Branding is important, no matter the scale of your business
It is a common misconception of small and micro businesses that branding is for the big boys. Priding themselves on quality products, excellent service and affordable prices, branding is often regarded as a luxury and an unnecessary one at that.
But we beg to differ. With so much competition and noise in the marketplace, it is essential for businesses to stand out and in this visually-focused world, so much emphasis is placed on the look and tone when trying to decide between them. This is especially true when you’re a customer with no previous experience of a service and the only thing you have to go on is ‘how they come across.’
“People do not by goods and services. They buy relations, stories and magic” Seth Godin
Here’s why we think you should re-evaluate the importance you place on branding:
It creates recognition
People like to stay within their comfort zone and if your branding is consistent and easy to recognise they are more likely to buy from you
It differentiates you from the competition
The online world means you’re no longer just competing locally, therefore how are you standing out from the many businesses just like yours?
It shows your personality
Everything from your tone of voice to your website is giving an impression of what it’s like to work with you – make it a good one
It tells customers what to expect
A consistent and clear brand puts the customer at ease because they know exactly what to expect from you
It helps the business stay focused
Defining who you are and what you are about, stops you getting distracted by time wasters, bad ideas or dead ends
It provides business value
A strong brand can increase the value of a business way beyond its physical assets
It motivates staff
A clear brand strategy informs staff about what you stand for, how they should act, what values the business lives by and how they can help you succeed
It generates referrals
People love to recommend brands they like
It creates an emotional connection
A brand allows someone to connect emotionally and if they feel good when they interact with you, they are more likely to engage with your business
Branding goes way beyond a logo, strapline or graphics. It should affect the whole customer experience from the way you answer the phone, package your products, talk on social media or even treat your staff. As such, it doesn’t just happen, it has to be well-thought through, strategic and believable! No wonder it begins to feel like an overwhelming task…
Queen Bee can help you break this task down no matter what stage of the journey you’re on. Using workshops, research, Q&A’s and by simply listening, we can help you really get under the skin of who you are, what you stand for and why people should choose you. Then the fun picture stuff starts…
We’d love to hear from you so get in touch!