In business, your brand identity is one of the most important factors that will determine your company’s success. Your brand identity can be quite powerful and might even become a household name if done correctly!
A brand identity is more than just a logo, slogan or catchphrase; it’s also how you represent yourself on social media and what you tell the world about who you are and what you do. As such, it has to be authentic and consistent to gain the trust of your customers.
If you want to become an authority figure in your industry, keep reading for nine tips on how to build a strong brand identity.
1. Be Authentic
As mentioned previously, authenticity is key when building a strong brand identity. It means staying true to your company principles and representing them honestly with words and visuals that don’t appear too corporate.
For example, if we were writing this for a tech startup, we might say something like, “We make technology easier for you” while a fitness company might say, “You can stay healthy, no matter how busy your life is!”
2. Discover Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
Your USP is what makes you different from the rest of the competition. It’s what makes you unique, and it’s what will give customers a reason to shop with you instead of your competitors.
For example, Apple has revolutionized music with their iPod Shuffle by allowing users to carry up to 120 songs in their pocket! If someone wanted to listen to their favorite tunes without having any extra baggage, an iPod Shuffle would be perfect.
3. Use Strong Brand Messaging
When writing for your website or social media pages, be sure to use strong brand messaging. Write in a concise and engaging way while also showcasing your expertise and personality.
You may want to consider hiring a professional copywriter to help you get the job done professionally.
4. Stand for Something Special
To stand out from your competition, you need to know what sets you apart from everyone else. As such, it’s important that you “stand for something special.”
This could mean being environmentally friendly or perhaps going green in some capacity; it could mean providing the best customer service in the industry or maybe offering a great warranty on all of your products/services.
5. Hire a Designer That Is On Your Level
Even if you don’t consider yourself a creative person, you must contact a brand design studio that is on your level.
The last thing you want to do is give too much creative freedom and end up with an identity that doesn’t represent your brand in the way that you intended!
6. Use Consistent Imagery and Color Schemes
The colors you choose for your logo, website design, business cards, etc., all have to work well together, so there are no mixups or confusion when it comes to branding. Even if you only use three colors throughout every piece of content, consistency should be maintained across the board.
If possible, tie imagery into each color scheme, so it has more meaning behind it. For example, if you use the color green in your logo, try to incorporate an eco-friendly message into your content.
7. Have a Catchy Slogan or Tagline
Your slogan or tagline is what people will remember about your brand! It could be something simple like “Just Do It!” (Nike), or perhaps it’s more specific, like “Redefining Style” (Ralph Lauren).
Whatever it may be, make sure that it fits nicely into other aspects of your business identity and that it puts you apart from the competition.
8. Make Your Logo Simple Yet Memorable
People should easily recognize your logo when they see it on social media profiles, ads, billboards, etc. Even though you want your logo to stand out, having a simple design is just as important.
If you’re struggling to come up with a good idea for your logo, consider asking one of your employees or friends/family members how they would symbolize your company’s mission statement in a single picture?
9. Have a Consistent Brand Voice
What kind of tone do you use when typing on social media profiles and writing new blog posts? Keep this consistent across all platforms, so the tone remains unchanged!
The “voice” of your brand should be not only professional but also authentic. You might even want to hire an editor that specializes in online content creation if you need some help to get the job done right!
The nine tips for building a strong brand identity that we’ve provided in this article should be enough to get you started. If you’d like to get a little more creative, feel free to use the ideas we’ve presented in your content. Just keep in mind that it’s always best to consult a professional if you’re unsure about anything!
