3 tips to building a strong brand.
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Building a brand is not just a business or entrepreneur thing. You yourself are a brand too. You brand yourself as a friend, parent, lover and colleague. Here are some tips to help you become a better brand: personally and on a business level. The two overlap.
TIP #1: As an entrepreneur or small business owner, the goal is to build or create a business entity that brings value and is sustainable, if not scalable. That is in big part reliant on customer aquisition and customer retention. It costs more to find new customers than to keep existing ones. Customer loyalty is key to your entrepreneurial success.
When it comes to pure business or entrepreneurship know this: The modern consumer, in particular Gen Z/Y and Millennials (who have a purchasing power of over $200 BILLION annually). It’s hard to build a business or a brand that isn’t aware of this. Adapt and understand the changing landscape.
Loyalty is based on how people feel about you or your product, service or business. Make sure that how you or your any representatives show up is congruent with what you stand for. A disconnect will alienate people from you or company. They won’t come back. Be authentic.
TIP #2: The essence of who you are, what you stand for, and how you show up on a consistent basis define your character… your personal brand.
It is said that we do business with people we know, like, trust... and relate to.
Are you LIKEABLE? If somebody simply doesn’t like you they will go else where to do business. Recommended reading: The LikeAbility Factor by Tim Sanders.
Are you TRUSTABLE? Your customers, colleagues, friends and family want to know that you deliver on what you say you will do. It’s about being authentic, reliable and knowing that you have their interest at heart.
Are you RELATABLE? Character traits such as arrogance can turn people off. Be grounded, genuinely listen and care about people. Be welcoming and add an splash of vulnerability and humility.
TIP #3 Purchasing decisions are 90% emotion based. Are you intentionally aiming to connect on an emotional level with your clients or customers? If so, what are you doing to achieve this objective? Do more of that.
If not, it’s time to add that philosophy into your business model. Your business survival depends on it. Without an emotional connection, business is simply a transaction. Transactions don’t invite or inspire loyalty, repeat business or referrals. Your network should also be emotionally connected to you, your products and or services.
Think of a brand that you are loyalty to. You may initially break it down to such things as; you like the product, they are reliable, affordable etc. Behind all that logic, is a deep underlying emotion that makes you feel a certain way about that brand.
Thank you. If this blog was of value or made you think then please share or comment.
Vital Germaine
In the book INNOVATION MINDSET, reimagining business, leadership and culture, you’ll find action steps to help you strengthen your brand and remain relevant in today’s faster-than-ever changing business climate.
Originally titled: imAGINATION WILL TAKE YOU EVERYWHERE
Top-Selling Author: BUY THE BOOKS
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