BUILDING A BRAND!

Building a brand is the most important thing you can do for your business. Whether your business is service oriented, all about manufacturing and production, import/exports or whatever, people would know your business through the brand name as for most of us, from the shoes to the ties we wear, it’s all about the brand.

In a competitive global market today, it is extremely essential that branding is based upon what your customers think about the product/service you offer. For instance, some, majority of people, use certain products/services based on their priorities, therefore, it is necessary to relate customers with any brand you want to create.

If you were to ask yourself, what you thought branding was all about? You would easily say that anything that makes a customer choose your product over anything else, a certain mental association with a product/service is what can define branding in layman terms Right! And mind you, customers are either convinced by what they hear, or in their own imagination, associate with any product/service if watched on Tv or heard of on radio. All this is a part of branding.

Today, Branding is not about doing something for the company, it’s about building relationships, let me correct myself, building long-term relationships with your customers in that target market you focus upon. And this my friend, does not happen over night – Not at all. It takes time and even years at times.

Mostly in my seminars when I interact with business students, I often rather, always, talk about how when making presentations in front of an audience, telling personal stories brings your presentation to life. It’s the lesson out of that story that people remember and relate to. Similarly, when branding your product/service, it is necessary to keep your customers needs in mind as they would associate with your product if it caters to their needs.

Now you are probably wondering how do you build a brand for your customers, Right? Well, that’s not all that easy, but not all that difficult either. There are a few easy steps that can help you brand your product/service.

–          Place yourself in your customers shoes, relate to them. If it weren’t for them, how would you brand your products/services.

–          Build relationships with your customers.

–          Customers always focus on quality of your product or service, focusing on that is very essential.

–          Provide better deals, more value. Customers would always remember how you walked an extra mile for them, a nice complimentary something that you could offer to them. A cost-effective strategy might be what you want to focus on here.

–          People should know why you are different. State your edge clearly and boldly so you can stand out.

–          Be patient and try continuously.

Like I said before, nothing happens over night, it takes time for brands to build. You would have to be persistent, stop, watch, observe, learn and then try. Try these steps and let me know how your branding went. Enjoy Branding now!

 

Author, Marriam Ahmed.