Branding your business can be a challenge, but we’re here to make it easier with our ultimate list of branding tips and ideas.
Think about some of the brands you already love and know: Apple, Nike, Starbucks.
Why do these brands stand out to you? How would you describe each brand? Why do these brands permeate our consciousness so well?
It’s not a mistake. Brands that live on in our hearts and minds do many things right.
The Branding Brief Template
The Branding Brief Template is a free template that will help you get the brief for your branding project right. Wheth...
At Canny, our mission is to build these kinds of brands for our clients. That’s why we’re providing you with the ultimate list of branding tips and branding ideas that will help supercharge your branding efforts.
There are a lot of posts out there, but there’s nothing actionable that you can refer back to when branding your business!
We’ve also created a video that shares some of our top branding tips, so be sure to check it out before reading on:
Questions About Your Business: Find the Best Branding Tips and Ideas for You
Before we delve into our list of branding tips and ideas, we’ve added a few questions that you need to answer about your brand first.
This encourages you to really think about your brand and why you exist, so that you can choose the best branding tips and ideas that make the most sense for your business.
What does your business do?
The first thing you need to think about is what your business actually does.
This might feel like the answer should be obvious, but after years of treading water, this can become a little muddy.
For example, perhaps you started as a restaurant but now you’re also selling food packages that can be delivered monthly. Or originally, you were an e-commerce store that sold sports merchandise, but now you’re selling event tickets and more.
Strip it all back and ask yourself, “What does this business do?”
Note: If you are building a brand and want to change what you do, this is the time to get clear on that, too.
Homework:
Write down a few bullet points about what your business does. If you’re feeling a little unclear at this stage, don’t worry. Hopefully, the next few questions and our list of branding tips and ideas will provide you with more clarity.
Why do you do it?
Why did you decide to setup that restaurant in the first place or why were you selling wrestling merchandise out of your garage?
Was it just to make some quick cash or did you spot a gap in the market?
Try and remember exactly what lit the fire in you and write it down. I doubt you did it on a whim, so like the first point, bring it right back to basics.
This can often get lost as your brand scales and grows.
Homework:
Think back to those first few days you started your business. Write down one or two sentences that describes what you hoped to accomplish. Remember this often.
Where did you see the business in the future?
Once you’ve identified what you’re doing and why you’re doing it, spend some time thinking about where you want your business to be five, ten, and even twenty years from now.
For example when we think about the goal at Canny, we want to have a minimum of 20 offices spread around the globe working with a variety of different companies from a whole range of countries.
Now bring it back to you.
Where do you want your business to go? Are you wanting to open a chain of restaurants? If you’re selling sports merchandise, do you want to only sell wrestling merchandise forever, or are you branching out?
This question will set the bar for your brand moving into the future.
Homework:
Where do you want the business to be in twenty years? Think as big as you can imagine. It might be easier to break this up into 5 year, 10, year, and 20 year chunks to make it more manageable.
What is your brand ethos?
Having a brand ethos or brand belief system in place will help you out in the long run.
Great brands don’t sell products. They sell ethos.Tony Fannin, President at BE Branded.
Perhaps, you’re all about green energy, watching your carbon footprint and recycling.
Great, now you know that all of your stationery should be printed on recyclable paper, or perhaps you don’t even have stationery printed you keep things digital.
If you believe everyone should have next-day delivery on their product orders, then make sure you shout about it on the front page of your website. A well-defined belief system will help mold your business and its actions.
Homework:
As you make brand decisions, ask yourself “Is this in line with our company ethos?” If you haven’t already defined your company ethos, now would be a good time.
Why are you branding or rebranding?
Maybe you’re rebranding your company because you want to expand into a new market. Maybe your current brand doesn’t communicate your offering clearly.
This was the case with our client, MacDonald & Company, who are leaders in real estate recruitment.
Their previous identity did not represent their high-end service or level of expertise. Having acquired years of experience in real estate recruitment, they have extensive knowledge on a global scale, and connect the right candidates to the right role.
Their new identity needed to showcase their expertise and to communicate their global reach.
And that’s exactly what we did when we took them through the rebranding process.
Rebranding gives you the opportunity to identify what’s not working and what you want to achieve so that you can take steps to make it happen.
Homework:
Write down three reasons you are focusing on your brand right now. If it helps, make a list of attributes you love about your brand and the ones you hope to have. You can’t rebrand if you don’t know what qualities you want your brand to have going forward.
And download our rebranding checklist to help.
Understand who your customers are
Successful branding comes down to understanding your customers. These are the people who you expect to buy your products or services so you need to understand exactly who they are.
By asking yourself the following questions, you can build a picture of your ideal customer persona so you know who you’re selling to:
- How old are they?
- What do they do for a living?
- What’s their income?
- What are their hobbies/interests?
- Are they married/ do they have a family?
- What are their frustrations and painpoints?
Location is equally as important. Knowing exactly where your customers are, what they do, where they go, and who they like to hang out with are all key factors in understanding or determining your brand.
Homework:
Download our free customer persona worksheet to help you explore every aspect of your target audience. By creating these personas, you can make sure you brand is laser-focussed on attracting the right people.
The Ultimate List of Branding Tips and Ideas
1. Focus On Personalisation
Whenever possible, personalise your marketing messages so that your brand feels more human. A great way to do this is in your emails. You can personalise the subject line or the first line of copy so that customers feel more special.
2. Ask Your Customers Questions
It’s so important to survey your customers as all feedback is important – good and bad. You’ll learn a lot more from the negative feedback anyway, so ask away and be ready for the results. This allows you to make improvements moving forward, increasing overall customer satisfaction and their perception of your brand.
3. A/B Test Your Slogans
Before you commit to a slogan or tagline, why not test it first? What sounds funny or clever to you might be completely missed on your target audience. Start with friends and people in your life who are similar to your target customers as this allows you to gauge how this will be received. Tools can also help with A/B testing such as Google Optimise and Crazy Egg.
4. Don’t Spend too Much Time Creating a Perfect Tagline
Keeping with taglines and slogans, once you’ve got something that works, use it. But don’t dwell too much on making it perfect. Chances are in a few years, your business will grow, expand, and change and so might your perfect tagline. Find something that works, people like, understand, and then move on with things.
5. Get Analytics on Your Competition With Similar Web
Do a quick Similar Web search and see where you land among your competitors. The site is easy to use; just type in the URL you want to investigate, and voila. You’ll get some basic traffic info, insights into your audience likes, and similar sites. It only takes a minute or two to look a site up, so try it out.
6. Automate Your Marketing
There are several software programs that promise to help you automate your marketing funnels online. Marketing automations is a massive time saver allowing your time to focus on more important tasks. Some commonly used software and those that we would recommend include: Hubspot, Marketo, Apollo.io and then there’s Zapier you can use to tie everything together.
7. Get Hubspot
Yes, Hubspot seems to be the inbound marketing software solution that many B2B companies love. It’s not cheap, but it can pay for itself with just one quality lead. There are many resources available if you want to invest in and learn this software system including Hubspot’s own Marketing Academy which is packed with helpful content.
8. Know How to Use Google AdWords
Learn how to set up a test campaign, even if you don’t want to advertise on Google just yet. You’ll find the relative keywords and even some niche market keywords that will help you build content or target the markets online that you need. Having this knowledge allows you to test new lead generation strategies in the future.
9. Don’t Try to Please Everyone
Define your brand and stick to it. If your brand is a small label, hand-crafted beer, you aren’t going to please the discount beer drinkers who scoff at your high prices. And that’s okay. Do what you do best; you’ll find your brand ambassadors out there who genuinely love your product and are prepared to pay the price for it.
10. Set Up a Referral Program
This doesn’t have to be complicated: if someone likes your product or service, give them something in exchange for telling their friends. It could be a discount, a free gift, or even a cash-back bonus. If you have a great product, people will automatically refer others to you, so use the referral program as a way to say thanks and show your appreciation!
11. Be Authentic
If you’re creating something fresh, be fresh. Don’t try to imitate the big box stores or the big names that everyone knows. Be who you are as this is what your customers will value about your brand. Going back to our earlier brand tip, you can’t please everyone so stick to what you’re good at.
12. Use Social Media to Build Connections
Don’t think of social media as a way to blast, blast, blast your brand out there as this soon becomes very boring and people will just skip past your posts. Instead, focus on making connections and building your reputation in the market. You can also use social media to entertain people and to show a more human side of your brand.
13. Become a Centre of Influence
Don’t rely on others to influence your audience. Become that influencer that others quote and share content from (this is also great for back links as people will trust and depend on your content). If you are a small business starting out, why not create a group or blog? Call yourself an expert even before others do by showing how well you know your industry inside out.
14. Develop Credibility Over Time
Brand trust and loyalty don’t happen overnight. Don’t stress if your center of influence is smaller than you had hoped. Keep going. You’ll get there. Building a deep level of trust happens over a long period, but this is where content marketing (blogs, guides, white papers) can become your best friend.
15. Don’t Ignore the Easy Sales
If you want to build your customer base, don’t ignore the easy sales, either. Tell everyone you know about your brand, your company. Get out in your local area and brag a little. Reach out to everyone on your email list – it’s not about being overly salesy, but about getting your name out there to build up a strong customer base.
16. Show Behind-the-Scenes Struggles and Triumphs
It’s a temptation to hide away your company until it’s larger than life, but that’s not how it works in reality. Don’t be afraid to document and share the parts of your company that are still a work in progress as this invites your audience into your company and makes them feel part of the journey.
17. Be Consistent
Consistent branding doesn’t just mean logo styles and colour schemes. It’s also about how you deliver service, talk about your company, and handle complaints. Wherever people message you or contact your brand, they should receive a consistent level of service as this influences how they view your brand.
18. Define Your Archetype
What kind of a brand do you want to become? Are you the helper? The sage? The outlaw? Think about the companies that you love – Apple is the visionary, while Taco Bell is the jester. What type of character is your company? How can you play on this archetype in your branding efforts?
19. Involve the Professionals
Take care of your company. If you don’t know how to do something, hire a professional as these people do the job day in, day out. If you need a little extra help with your branding, get in touch with Canny for an informal chat!
20. Learn About Marketing
We’re not saying you have to become a marketing genius, or even create a marketing report, but it always helps to strengthen your brand if you know a little more about the touchpoints you can use to get your brand across.
21. Choose the Right Social Media Channels
If you aren’t getting any traction on your social media posts, why not? One reason might be because you are using the wrong social platform. Facebook can be great to target certain audiences, but your teenager might think you are lame if you still use it. Snapchat might be a great place for a new energy drink, but forget that if you are marketing a new seniors’ programme. Find what works for your brand, and connect with your audience.
22. Stick to a Few Things You Know and Do Them Best.
Defining your brand is so important. If you are creating a company that sells high-end coffee makers, for example, know that’s the area you need to know. Stick to content and messaging around what you do, and stick to a few topics.
23. Connect With Your Competitors.
Don’t be afraid to share the market; there’s room for all of us! If you own a local hot spot, why not connect with some other local businesses for an event? Partnering with other brands can be a great way to boost your network and find more customers as you can leverage the reputation of one another.
24. Be Your brand All the Time
Branding shouldn’t be turned off and on. Whether you are creating an external asset or marketing material, or running an employee appreciation night, your brand should be evident and there all the time.
25. Don’t Be Afraid to Expand Your Brand Along the Way
Just like people, companies change and grow over time. Keep an eye out on the areas you’d like to grow, and find ways to expand your brand. Perhaps this is adding a new product line or sub-brand to what already exists? We’ve dedicated a whole blog to brand hierarchy so that you can clearly communicate this with your customers.
26. Keep Your Brand Current
Make sure you don’t let your brand become obsolete. Imagine if a Blockbuster video had reinvented their brand to include more than just video rentals? They could still be around today. You have to keep innovating and think of ways to stay relevant in the minds of your target audience.
27.Keep the Core Brand the Same
Have you noticed that McDonald’s is going through a rebranding process? In Canada, they are even offering tableside service at some locations and amping up their menu to compete with the Five Guys brand. Sounds good, and I hope it works for them, but they can’t abandon their core brand to do it: fast food, kids, Ronald McDonald – they things we all know and love.
28. Find Inspiration On Pinterest
Pinterest isn’t just for crafty mums; it’s a built-in inspiration board full of ideas. This can be a great place to explore trends, decide on a colour palette, or just source some inspirational images for your branding materials.
29. Get Blogging
While blogging in and of itself isn’t a branding strategy, getting some of your company ideas out there can help you define and refine your brand.
30. Recreate the Branding Process
Steal from the pros and put together your own branding board. You can do this in-house and it can be a great little way to involve the team and reignite the fire behind your brand. At Canny, we actually use the aforementioned Pinterest to pull our initial brand research together. If your brand has lost it’s way slightly, why not give it a whirl?
31. Get Some Earned Media On Your Side
Build a brand that others will talk about. Be so good that others do your marketing for you. You can do that by creating great content, running great social channels, or quite frankly, shortcut the process by having a PR agency spread the word for you to really boost your brand exposure.
32. Learn How to Write Better Headlines
Want to get some more traction for your content? Try to write a better, attention-grabbing headline using this free tool. Aim for at least a 60% or above, or B+ rating!
33. Hire a Branding Coach.
Why not hire somebody who knows how to develop a brand? Sometimes just having that “outsider” perspective is enough to propel your brand into new realms as this person is able to offer fresh ideas and a new approach.
34. Get the Basics Right
Why do brands seem to forget the basics? Customer service, for example. Great design, and awesome websites are good but if you can’t return your purchase easily, you’ll quickly become a brand that no one can trust.
35. Define Your Company Voice
The voice of your company isn’t what you are saying, but how it’s being said.If you fancy yourself a “hip, young, urban” brand, for example, are you going to use jargon and slang in your branding and marketing? Take the time to know your “voice” and make sure it rings true to the brand you want to be.
36. Create Your Company Style Guide
If you really want to clarify your tone, style, and branding strategy, why not create a company style guide so everyone is on the same page? This is a way many brands make sure that their brand has consistency throughout all of their communications.
37. Make Employees Brand Ambassadors.
Your employees should embody your brand; they are often on the front line with your customers so they need to champion. They need to live out the brand values and become ambassadors as this can be a great way to attract and retain customers.
38. Embrace Whitespace
Great design needs room to breathe. Let whitespace be your friend. Too many brands like to clutter their ideas, especially online. Sometimes the way to stand out from other brands is to embrace whitespace.
39. Take Care of Your Customers
If you want to build a brand that people are loyal to, you need to do one basic thing: Take care of your customers. Give them the little extras that will make them feel special, and don’t be afraid to start a loyalty program that gives your most loyal brand advocates a free cup of coffee, a discount, or even a free month of your service!
40. Tell a New Brand Story With Content Marketing.
We love when brands think of ways to get our attention in new and fun ways. Love pizza? Getting married? Why not register at Domino’s? Domino’s pizza created this really clever branding story and it’s captured our attention. That’s the kind of surprising brand story we love.
41. Don’t Be Afraid to Have Some Fun
There are many things we like about The Hustle and their email marketing daily newsletter is no joke, or is it? In every email, they seem to find the fun and aren’t afraid of it. Maybe that’s why we actually open these emails. If you are too serious about your branding, you might just lose some of your loyal followers for the next brand on the block that makes us laugh.
42. Be Human.
If you’ve had some marketing or branding blunders in the past, own up to them. Make light of them, even. People are quite astute and your organisation will come across as far more honest and trustworthy if you don’t appear to be covering something up.
43. Know Exactly What the Goal of Your Brand Is
Knowing what your goal is will help give you direction. Are you new and trying to get your foot in the door? Consider being a little edgy in order to get people’s attention. Are you a company who is rebranding to give a more affordable feel? Consider a less sophisticated logo paired with an advertised weekly sale. Your goal will drive your brand.
44. Use Your Logo EVERYWHERE!
McDonald’s doesn’t sell a single item whose packaging doesn’t have their logo on it. Their logo is everywhere and yours should be too as this is what customers become familiar with and associate with your business. This is a great way to build brand recognition without spending a fortune.
45. Read ‘Emotional Branding: The New Paradigm for Connecting Brands to People’ by Marc Gobé
By shifting the focus from products to people, this book will help you create the “feel” you want to convey with your brand. Furthering its reputation as a current and modern resource is the fact that it’s the first marketing book that examines the influence of the LGBTQ community on several brands. The book also dedicates an entire segment to the importance of all five senses in branding and design work.
46. Read ‘How Brands Become Icons’ by Douglas B. Holt
If you are looking to make your business the next Nike or Apple, then this book is for you. In his book, Harvard Business School professor Douglas B. Holt discusses how icons are made. He explains how brands become well-known icons and stresses that they are generally not a result of conventional branding strategies. A lot of their success is sheer intuition and serendipity.
47. Read ‘Designing Brand Identity: An Essential Guide for the Whole Branding Team’ by Alina Wheeler
This is a bestselling, no-nonsense guide that boasts a universal five-stage process for brand development. The updated fifth edition covers today’s relevant topics such as social media, crowdsourcing, SEO, experience branding, and mobile devices. The book includes 30 case studies of top brands from industries from all over the world which makes it a great manual for brand development.
48. Read ‘Purple Cow’ by Seth Godin
This book is described as “The cult classic that revolutionised marketing by teaching businesses that you’re either remarkable or invisible.” Instead of following traditional, boring branding methods, Seth Godin pushes the reader to create something extraordinary that everyone will talk about. Purple Cow challenges business owners to adopt new marketing strategies and to “put a Purple Cow into everything you build” in order to set your brand apart. The book discusses successful brands such as Starbucks and Apple and has been translated into 36 languages.
49. Read ‘Hello, My Name Is Awesome: How to Create Brand Names That Stick’ by Alexandra Watkins
This book is a must-read when choosing a brand name. The author claims that anyone can create a memorable and noteworthy name using a few basic rules. Practical tips include advice on how to make sure Siri spells your name correctly – a must with today’s tech savvy world. The author includes titillating examples of brand naming gone wrong as well as names that do a great job representing their brand.
50. Think About Your Brand Identity Visuals
Think about the visual elements that are out there right now creating your brand identity. Not only does this include your logo, but the visuals you use on your social media posts – the images that fill your site.
51. Create a Brand Strategy Brief
If you want everyone to be on the same page, make sure you clarify your ideas in a brief, especially if you are going to be creating several design concepts. Make sure everyone from creative, graphics, to management understands the brand concepts you want to use, then clarify it in a brief.
52. Define Your Audience and Write It Down
Before we started giving you these tips, we told you to define your audience and write it down. Well, have you? Knowing your audience is such an important first step, we wouldn’t want you to think you could miss it. If you haven’t figured out who your target audience is yet, read the next few branding steps.
53. Market Research Your Target Audience and Ask Questions
If you want to know where your brand fits in, you’ll have to do some market research first. At this stage, you’ve already answered the basic questions about who your audience is, but to get to know them and what motivates them to interact with your brand, you’ll have to ask them some detailed questions.
54. Figure Out Why People are Buying Your Product or Service
It’s important to try to get to the “real” reason that they are choosing your brand, or not. What’s the motivation behind their purchasing decision? You’ll uncover the motivation behind why people are buying your brand if you ask the right questions. We suggest you get started with 25 questions you should ask to create your buyer personas to really dig deep and get to the heart of the matter when it comes to knowing your buyers.
55. Create Buyer Personas
Now that you have asked the right questions, it’s time to create buyer personas so you can seriously clarify who your brand is for, what the motivation is behind their purchases, and how you can create a brand that builds true buyer loyalty. There are many templates you can use to start creating buyer personas for your company. We like this complete guide from Buffer on how to start creating your buyer personas that breaks the entire process down into small, actionable steps.
56. Communicate Directly to Your Audience
It’s time to build content and branding that speaks directly to your buyer personas. This is how your brand is going to have the greatest impact over time. It’s also something any sized business can easily do to get traction with their target audience right away.
57. Speak to Your Audience as If They are Individuals
Again, we are talking about your audience. A brand needs to communicate to every individual buyer, not a massive group. Think of your audience not as a large group without a face, but rather an individual you’d sit down for cup of tea with.
58. Communicate the Emotions Behind Your Brand, Not Just What Makes Your Brand Great
We don’t make decisions with our brains, but rather our hearts. We purchase a new home because of the way it makes us feel, imagining the memories we’ll create there. If you do not sell people that emotional motivation behind the product, the service, the brand, you won’t connect to as many buyers. We spend money on things that make us happy. It’s not complicated; it’s human.
59. Hire a Branding Agency Or Consultant to Help Clarify Your Thoughts
By now, we hope we haven’t overwhelmed you with this list. Trust us when we say that we get it. Our brands are something we nurture over time; they build, we grow – it’s not a one stop and you’re done process. If you truly want to build your brand, you need to hire an expert brand consultant. Someone who can ask the right questions and get to the heart of what makes your brand great.
60. Invest In Some Signature Signage
Signage is so important to any brand with a storefront. You want to establish your company right from the start. We like this simple, elegant example from Indigo and Cotton.
61. Use Illustrations to Emphasise Your Brand
Illustrations can really add the wow factor, or even, dare we say “hip” factor to a brand if done right. We love this example from Bone Daddy’s, a BBQ joint with a lot of hip factor.
62. Use Packaging to Communicate and Delight
We could devote this entire blog to packaging design; it’s so vital in the overall branding strategy of your company. Give people a reason to pick up your product off a shelf as there’ll be hundreds of other brands competing for their attention.
63. Create a Standard Branded Email Template.
We love when companies go the extra mile with their branding, including emails. So get your creative team to come up with some fun ways to integrate your logo, tagline, and brand message into every email.
64. Don’t Forget About Your Branding When It Comes to Your Apps
We’ve seen companies create apps that seem to be on an island completely alone when it comes to the rest of the company branding. You should always be thinking of your brand, even when you go high tech.
65. Go Big With Your Branding On a Billboard
While many small- to mid-sized companies may not see their services being expanded or used in this way, we say that now is the time to think big. The below example shows a billboard for one of our clients, TLR Global, to effectively showcase how their branding can be used at scale to grab people’s attention.
Read the full case study here
66. Take Your Brand Everywhere
Why brand your company vehicles? So everyone can see them of course! Spread that company cheer everywhere you go. We love this company vehicle from Metro Sewer and Plumbing. Who knew plumbing could be so vibrant and cheerful?
67. Showcase Your Brand Personality With Video
If you haven’t invested in some kind of video marketing yet, we think you should. Put videos out that showcase your unique brand personality. Hey, you might even go viral if you get someone like Cristiano Ronaldo to put on a pair of headphones and drink some tea.
68. Think About How Your Brand Will Look On a Mobile
Think about how your logo will look when it shrinks on a smartphone screen. Creating a logo that will work on all sorts of devices is a must and there are several things you need to consider when thinking about your digital look on much smaller screen.
69. Use Facebook to Build Your Audience and Your Brand
With 1.49 billion members worldwide, and 22 billion ad clicks per year, Facebook is still somewhere you can find your audience, not just connect with your friends. Facebook is also a great place to do some targeted advertising as well. Here are six easy tips to setting up a great Facebook ad:
- Target your audience by selecting specific age range, location, and interests
- Do your own A/B Facebook ad testing; try two different versions of the same ad and see which one gets more traction
- Know what numbers matter! Clicks on a post are much more important than simple likes. If you are not getting enough clicks, try changing up your Facebook approach.
- Don’t forget to promote your page and ask for likes!
- Keep flooding your Facebook page with content that expresses your brand. Don’t just advertise. Share unique content about your business to your dedicated fan base.
- Remember that Facebook will suggest other similar brands and pages to people who like your brand. Make sure you are fitting in the right groove by sharing content that fits in your brand niche!
70. Use Instagram to Build Your Brand
Instagram is a place where you can build your brand, one carefully selected photo at a time. Think about the many brand attributes you can express in photos!
71. Create Memorable Brand Experiences That People Will Talk About
Brand experiences are any kind of experience people have with your brand. Whether it’s how you greet your guests when they enter your hotel, the extras you give in customer service, or the ease at which someone can navigate your website. Experiences with your brand matter.
72. Be Authentic at Every Brand Touchpoint.
It doesn’t matter how large your brand is today; without authenticity, you won’t be able to build a brand that lasts. Too many brands out there think they have to hype everything, but that isn’t true. Do what you do best. Be clear in your intentions and never use hyperbole to brag about your brand. Nobody likes that feeling that something just ain’t right. Just do you. Your followers will be there.
73. Prioritise Quality
Ensure that every aspect of your brand, from products or services to customer service, reflects quality. A positive customer experience reinforces your brand’s reputation and this needs to be carried across all touchpoints (how ever small they might seem, they all leave a lasting impression).
74. Monitor and Adapt
Regularly monitor the effectiveness of your branding efforts to make sure it is as effective as it can be. Start by analysing key metrics to gather feedback, and be willing to adapt your strategies as needed to stay relevant and appealing in the marketplace.
75. Deliver Value
Your brand should provide value beyond just your products or services. This could be in the form of educational content, helpful resources, or entertainment that your audience appreciates. By giving something to your audience, you’re increasing the likelihood of them using your products/ services in the future.
76. Personalise Your Content
Leverage data and technology to personalise your interactions with customers. Personalised experiences make customers feel valued and understood as you’re tailoring your content towards their needs and preferences. This can even include something as simple as including their name in an email subject line so that they feel as though the email is addressed to them directly.
77. If Possible, Embrace Sustainability and Social Responsibility
Embrace sustainability and social responsibility as part of your brand identity if feasible. Consumers increasingly value brands that make positive contributions to society and the environment as it shows that you care.
78.Monitor Your Online Reputation
Stay vigilant about your online reputation as this influences the way people view your company. As such, respond to both positive and negative feedback promptly and professionally to maintain a positive brand image. This also demonstrates that you care about the opinions and thoughts of your customers, and that you’re willing to act on them.
79. Consider Brand Extensions With Caution
When considering brand extensions or new product lines, ensure they align with your core brand values and maintain the trust you’ve built. Everything you create should make sense and tie back to your overarching goal.
80. Invest In Professional Photography
High-quality, professional images can elevate your brand’s visual appeal and convey a sense of professionalism and attention to detail. Don’t scrimp and scrape on this area as the quality of your photography can have a direct impact on how people see your brand.
80. Create a Brand World, Not Just a Brand
Great brands don’t just sell products or services—they create brand worlds that customers can step into and experience. Your brand world is the visual, emotional, and sensory universe that surrounds your company. It’s what makes Apple feel sleek and futuristic, Nike feel energetic and motivational, and Starbucks feel cozy and familiar. A well-built brand world draws customers in, keeps them engaged, and makes them want to stay—not just because of what you sell, but because of the world they get to be part of.
Branding Tip FAQs
Now we’re answering some of the most common questions surrounding branding tips and ideas. If you have any further questions about your branding or you’re looking for ways to improve it, get in touch with our team for a friendly chat!
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What do we mean by 'branding'?
Branding is how people view and perceive your company. It’s also how you as the owner, and your workforce view and perceive the company. It’s your what, your how, and your why.
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Why is branding so important?
Branding affects how your audience and customer base interact with your business, it solidifies your place in the industry and how consumers remember you.
The Ultimate List of Branding Tips and Ideas
Our huge list of branding tips that we believe will seriously get you thinking about branding your company in an entirely new way, or just strengthening the brand your customers already love.
We will be adding more branding tips and inspiration to this list! Or, if you want more now, check out the big branding checklist.
The branding tips above are just a starting point. If you need any help with your branding, then we’ve partnered with clients across the globe, helping them make an impact with their branding initiatives. Simply get in touch for an informal chat to find out how we can help.
