Branding and marketing go hand-in-hand; one just cannot happen without the other. In fact, branding is a marketing practice that aims to bring out your company’s character. It combines several business elements including identity, values, voice, logo, online presence (e.g. website or social media pages), collateral, to name a few. Branding allows you to set yourself apart from other competing players in the industry. It is crucial for the success of any business in any industry.
Why is branding important?
Branding distinguishes you from competitors, making it a vital element of any business. You may be selling a product/service that exists in the marketplace, but branding is what will secure that sale. Branding lets a business tell its story, voice its values, and show customers the value it offers. Branding allows businesses to establish recognition among consumers and attract new ones over time.
How is branding achieved?
On the one hand, you have brand guidelines. It includes information like font, colors, and the overall mood of brand designs — elements that will increase your brand recognition. Your brand’s logo, stationery, website, social media pages, and everything else that represents your business should always be consistent in identity, voice, and spirit. Branding helps businesses attain an unparalleled level of consistency.
On the other hand, you have the content. Just as the brand’s designs should maintain consistency in look and feel, the content should always speak in the same voice. From blog posts to banners and videos, your brand’s content should mirror its identity at all times.
Who to trust with branding?
Because agencies’ fees can sometimes be agonizingly high, several business owners sometimes decide to take matters into their own hands. However, the result would end up like that of bread baked at home by someone with no previous experience. It would not be optimal nor would it be right. Entrusting an agency with your brand may not be cheap, but it does pay off. At least, you’d be able to sleep at night knowing a team of experts is handling something they do for a living.
In a nutshell
With proper branding, you can be sure that your business will have an influential presence. It is worth noting that branding is a long process that does not happen overnight. It costs time and money, but you’ll be reaping the benefits in no time. Trust us.