Once you have established in your mind who you are and want to be, you need to communicate that effectively to your potential customers.

Expressing that brand or image in ways that people can see, hear, understand and feel is the goal of branding specialists. Start to develop and communicate your brand with the help of a branding firm that is willing to uncover who you are, and is talented at translating your message.