6 Reasons to Brand Your Business From the Start
Over the years, we’ve heard every excuse in the book why companies don’t want to invest in their brand: lack of money, time, and understanding of the value of branding are just a few. That ends today. You must brand your business from the start.
If you’ve landed on this page, chances are you have a sneaking suspicion that branding your business is an idea at least worth exploring. After all, how else are you going to stand out from the competition and keep customers coming back? Mismatched marketing? I don’t think so.
Here are six reasons why you should brand your business from the start:
1. FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE EVERYTHING
When introducing your business to the world, you only have one chance to make a first impression. Don’t squander that valuable opportunity by jumping the gun. If you buy signage, staff attire, and launch a website without a cohesive and well-executed brand in place, you’re gambling with the reputation of your business. Your branding (or lack thereof) is how people will remember you. When you brand your business from the start, you control how your brand is perceived and the conversation surrounding it. You want your relationship with customers to have a strong, meaningful foundation from the get-go. Let’s also be clear that branding is more than your logo design. It’s your position in the market, what you stand for, and how you want to be perceived. It’s important to set the foundation for your brand prior to any design work. Learn more about what we mean by setting the foundation by reviewing our Foundational Branding process.
2. EDUCATE CUSTOMERS AND SET YOUR BRAND APART
By branding from the start of your business venture, you can tell customers exactly who you are and what sets you apart from your competitors without leaving any room for interpretation. This is your opportunity to be clear and intentional in your business operations, from the services you offer, to the staff you hire, to the feeling people get when they enter your location. Every great brand has an impactful brand story, clearly defined brand attributes, and brand positioning that makes them stand out from the crowd. And, let’s face it, in today’s increasingly visual society, differentiating your brand is key to success.
3. PROFESSIONALISM YIELDS TRUST
If you’re deciding between two landscaping companies, which would you hire? The one with a text-heavy postcard or the one with an exceptionally designed magazine ad with clear calls to action that visually aligns with its website, brochures, and social media? When you think of it that way, it’s obvious why branding must come first. Professionalism yields trust. In order to be taken seriously and to be seen as relevant, your business needs cohesive, eye-catching visuals and powerful messaging.
4. BRANDING GUIDES MARKETING AND ADVERTISING
Once your key messaging and visual direction have been established, your brand identity will inform all future communications, both internal and external. With a firm understanding of your brand positioning and how you serve your target audience differently than your competitors, you can market your business more effectively. By branding from the start, you can ensure that all customer touch points, including brochures, your website, digital advertising, social media, and more are a direct reflection of your brand. This consistency will make your brand memorable and trustworthy in the eyes of consumers.
5. ENGAGE AND MOTIVATE EMPLOYEES
A clearly defined brand with transparent values and objectives will foster a sense of pride in your employees. By educating staff on exactly who you are as a business, they can speak more confidently about your services and act as brand advocates. In order for employees to feel good about their work, they need something to believe in. Businesses need to brand from the start in order to tell that story in a compelling way that employees can see and feel.6. SAVE MONEY
I hate to break it to you, but money isn’t a valid excuse not to brand from the start of your business. Just as you wouldn’t skimp on your office space or necessary equipment, you can’t skimp on your brand. At Nice Branding Agency, we’ve curated a variety of branding packages for every investment level so that everyone has access to good branding. Whether you can only afford to start with a logo or you’re ready to dive into our Mighty Business Branding package, we’re ready to help every step of the way. Keep in mind that you will save money by branding from the start. If you choose to forgo branding from the outset, you’ll be out a lot more than just the money it costs to reprint materials. You could be missing prospects that may turn into valuable customers. You may not be able to attract or keep talent. You may lose current customers due to confusion. Your investment to fix will most definitely be higher than the cost of establishing your brand identity from the get go.
