The development of an online branding strategy is a critical function that should be addressed as early in your blogging career as possible. This will give your business it’s identity and will lead to it being easily and instantly recognizable when encountered by others.
The sooner this is undertaken, the better because building a brand is really vital to your efforts and it takes time. If you want to eventually achieve instant recognition and a positive response, branding is a must.
I will be talking a lot about online branding strategies going forward, as this element really is what drives everything you do from a business standpoint. Whether people realize it or not, you are building a brand anyhow so you just as well assure that it’s to your benefit.
A brand always answers two questions immediately.
Who is that and what are they about?
Let’s look at a few things about branding and why they are important to your business.
Recognition
This becomes your corporate or personal ID. A description of sorts that tells a quick story. The benefit of course is the fact that your company stands for something and people have an opinion about the value of what is being represented.
This is the “first impressions” stage, and while many will see your brand regularly, every day someone new will see it for the first time.
When people go shopping, they tend to go for the well known brands because there is a trust factor present. These brands have a social proof because this is what most people use as a go-to product.
There is little thinking involved, people like easy, so you go with what you know is a good brand. It’s the brands that are most recognized and have built a solid reputation for delivering what they said they would deliver.
Know Your Product
When you are in business, you are selling something. There has been a lot of dancing around that lately for some odd reason, as if it were some dark secret. 
Anyhow, whether it is a service or some sort of product, you need to know all that there is to know about it. This makes it much easier for you to present because you are fully confident and knowledgeable about what you are offering.
Be Consistent
Clients and customers will form a level of expectation based upon what is presented during the very first encounter. This must carry through for the lifetime of the relationship.
When you can do this, your clients will tell somebody about it. When you can’t, they will tell everybody about it.
Extraordinarily Yours
What or how are you different than the others in your niche that are offering the same thing?
Do something different, do it better. It can be a small thing, but it had better be something. Why should they choose your product or service? Answering these questions can go a long way toward success.
Be There
Keep that brand in the mix, in front of the eyes of your potential customer base, not in an annoying sort of way, but you have to be where the people are. If the crowd is on Twitter, you have to be there as well. Be sure to have a presence.
This does not stop at the edge of cyberspace either, prepare those business cards and flyers for the off line world. Invite people to visit your site or leave some business cards with another business owner.
Benefits
Just look at a few of the benefits of building a successful brand.
- Establishes authority for your product
- Makes your product easy to remember
- Builds customer loyalty
- Opens doors to other opportunities, like partnerships and joint ventures.
The benefits can be many but you must first start to cultivate that image.
Key Elements
Here are a few of the key elements for building that great brand and I’ll be covering these quite a bit.
- Company or site name selection
- Site design
- Logo
- Product lines
- Slogan or catch phrase
There is quite a bit of work and attention required to build a great brand, but once you have one, it can be your ticket to the level of success you envisioned when you first thought of your idea.
All of this is a part of a broader branding strategy that must be developed and executed, much like a business plan.
If you have not already, give serious thought to your overall brand and the type of image you want to carry. How will your company be perceived one year from now and beyond?
Think long-term on this and get started with your online branding strategy as soon as possible.
Keep Blogging!
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39 Responses to Branding Strategy – Why You Need One and What It Can Do For You
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" @Chris_Frailey No problem, Chris. Great weekend to you as well. :-) " — JimiJones
Hi Jimi,
Since you’re a member of the team, got any specific advice for my blog?
.-= Gordie´s last blog ..How To Stay Focused. =-.
Hi Jimi,
Since you’re a member of the team, got any specific advice for my blog?
.-= Gordie´s last blog ..How To Stay Focused. =-.
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by JimiJones: New Blog Post: Branding Strategy – Why You Need One and What It Can Do For You http://ow.ly/17oIm...
I’d add that the brand needs to be consistent to be effective as well. If your brand changes from your blog to Twitter to Facebook, then it won’t be doing what you hope it will.
.-= Mike CJ´s last blog ..You’re not a blogger anymore…… =-.
Very true, Mike.
Consistent color selection and styles are most important. When we see the big corporations, it’s the exact same logo and colors everywhere. A great example for bloggers is to have their Twitter account updated with a background that uses the colors and overall style of their main blog site. Same for any other site, when possible.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Branding Strategy – Why You Need One and What It Can Do For You =-.
I’d add that the brand needs to be consistent to be effective as well. If your brand changes from your blog to Twitter to Facebook, then it won’t be doing what you hope it will.
.-= Mike CJ´s last blog ..You’re not a blogger anymore…… =-.
Very true, Mike.
Consistent color selection and styles are most important. When we see the big corporations, it’s the exact same logo and colors everywhere. A great example for bloggers is to have their Twitter account updated with a background that uses the colors and overall style of their main blog site. Same for any other site, when possible.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Branding Strategy – Why You Need One and What It Can Do For You =-.
Branding Strategy – Why You Need One and What It Can Do For You | Jimi Jones Dot Com…
The development of an online branding strategy is a critical function that should be addressed as early in your blogging career as possible. This will give your business it’s identity and will lead to it being easily and instantly recognizable when enc…
When I first started out I really screwed around with various templates, styles, fonts, colours etc and felt that it was a good time to do it as my visitor list was pretty small. Now it would be suicide, so consistency is really important, as is the reiteration of your “mission statement”- hate that phrase.
You said “Do something different, do it better. It can be a small thing, but it had better be something.” I am learning that small steps taken regularly are better for me that trying to make a large leap – bit difficult at 17 stone
Hi Kevin,
I think going the small steps route is better received by the masses that have come to expect a certain feel and look of your site. You are correct, drastic changes could be harmful.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Branding Strategy – Why You Need One and What It Can Do For You =-.
When I first started out I really screwed around with various templates, styles, fonts, colours etc and felt that it was a good time to do it as my visitor list was pretty small. Now it would be suicide, so consistency is really important, as is the reiteration of your “mission statement”- hate that phrase.
You said “Do something different, do it better. It can be a small thing, but it had better be something.” I am learning that small steps taken regularly are better for me that trying to make a large leap – bit difficult at 17 stone
Hi Kevin,
I think going the small steps route is better received by the masses that have come to expect a certain feel and look of your site. You are correct, drastic changes could be harmful.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Branding Strategy – Why You Need One and What It Can Do For You =-.
I think many bloggers are under the impression that a brand is merely their gravatar/avatar or logo. In my opinion it is much more than that. Branding encompasses your style of writing, your treatment of others as well as your appearance around the web.
.-= Ms. Freeman´s last blog ..How to Better Manage Your Self Employed Time =-.
Oh yes, building a brand requires much more than a logo and an avatar.
I will be covering all aspects of the process in future posts.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Branding Strategy – Why You Need One and What It Can Do For You =-.
I think many bloggers are under the impression that a brand is merely their gravatar/avatar or logo. In my opinion it is much more than that. Branding encompasses your style of writing, your treatment of others as well as your appearance around the web.
.-= Ms. Freeman´s last blog ..How to Better Manage Your Self Employed Time =-.
Oh yes, building a brand requires much more than a logo and an avatar.
I will be covering all aspects of the process in future posts.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Branding Strategy – Why You Need One and What It Can Do For You =-.
Good article Jimi on the importance of “branding”. Looking forward to more on this subject.
.-= Patty Reiser´s last blog ..Project 365: Day 42 =-.
Thanks, Patty.
Lots to cover on this topic.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Branding Strategy – Why You Need One and What It Can Do For You =-.
Good article Jimi on the importance of “branding”. Looking forward to more on this subject.
.-= Patty Reiser´s last blog ..Project 365: Day 42 =-.
Thanks, Patty.
Lots to cover on this topic.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Branding Strategy – Why You Need One and What It Can Do For You =-.
Branding is so difficult to get right. It can pay off, but it can also kick you in the teeth.
I’m trying to build a brand but find it very difficult, hard work and time consuming. Yes I know it takes time. But sometimes I think it takes too much time for my liking
.-= Robert Bravery´s last blog ..The art of the list post =-.
It can be a lengthy process with so many things to look after, but can pay huge benefits when done correctly.
Branding is so difficult to get right. It can pay off, but it can also kick you in the teeth.
I’m trying to build a brand but find it very difficult, hard work and time consuming. Yes I know it takes time. But sometimes I think it takes too much time for my liking
.-= Robert Bravery´s last blog ..The art of the list post =-.
It can be a lengthy process with so many things to look after, but can pay huge benefits when done correctly.
Yes, do it differently, it may be small but it had better be something — well said. Branding is more than just a name, it’s a personality, a representative of what you’re offering and behave around the network. Many of us have forgotten that we are all different and started to brand ourselves ever since the first release of our blog post.
I still have much to learn and do in branding management, baby steps but I’ll remember to do it differently. Thank you Jimi, this is motivating.
@wchingya
Social/Blogging Tracker
.-= Ching Ya´s last blog ..7 Features to Brand, Market, Manage with MarketMe Tweet =-.
Thanks for your comment, Ching Ya.
You are so right, many have forgotten that we are individuals, too many doing the same as others. We should all try to be a little different.
Yes, do it differently, it may be small but it had better be something — well said. Branding is more than just a name, it’s a personality, a representative of what you’re offering and behave around the network. Many of us have forgotten that we are all different and started to brand ourselves ever since the first release of our blog post.
I still have much to learn and do in branding management, baby steps but I’ll remember to do it differently. Thank you Jimi, this is motivating.
@wchingya
Social/Blogging Tracker
.-= Ching Ya´s last blog ..7 Features to Brand, Market, Manage with MarketMe Tweet =-.
Thanks for your comment, Ching Ya.
You are so right, many have forgotten that we are individuals, too many doing the same as others. We should all try to be a little different.
You’ve done a good job covering this topic and I look forward to the rest.
Branding needs to be thought through properly – preferably before starting out. And as mentioned, It also needs to be strategic for maximum effect.
It’s also important to stick by it, and not get distracted.
I think that’s the hardest part.
.-= John Lufadeju´s last blog ..It’s My Birthday and Happy Valentine’s Day =-.
Hey, John.
Yes, there is an awful lot to cover regarding branding. This will be fun.
You’ve done a good job covering this topic and I look forward to the rest.
Branding needs to be thought through properly – preferably before starting out. And as mentioned, It also needs to be strategic for maximum effect.
It’s also important to stick by it, and not get distracted.
I think that’s the hardest part.
.-= John Lufadeju´s last blog ..It’s My Birthday and Happy Valentine’s Day =-.
Hey, John.
Yes, there is an awful lot to cover regarding branding. This will be fun.
Great ideas to map it out for some of us! I have always been one to want the business cards to match the stationery so to speak. The business I run with my wife started with her business cards and I matched the website to it and everything that goes out with it. Thanks for the info, as things get bigger and bigger with the businesses branding is easy to overlook. The matching parts of branding are memorable and noticeable when they are different.
Later Jimi!
Justin
.-= Justin Matthews´s last blog ..Punching Heavy Bags and Blog Posts =-.
Hey, Justin.
It is important to show some continuity throughout your business elements and you have taken some good steps in matching the business cards and stationery. Like you say, this sometimes gets lost in the day to day focus of conducting business.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Branding Strategy – Why You Need One and What It Can Do For You =-.
Great ideas to map it out for some of us! I have always been one to want the business cards to match the stationery so to speak. The business I run with my wife started with her business cards and I matched the website to it and everything that goes out with it. Thanks for the info, as things get bigger and bigger with the businesses branding is easy to overlook. The matching parts of branding are memorable and noticeable when they are different.
Later Jimi!
Justin
.-= Justin Matthews´s last blog ..Punching Heavy Bags and Blog Posts =-.
Hey, Justin.
It is important to show some continuity throughout your business elements and you have taken some good steps in matching the business cards and stationery. Like you say, this sometimes gets lost in the day to day focus of conducting business.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..Branding Strategy – Why You Need One and What It Can Do For You =-.
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