During a time where competitors are trying to be louder than the next, it is becoming more important for brands to be authentic and transparent about who they are and their values.

BRANDING is more than just a logo. It plays a vital role in helping your business be heard and understood. It helps your business stand out and give it an edge in increasingly competitive markets.

Taking it back.
Branding originated when ranchers marked their cattle to identify their cows, letting customers know which beef they are purchasing. Ranchers used different feeding and breeding techniques to make their cattle more “attractive” in the market. This led to customers distinguishing between the different cattle and beef picking the “brand” they valued most.

Identify your brand using the 4 P’s.
Product, Price, Place and Promotion – these marketing elements help you create your brand.
Who are you and what makes you different to your competitors? Branding includes the colours you choose, what you offer, how you offer it, your values and beliefs, your target audience and how you communicate. For example, a fast-food restaurant’s brand would be affordability and convenience. A 5-star restaurants’ brand would be exclusivity and quality.
You can build your brand using a pricing strategy, voice, transparency, etc.

We believe that branding involves 4 key pillars – Voice, Design, Marketing and Strategy.
With these pillars in mind, we have created the ultimate 40 Point Branding Checklist to help your business stand out.

1. Voice
What does your brand’s mission, values, language and story? What words, terms or slang do you commonly use and how can your target audience relate to you? The focus is to have your own unique way of speaking to your target audience.

2. Design
Every brand needs a logo, font, brand colours, business collateral, website and graphics that all speak the same language and have one consistent message. Colours, fonts and images is an important part of how your brand interacts with your target audience. Your brands look and feel speaks louder than your company name and often plays a vital role in how someone feels about your brand. It is important to note that most people will interact with your look and feel (designs) before they even try your product or service and could potentially encourage or deter a potential purchase.

3. Marketing
Once you have created your brand’s voice and designs, you should determine who you want to receive the information and how? Every brand has its own unique target audience and it is in your interest to find as much information on them as possible. Who are they, how old are they, what are their interests, hobbies, what are their problems relating to your business and how can you fix it?
In the end, how you reach and build relationships with this target audience will determine the success of your business. This will include creating engaging content, mapping out your customer journey and social media.

4. Strategy and Implementation
What are your overall business goals and how will you reach it? Creating an in-depth strategy will help streamline this process. Set out monthly goals with a plan of action to implement the strategy successfully. This will include managing and scheduling your content and results, creating a mailing list, optimising your website for search and research.

Have you just started a business or rebranding?
Download our 40 Point Branding Checklist to help you as a guide to finding your brands voice, look and feel, how to deliver your brand effectively and building a unique strategy.