4 Steps to Building Your Brand

As a new business owner, how much thought have you given to building your brand?

Let’s assume for a moment that you’ve already dug deep and written out your vision for your business. You are deeply grounded in why you do what you do. And you’ve come up with a name that reflects your mission and goals.

The next step is to begin building your brand! Keep in mind that this is a process. No one nails it down in an evening! It will likely evolve over time. As you change, so will your business. And every good entrepreneur is constantly evaluating what is working and what is not! Your brand will be no different.

So what is a brand?

Well, I can tell you it’s so much more than a logo! (Although that’s a part of it!) Jeff Bezos, founder, CEO, and president of Amazon, says, “Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.”

Your brand is who you are to your potential clients. It’s what makes you memorable, and what sets you apart.

It will also help keep you focused on serving your clients with consistency.

So you can see how important branding is to your business! The following steps will provide a framework as you start on the process for yourself.

4 Steps to Building Your Brand as a New Entrepreneur

1.  Define your brand as a person.

Like brainstorming and defining your ideal client, think of your brand as a person. What kind of person would she be? Friendly? Bold? Classy? All these traits can help influence the colors, images, and voice of your brand.

Now imagine this person telling your story. She will tell your potential clients what you do and what you value. She will show them what is important to you. Can you see this brand “person” in your mind?

2.  Create your brand voice.

Your brand voice is the personality that comes out whenever you interact with your clients! The words and phrases you use can say a lot about you and your business. Think about the kind of person you imagined. How does she talk? What is her personality like?

As you think about the voice you want to use, keep in mind the kind of people your clients are. If you are in a B2B niche, and your clients are straight-laced business types, you may be going for an elegant and eloquent voice. But if your clients are young moms looking for a way to make money from home, you might be more conversational in your tone.

In any case, your brand voice needs to match what will resonate with your client. Do some research. Ask questions. Find your client’s voice, so you can find yours!

3.  Design the visual.

Colors and fonts and graphics, oh my!

Yes, this is where your creativity can really flow. Again, think about your brand personality when you begin to choose your visual design. What will your potential clients feel when they look at your logo and website? We will talk more about logos next month. But for now, think about what your visual design will deliver to your audience.

The colors you choose can instill confidence, boldness, dependability, or any number of other emotions. Your images, fonts, and even your website layout need to connect with your clients so they feel ready to build a relationship with you.

As human beings, we are so visually oriented!

This is a great time for a little research. Take a look at five or six websites that are in a related field to yours. Spend some time considering what you like and don’t like about their design and layout. What feels right, and what doesn’t seem like it fits? Is there anything you would change?

Now carry that over to your branding. Nail down your visual design in a brand board that shows your colors, fonts, and inspiration. Use this as a tool as you begin to apply your branding across your business!

Don’t know what a brand board is? A quick Google search will give you a great starting point for designing your own!

4.  Be consistent in your message, style, and tone.

Now that you have your brand voice and design firmly in mind, it’s time to start using it. Like in so many other aspects of business and life, consistency is the key!

Your branding is who you are in your business. So whether you are writing a social media post, sharing an article, or messaging with a potential client, be your brand. Use your brand language to communicate your values to your clients. Anyone who shares those values will be drawn to your authenticity.

These are great ways to begin with building your brand.

But remember what we talked about at the beginning! Your brand will change and adapt over time. It is an ongoing process of learning more about yourself and your clients. Re-evaluate regularly to see what is working, and what needs to change.

Do you need another pair of eyes on your branding?

Here at Savvy Chic Design, I specialize in branding and design! If you are stuck or struggling, I can take you through my process. We can work together to build a brand that resonates with your audience. Once that is in place, you can take the reigns. Or I can continue to help you put in place a solid brand strategy. Let's keep your business consistent in everything you do!

Click here to book a call with me. I can help you start building a brand you, and your clients, will love!