Deciding to stop working for others and be your own boss is something that most working adults dream about during their careers. Sadly, many never get the chance or are too afraid and unwilling to make the decisive move to work for themselves and have all the money come their way. Those who have done it on the other hand know that it is anything but an easy transition. It takes years of hard work, planning, and strategizing before your business can reach the levels of competitors and find its place on the ever-growing markets.
The basis of your own business is the product or service you mean to sell and offer to the consumers in an effort to build up a large enough network of returning customers. Doing this is tricky. Most of the owners will agree with the fact that it does not make sense to leave your old job behind and start your own company without a product in mind. The product has to be the one that leads your decision-making forward and direct you in the right way. It will be what your whole business is known for. Without it, it makes no sense to involve yourself in anything.
If, however, you do have things figured out and know what you want to sell, the only thing left to do is to start doing it. You will have already done a lot of the initial steps, but the one that deals with branding is the most crucial of all. If you fail to build up your brand and have the product recognized by the wider audience, you will never succeed. In this article we talk about how to brand your product. More importantly, there is going to be talk regarding the mistakes you absolutely want to avoid while doing it. Read on to find out more information and make sure to definitely visit endlessbranding.com for additional information, advice, and help.
1. Lacking Guidelines
Branding is all about increasing your visibility on the market and your product being chosen over the ones made by your competitors. In order to achieve this feature, you require a set of guidelines that will be consistent throughout. If things appear inconsistent, your company, your brand, and the product you want to sell will look untrustworthy, unprofessional, and less well-made than it is.
The guidelines to follow include knowing when, where, and how to use your logo, the tone, voice, and style of the writing and the slogan, and the color schemes. In addition, it is important to think of the visuals and imagery and pick the right font. Once you find what you are looking for, establish the guidelines and do not forget to use them in every situation where your brand’s logo and other recognizable features are needed. You can have multiple logos and varieties on the same idea, but keep it similar so that it makes sense.
2. Thinking the Logo is not Important
Think of the biggest companies in the world and try to figure out what comes to mind first.
That is right, the logo. Whether it is Facebook, Coca-Cola, Nike, or McDonald’s, the first think you associate with them in your mind are the well-established, widely and constantly present logos. Logos are practically the faces of companies and what your brand will be known for before your product. Not doing it properly early on will make it hard to grow and offer more products down the line. The presence needs to be established as quickly as possible, which is why an above-average, interesting, and appealing brand is needed.
Another mistake with branding that companies tend to make is not sticking with their logo when they become successful. Never fully abandon the logo that helped you get to where you were. Do not fix it if it needs no fixing. Aim for a lasting impression and choose the design that you would be drawn to.
3. Copying Others
Did you know that there are over 50 blatant copies of the iconic Dr. Pepper fuzzy drink?
With names like Dr. Thunder, Dr. Topper, Dr. Perky, Dr. Pop, and other variations and obvious knockoffs, combined with the exact same red labels and white lettering, everyone knows that these products are trying to capitalize on the success of the original refreshing drink. Everyone who enjoys the original will never buy a copy.
Those who first come across a copy may enjoy it, but sooner or later they will find out the truth. You should not utilize someone else’s ideas when it comes to branding. It is easily noticeable and you may even get in legal trouble. You should do you and be unique. One of a kind brands are what the market needs, and even if you are trying to be a part of a saturated industry, finding your own look and feel and being different is always a better idea. Innovate and do not reuse the ideas of those who came before you.
4. Being Disengaged from the Customers
Your customers are the audience that you need to entertain and please. They are the ones who will come to you and buy from you. If you fail to understand their needs and wishes and show that you do not get what they find attractive and interesting, you will never develop your brand into something that is recognizable and wanted. Now more than ever, the understanding between businesses and the community is important for the survival of the said businesses.
Customers know that there will always be another product on the market, but they are still willing to stick to the one they like and identify with. To help them identify with you, you need to know what language everyone understands, you have to be aware of the latest cultural practices and trends, and you need to respect the ideologies and climates in the modern world. Correct information and translation, special amenities and guidelines for the disabled, elderly, and pregnant, overall inclusiveness and acceptance, these are all things people care for with new brands.
5. Not following the established formula
Continue to follow what works until it does not and you will ensure the continuous growth of the business as well as the recognition of the brand.
6. Not taking feedback into account
You must know what your customers, and those who are still not, think of your business, the brand, the logo, and the product. If you have information about this, use it to be better and never neglect it!
