Creating a fruitful brand is a tall order. While a robust and professional personal brand is key to experiencing success as an entrepreneur, designing and establishing one is a complex process that can seem overwhelming at times.
The techniques we employ that help us get to know you, your business, and your brand can help you avoid these five common mistakes in brand building.
1. Not including yourself in your brand.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: people want to work with people. Include yourself in your brand by using images and quotes that come from you. Not only will this foster the connection between you and your business brand, but it will help establish familiarity with your customers. Being used to seeing the “face behind the curtain” can establish trust between your customers and your brand.
2. Not using professional images.
The visual images you utilize help build the identity of your business. The images you choose to use in your marketing materials and media are one of the first ways your customers will form an impression of you, your brand, and your business. Utilizing professional images sets a professional tone, and informs your customers of the expectations they should have.
3. Not investing in a professional looking website.
Have you ever clicked quickly away from a website because it appeared to be cluttered, visually unappealing, or difficult to navigate? Similar to images, your website will influence the impression your customers form of your business. Having a polished website will draw your customers in and establish your credibility as a professional.
4. Not providing clear and accurate information.
The first thing your customers need to know is what your business does or offers to them, and why they should want it. If they can’t quickly find a clear answer to these questions, it is unlikely that they will stick around to learn more. Providing accurate and easy to find contact information is also important. At the least, provide your customers with your company’s email address, phone number, website, and physical location. If you want, you could also include links to any social media pages you manage.
5. Not maintaining consistency.
It is important to maintain brand consistency between marketing materials as well as between social media outlets. Ensuring that the colors and fonts are generally uniform between all of your materials creates a cohesive brand identity. Make sure that all of the names and contact information you use within your website, cards, flyers, and social media pages are consistent as well.