Start-Up: How To Build A Recognizable Brand

These days, it has never been easier to create a brand, and there are thousands upon thousands of new upstarts claiming to be the newest brand on the block. But building an exceptional brand is not as simple as it seems.

A memorable brand can give you recognition, and has the power to be the key to a successful business venture. So how do you elevate your brand and build it to stand out from the rest?  Take a gander at the following tips on how to build a recognizable brand:

Develop a solid brand identity

Make sure you’re laying down a rock-solid foundation to start. Your brand is your image; it is the face that you present to the world to encapsulate what you’re all about. Flimsy branding will be insubstantial and crumble with time and pressure. How will your audience recognize you if you don’t know yourself? Invest the appropriate time and money into fleshing out your brand: get to know the ins and outs—your vision, your purpose, the direction you want to go—and make sure it reflects onto your branding. This provides your brand with true meaning and credibility, and customers will appreciate a brand that has an authentic, powerful, and honest voice.

Be uniquely you

Once you know your brand, identify what it is about you that sets you apart from the pack. Your unique selling proposition will give you an edge above the rest—capitalize on that. You won’t get noticed if you just blend in with everyone else, so emphasize the reasons why you are different, and why your customers need you and should care about you. Don’t dwell too much on what is new or what is trendy, because down the line it may not stand the test of time. Offering a powerful and distinct selling point will practically sell itself, and you won’t have any trouble being remembered as a brand.

Form a good relationship with your audience

Customers will gravitate towards a brand that they relate to on a personal level. Brand sustainability depends largely upon how your audience views you and what your worth is to them. Get to know what matters to your audience and what they value as important, and work on providing that for them. Focus on cultivating connections with them through your branding and marketing. Tell a story. Tell your story. Solve a problem. Leave a deep impression, and they will remember how you made them feel. An invested consumer base will respond with passion, enthusiasm, and perhaps most importantly, loyalty to your brand.

Find a strong social media voice

Social media is a uniquely powerful tool that allows you to reach vast audiences. Having a significant social media presence is key to spreading the good word about your brand. Speak to your customers in a voice that befits your image, and build a good rapport with your audience! Focus on what they want: release content that they will find valuable and will personally relate to, whether it be memes, infographics, videos, or polls. A consistent and engaging social media presence can directly influence brand recognizability in this golden age of digital marketing. Who knows, you might even go viral!

Create meaningful human connections

As important as social and digital media is to your branding strategy, building real-world relationships is just as vital to your success. As you start out, networking is integral to landing opportunities to grow your brand and your influence. It is important to get to know the right people, and it is equally as important for them to get to know who you are.

Reaching out to your customers in-person is also a great way to build brand visibility. Build your community and find various ways to connect with them, such as hosting contests and events. Providing excellent customer service and keeping your audience engaged will ensure you are a brand to be remembered.

It is easy to dream up of starting a brand, but it’s not as easy as simply making a logo and a tagline. Building a brand requires hard work and perseverance, and a deep understanding of what it takes to make it in the world of business. And even the best strategies will fail when the product lacks substance. A truly exceptional brand will be compelling, engaging, and authentic—a brand that is recognizable is a brand that matters.

Have any ideas about growing your own brand? Work with A2 Design Lab today.

Visual by: John Rufino Mejia

Research by: Emerald Singh

Write up: Chris Ignacio