Brand image development is crucial for any company hoping to succeed in today’s marketplace. Not only must a brand be effective in delivering a clear message, but it must also be appealing to consumers. This involves first understanding the perspective of consumers and how they process information. Then, understanding how to deliver messages to consumers in a way that engages and inspires them.
Brand image is your brand’s perception in the consumer’s mind. It’s an abstract, collective impression of your brand based on their collective impressions and experiences with your brand. Simple definition of brand image can be: The consumers’ perception of your brand depending on their personal experiences and interaction with your brand or even their overall impressions of your brand through their shopping experience. Brand image development focuses on the design, promotion, public relations, and sales of your brand name. These are key elements that help you build brand awareness and create a positive perception about your brand.
In order to create a strong brand image, you must begin by defining and establishing your brand personality. A brand personality is the “look and feel” of your company through the values, goals, and personality of your company. Your brand personality is what makes your company stand out from the rest and gives your customers a reason to trust and invest in you.
When we speak of a “brand,” most people think of a company logo or sign featuring a recognizable company mascot. A popular misconception in the small business industry is that branding must involve large sums of money. However, branding for small business owners does not require large sums of money to establish. In fact, for the most part, branding can be done entirely within budgets that range between one thousand to six thousand dollars per product. In this economy, these budgets are not only easily obtainable, they are realistic enough for most small business owners to manage.
One effective way to start establishing your brand image is through the implementation of “killer marketing” tactics. These tactics can include custom business cards, social media advertising, and website content. By branding your business through the distribution of custom business cards, you are instantly establishing your brand’s visibility with potential consumers. If these consumers find your card to be valuable, they will likely tell a friend or refer you to others, who may also need your products.
Social media advertising is an effective way to brand yourself as well. You can brand yourself through your website, blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts. This strategy allows you to interact with your consumers on an ongoing basis, as well as create lasting impressions on them. By sharing interesting news stories, special offers, or just about anything you feel would be of interest to your consumers, you are not only engaging with your consumers, but also building trust and creating a strong brand image. The goal of all of these strategies is to convince consumers that you and/or your company are one of a kind. By consistently showing your consumers that you are different from other businesses in your field, you will gain the trust and respect of your consumers and grow your brand image each time your brand is represented by one of these methods.
Another way to effectively establish your brand image is through the use of business cards. As an entrepreneur, you already know that it is vital that you create a professional image. In this case, it is crucial that you take the time to develop your brand image. You want potential customers to perceive you as a professional and trusted business. By distributing business cards to your existing customers, as well as to potential customers, you are communicating to your customers that you are professional and trustworthy, which can help to make you a great success.
Another important factor in brand image creation is through the use of social media. There are many social media platforms available for entrepreneurs to utilize. Many of these platforms feature business owners creating their own personal brand voice or promoting their businesses through various social media platforms. Businesses can create their own social media pages where they can showcase their unique brand voice or interact with other businesses within their industry. Creating social media accounts is a very effective method for building your brand image.