how to branding your businessThe first step that must be taken to become a successful entrepreneur is to create a business idea. Once you have a business idea, a new job actually begins. You have to do branding on the business idea.

Branding is an activity related to everything to improve the character, image, impression of a company or product. The goal is to be known and get the attention of potential customers.

Branding is the DNA in a business. Through branding, you tell clients and potential customers the essence of your business, what they can expect, and why they should work with you.

Branding a business is not easy, but it is worth the benefits. Because the way you brand will have an impact on the success of your business.

For this reason, SWS Digital Agency is here in Batam, to help you branding your business with the right process to get maximum results.

To make sure the branding process is done right, we need to set guidelines. We’ll cover all of them so that after reading this article you will gain insight into how to do business branding from scratch.

Things You Need to Know About Branding:

1. Important Factors In Branding a Business.

Before knowing how to branding for your business, you need to know what branding is.

For branding a business there are three things that need to be well understood. Namely brand, branding, and brand identity.

a. Brand.

The brand is a name, symbol, sign, design or a combination of these elements which is used as the identity of an individual, organization or company in the goods and services produced to differentiate it from other service products.

If you want to learn to make a good logo for your business, please read the article How To Design a Logo For Your Business.

b. Branding.

Branding is an activity related to everything to improve the character, image, impression of a company or product. With the aim to be known and get the attention of potential customers.

How to create brand collateral for your business? Please read the article What is Brand Collaterals and Its Benefits For Your Business.

c. Brand Identity.

Brand Identity is all elements that are created to introduce a business or company to the public. Such as logos, websites, business cards and others to convey images and messages to potential customers or investors.

How do you create a brand identity for your business? Please read the article What is Brand Guidelines and its Benefit For Your Business.

The three things above are important parts of the branding process, they are interrelated and inseparable. We must do all three to the maximum in order to be successful in the market.

2. Creating a Brand Strategy.

Maybe you are tempted to immediately practice branding. But before going through the process and starting to build your brand identity (such as designing a logo or creating a website), you must prepare a brand strategy for your business.

Start thinking about your branding strategy and putting it in the form of a detailed outline. This will create a clear direction for your other branding styles, such as the design of your logo, website, or the look and feel of your business design.

The following are the things you need when building a brand strategy:

a. Determine Your Business Identity.

What exactly is the business you are building? It is very important to get to know the specifics of your business. Because if you don’t know exactly what your business is, the branding process will not focus on introducing the core of your business.

b. What Makes Your Business Different.

What makes your business different from other brands? Why would potential customers prefer your business over your competitors?

c. What is Your Business Vision and Mission?

Set clear goals and how you can achieve them. If you are still confused about determining it, try completing the following sentences:

“Our company exists for ______. In three years, we plan to _____. The way we get there is _____”

d. Define Your Business Values.

A company’s values ​​not only drive internal strategy but also help you connect externally with customers.

e. Who Your Target Customers Are.

Target customers are also an important reference in the branding process of a business. We have to make sure the way we do branding is attractive to potential customers.

This will not be possible if we do not know their character. Learn the character of your target customers well, so that the branding process can be tailored in a way that catches their attention.

3. Building a Brand Identity.

After determining the brand strategy above, you can move on to the next stage, which is building a brand identity.

The first thing to do is determine the main elements and principles that will drive your business branding. Here are the elements you need to define first.

a. Determine the Voice Brand.

The design does hold a very important part, but it is not the only part that must be considered in the branding process. We also have to pay attention to the brand voice which is an integral part of your business brand identity.

Brand voice is a way or style for your company to talk to customers in accordance with the character of your company.

Usually, the brand voice leads to the target market and must be in accordance with the character of your target customers. Some brand voices that are commonly used are authoritative, cheerful, intellectual, kind, or fun.

b. Typography or Font Type.

Typography includes the types of fonts you choose and how you style them in your designs. This is a very important part of the branding process.

Font types are able to send a message to your audience about your business brand and what they can expect from the business. Choosing a font type will also give you a different impression and character.

Therefore, adjust the font type and the voice brand that you specified in the previous point. So that the branding process focuses on conveying the character of your business and conveying it clearly to potential customers.

c. Colour Palette.

Colour plays a very strong role in branding activities. Determining colour combinations for your business cannot be done solely by preference. Suppose you like yellow, so the colour should be yellow.

Most likely your business branding process will not get maximum results, because the business you want to build is not for yourself, but for your prospective customers. To find a suitable colour combination and catch their attention.

You can use colour combinations to inspire your prospect’s specific thoughts, emotions, and reactions.

For example, if you want to build a prospect’s trust in your business, consider incorporating blue into your colour combination. Because usually, people define blue with dependability and trust.

If you want to encourage potential customers to buy your product, use red. Since red represents passion and excitement, it can encourage your potential customers to buy your product.

Also, pay attention to the colours used by your competitors in similar industries. If they are using almost the same colour, it doesn’t hurt to use a different colour with them. This will help your business look unique and different from your competitors.

d. Shapes and Images.

The combination of shapes or images on logos, business cards, packaging, or other assets can also tell a lot about your business brand.

For example, a round shape will create a feeling of togetherness and unity, while a sharper, straight-edged shape will produce a feeling of efficiency and stability.

When used properly and harmoniously, choosing the right shapes and images can deepen customer engagement and build your business brand aesthetic.

The use of shapes and images must be aligned with all means of branding, from billboards, social media, websites to print advertisements.

4. Putting it all together in the Brand Guidelines.

At this stage, you have prepared the branding process, developed a branding strategy and brand identity. Now is the time to incorporate all of that into a brand guideline.

Brand guidelines are a centralized document that contains all the important information about branding your business.

Brand guidelines show how your business brand should be perceived, as well as communicating various things about your business brand, either internally to employees or externally to business partners, customers and society.

There are no standard rules that regulate what should be written in the brand guidelines, but at least you have to fill them in with the following:

  • Brand Story
  • Logo and Logo Variations.
  • Colour Palette.
  • Font types and usage rules.
  • Imagery Guidelines.
  • Brand Voice.

The Brand Guidelines help keep branding consistent and keep your team on the same page. Also, ensure that everything that is being done to enhance your business brand is in line with the brand strategy that has been prepared.

To find out more about how to create brand guidelines, please read the article What is Brand Guidelines and it’s Benefit For Your Business.

5. Designing Business Brand Elements.

After understanding the basics of your business brand identity, it is time to take things a step further and design your business brand elements based on the guidelines set out in the brand guidelines.

a. Creating a Logo.

The logo acts as the face of a business brand and is the most important element in branding activities. Usually, a logo will give people the first experience of your business branding, make sure your logo describes the true character of your business branding.

Before creating a logo for your business, understand how to make a good logo by reading the article first How To Design a Logo For Your Business.

b. Website.

Now that the website has become a basic requirement of a business, make sure the website you create must reflect your business brand.

How to make a website design that is attractive and in accordance with the character of your business? Please read the guide in the article How To Design a Good Website.

c. Product Packaging.

If you’re selling a physical product, you need to design the packaging. Regardless of the function, the packaging design must be consistent with your other brand identities.

d. Name Card.

No matter what type of business you are, you definitely need a business card and the design must be in harmony with your logo, website, packaging, and other elements of your business branding identity.

6. In Branding You Must Be Consistent Yet Flexible.

At this point, you have the elements needed in branding. However, there is one thing that you must keep and pay attention to, namely consistency.

To be successful, a brand must be able to make the audience have a consistent experience of the business brand, wherever and however they find it.

Your business brand must be consistent on your website, social media, print media, packaging, logos and whatever else you create to introduce your business brand.

Consistency is key, but it also needs flexibility!

If there are elements that make your branding unsuccessful or get results that aren’t optimal, then you should be willing to change them.

As your business brand grows and develops, the elements of your branding can also change according to its development.

To get maximum results, you can contact SWS Digital Agency which provides branding services in Batam, we have a complete and experienced team of branding a product or business. Our team will assist you during the branding process to get maximum results.

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