Many people start companies by focusing heavily on their products, how they’ll distribute them, and how it will cost them. These are all vital aspects of a new business, but none of them will be of any use without a proper marketing strategy—and that starts with a strong brand image. If you aren’t sure how to create one, this guide on creating a strong brand identity for your start-up is just for you.
Determine Your Target Audience and Competitors
Start by figuring out your target market. Many start-ups make the mistake of trying to sell their products to everyone and don’t narrow in on a niche market. You should avoid a broad audience and instead narrow your focus to a niche demographic.
In addition, you’ll need to determine your competitors. Start by finding out what does and doesn’t work for your competitors, and then identify your own weaknesses. The key to gaining attention right away is to identify what the competition hasn’t figured out yet and explain that through your branding.
Design Your Logo and Style
The next step is to create a logo and style. Some entrepreneurs think all you need is an eye-catching logo, but several factors determine a brand identity. You’ll also need a color scheme that fits your image and a message that clearly tells customers what to expect.
Most importantly, you must keep your brand aesthetic consistent across all your points of contact. Your storefront, website, and social media accounts should all have the same design and style. Failing to do this could cause consumer confusion and a potential loss of sales.
Start Advertising
It’s critical that your target audience notices your branding as soon as possible. For that reason, this blog’s final tip for creating a strong brand identity for your start-up is to emphasize branding in your advertising. The consistency we described earlier will help potential customers know who you are at first glance.
However, ads can get expensive, depending on their frequency and location. Good ads will pay for themselves over time, but this might be an unplanned expense for which you didn’t account in your initial budget.
If you’re in need of additional funding for brand advertisements and interested in funding options, learn more here about our 401(k) business financing, DreamSpark Plan.