Building your brand begins the moment you select your domain name. It’s the process that communicates your specialty and purpose to the business community.

One of the critical mistakes of new businesses is overlooking the importance of this activity or putting it off with intentions to begin the process later. The fact is, the first time people see you they form opinions about what they think you represent, so why not control the message and see that those opinions are what you intend them to be?

Below I have listed 10 tips that you can use the moment you launch your business. The branding process is a lengthy one so the sooner you begin the better.

Be Clear and Consistent – Always be clear and consistent about the message you project. If the message is unclear it only introduces confusion. The message and imagery that represent your business must be consistent across all platforms. As an example; if you have a Twitter account, and you should, use the same color selections and your main site.

Choose a Great Site Theme – Your theme is your storefront and it better look and feel good. The colors and layout will be representing you and your business for a long time to come, so select carefully. Be certain that the colors fit your personality.

Purchase a premium theme and avoid the freebies that number in the tens of thousands around the internet. Your site needs to stand out and not look like so many of the others.

Get a Logo – Imagery is important for first impressions and a logo is a good place to start. Have one designed by a graphic artist. You may be surprised at how inexpensive this can be. There are lots of resources on the internet and yes, some can be pricey but doing a little shopping around will work to your benefit.

Keep in mind that you want a professional look, not an amateurish logo that reflects badly on your business. It is better to go without a logo for a short period of time until you can afford what you want than to settle for one of lesser quality.

There are free logo creation sites on the internet but unless you have the time and necessary skills to create something really professional, leave it to those who design and create for a living.

Build a Community – Engage your readers, not only on your blog but on theirs as well. Encourage conversation by asking questions and listening to their feedback. Let them know how much you appreciate them as members of your community.

Be Visible – Maintain a presence on the most popular social media / networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and others. Be where your potential clients are.

Comment Regularly – When you regularly participate and contribute to conversations on blogs within your niche you will become a part of the community and be remembered as a person with influence and authority.

Actively Participate in Forums – Identify forums related to your niche and be helpful, answer questions and provide useful information that reinforces your authority.

Link Out to Others – Link to some of the other great articles you read within your niche. It’s a nice way to share content and let other bloggers know that you recognize and appreciate their work.

Don’t Forget the Offline World – Your branding efforts are not just limited to online activities. Have a business card ready at all times. Place ads in your community newspaper or church bulletin. Have some stationery printed for regular mail communications. If you use a fax machine, be certain that you have a branded form with your logo and contact information.

Practice Brand Awareness – Everything you do reflects upon your brand. Like professionals from all walks of life, you are never off-duty from your brand and every action you take in public ties directly to that brand.

Conclusion

The branding process is multi-faceted and never-ending. It’s reputation management in it’s purest form. There are numerous things that you can do to both build and protect your brand and I hope these tips enhance your efforts.

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