Branding Basics: For Any New Online Endeavour – Part 1

Reading time: Approximately 4 minutes

This is the first part of a two part series on branding basics. Over the next two blog posts we’ll be exploring branding for your new website, business, and you. Subscribe to the RSS feed and be the first to get more tutorials and tips for DIY entrepreneurs.

So you’re starting a new endeavour? That’s great! There’s nothing quite like the thrill of starting something new, be it blogging, eCommerce, or something totally new. In order to reach success you first need people to notice you. You want people to know who you are, what you do, and most importantly, why they need you. You need to brand yourself!

Besides having a great product or great content, branding is arguably one of the biggest factors that your success hinges on. It’s so important that companies spend millions on it every single year.

Your brand is you. You are your brand. That should be your mantra as you strive to create your bustling, living, breathing enterprise.

Why Concentrate On Branding?

Competitive Differentiation

One of the only ways for a company or even a person to show uniqueness is by expressing their individuality. Branding is the tool to do this.

Without a brand, no one would know how you are different from the next company, or the next blogger. It’s your chance to hop on your pedestal and show why and how you are different and worth noticing. It’s an expression of your uniqueness.

Eliminate Mixed Messages

I’m sure we’ve all seen companies that are confused about branding. One of their advertisements might look, sound or feel different to all of their other communications. Branding is your chance to create uniformity.

Branding your company or yourself is the only time you get to control what you want to say between the lines. With a consistent brand, people know in every single communication what the underlying message is.

A Confident Clear Message

Branding is about clearing up what you’re all about. The words between the lines of your promotional activities.

It’s your chance to make that message whatever you desire. Ensure it’s confident, clear, and absolute.

All Your Values In All Your Communication

Nothing says confidence than repeating the same underlying message, unwaveringly, over and over in front of a lot of people.

Creating a consistent brand takes the hard work out of this process. If it’s there all the time, you don’t have to remember to inject it.

Customers, suppliers, and partners won’t be confused about your message and a lot less explaining will be required to answer the “what are you all about?” question. Lay it bare for all to see.

Consistency

Finally, creating a brand brings a consistent look, feel and message to your business, your blog, or yourself. That’s important for attracting the right type of customer or reader.

Consistency is what will get you recognised.

Conclusion

And that’s the end of the first part of this two part series on Branding Basics. I hope it’s given you some renewed vigor to look at your brand, what you can improve on right away, and why you should be thinking about branding in the first place.

This series is continued in the second half of Branding Basics. Be sure to Subscribe to the RSS feed to get updates delivered direct to your RSS feed reader’s inbox.