No matter what your business, branding is essential. Your name, your theme, your visuals. It's what sets you apart, so prospects, clients, your audience, fans, etc. can easily identify who you are and what you do.
Perhaps the most important part of your brand is you: your personality, expertise, and your niche. When you take the time to plan and create your elements, and add your authentic self in the mix, it's a recipe for branding success.
If you can't remember the last time you did a branding checkup, it's likely way overdue. You don't necessarily need to change or update anything. However, it never hurts to touch base with yourself, in case it's time for minor changes, a pivot, or a complete overhaul.
Your Brand Elements
Your brand is composed of numerous areas - some are tangible, while others are just part of your businesses model.
Business Name: Your business name should be consistent with your blog name, podcast, and any other content you create to promote your business.
Mission Statement: Who you are plus what you do encompass your mission statement. Does your business still reflect your mission? Does your mission reflect your business? Or is it time to make adjustments?
Tagline: Your tagline is a simplified, catchy version of your mission simplified. Think of it as a touchstone for all of your potential business activities.
Logo: Whether your logo is an image or stylized text, it should be a reflection of your brand. A modern company vs tech vs financial services vs creative industry will all have different approaches to logo.
Fonts: See notes on logo.
Colors: Like logos and fonts, your brand colors should be consistent ... and all go together.
Imagery: Branded images range from your website and blog images to your social media backgrounds and post templates. Use the same type of image - for instance, all illustrations or all modern photographs - throughout. And don't forget to incorporate your logo, especially when it comes to social media headers and shareable blog posts.
When you evaluate your branding, remember consistency is key. You want all of your personas, links, social media accounts to connect to you and to each other.
Follow this simple rule: "Be yourself - your brand - everywhere." And that's really all there is to it!
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How important is branding? What other elements do you incorporate in your branding? And how do you set yourself apart? Please share in the comments.
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2 comments:
Debra, great tips on sprucing up your brand. Most of us don't think about doing a checkup once we have our brand up and running, including me. I'll be taking the time to check on mine!
Thanks, Karen. Awesome. Happy to hear it.
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