HOW TO MAKE YOUR BRAND STAND OUT FROM THE COMPETITION

When it comes to business, branding is essential. It’s a means of attracting attention and enabling you to engage with customers, as well as standing out from the crowd – as long as it’s done correctly. Creating the right brand for your business will take a great deal of research, and require decisions to be made. However, branding is crucial to your company’s promotion, growth and success.

How to establish a brand that stands out from the competition 

There are a number of ways in which you can establish a brand that stands out from the crowd, and you may find that not all of them are for you. However, now is the time to think clearly about your goals; where do you see your business heading, and how are you going to get there? 

Do your research 

First things first: you need to know who your target audience is, what appeals to them, and the ways in which they interact with their favorite brands. Standing out from the competition is all about speaking to your customers in a new and different way, but you’ll first need to work out how they listen. 

Aim to be unique, relatable and memorable

Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to stand out. If you’re entering a cluttered market in terms of your product or service, be sure to consider the values your company holds. What is unique about the way you present your products, or the ethics by which you operate? Don’t just think about the message you’re trying to convey, but the way it will carry across a number of channels. It’s essential that you engage with people – ask yourself what you would like to see if you were the customer, and aim to fulfill that wish list.

Being relatable will mean focusing intently on your branding, and thinking carefully about how it will be received. Is the customer more likely to choose you over your nearest competitor? If not, ask yourself why. Finally, at this stage, ensure your brand is memorable. Is there a common theme, color or image that can be associated with your company and its products? Will your audience immediately identify your marketing material? Packaging and advertising should be carefully synchronized to enable such an outcome. 

Create your marketing material carefully 

Once you’ve established your brand, consider how you’ll market your company. When it comes to distributing your brand’s message, it’s important to produce media that your customers can take away with them to digest. Being able to work with companies such as AladdinPrint Stationery will prove invaluable, enabling you to create the literature that will go forth and represent your brand. Business cards, letterhead samples, flyers and posters are a great way to attract and engage with customers, as well as telling the world about your brand. 

Be ready to network 

Once you have your image, an established set of values and the marketing campaign to illustrate such claims, it’s time to get out and about with your brand. How will people be able to choose you ahead of your competitors if you’re not out there, preparing to be seen? As well as engaging with customers and clients via social media, find out about events, conferences and locally organized business meets that you will be able to attend, as well as considering platforms such as YouTube that will help to promote your brand. Be prepared to meet people from an array of industries, and always be ready to speak about your brand. 

Standing out from your competition won’t necessarily mean shouting louder, or waving more banners. Branding is all about engaging with your audience, providing relatable marketing material, and sticking in the minds of your customers and associates. Your objective is for your company to create a loyal following, and for your brand to be instantly recognizable.

(Image: CTO)

Posted in Women and Business, Women Blogging Network