One of the most important steps in creating a business marketing plan is understanding exactly who your business is; your brand's unique personality and characteristics. But why?
Let's create a story to explain.
Let's say you’re single, and after authentic self-reflection, you decide you are ready to mingle. You've created healthy boundaries, you know what you like, and what you don't like, and you now know what essential characteristics are important to you in a partner. What are some of the top things on your list… maybe trust, integrity, a sense of humour?
Let's say you swipe right on a person who's profile lists they have a wicked sense of humour, are outgoing, love to laugh and are the life of the party. They enjoy trendy fashion and you can see from their pictures that they dress in bright, flashy colours, wear rings on every finger and have a nose ring. They value trust, integrity and connection. You agree to go on a date at a local coffee shop.
At the coffee shop, the person arrives dressed casually in khakis, a faded, white T-shirt, old sneakers, and a baseball cap. No rings or nose piercing. During the date, they communicate in a soft, shy voice, rarely laughing. They make eye contact infrequently and act quiet and mysterious.
You may be attracted to those characteristics as well, but the difference in their personality vs their profile has thrown you for a loop! Assuming they're not having an off day, your internal alarm bells may be ringing. Is this the same person in the profile? Is this their authentic self? Do they really have integrity? It's not the best way to start a relationship, as trust is a key factor in any relationship. According to www.facinghistory.org, "Identity refers to our sense of who we are as individuals and as members of social groups. It also refers to our sense of how others may perceive and label us."
"Identity refers to our sense of who we are as individuals and as members of social groups. It also refers to our sense of how others may perceive and label us."
Identity and authenticity apply to brands as well! As consumers encounter your brand, they will get to know its personality, what it stands for, what it believes in, and what it doesn't.
Benefits of Branding 1. Trust
As your brand produces consistent content and messaging, you begin to build trust with your audience. This is achieved through indirect and direct marketing of relatable high-quality content shared via social media posts, blogs, podcasts, influencer marketing, referral programs, remarketing, email campaigns, and paid advertising. Trust is key in any relationship.
2. Defined Target Market
Knowing exactly who your brand is and isn't, will help you better determine your target market and dig deep into the demographics and psychographics of the consumers that want your product and/or service. You can then create customized, relatable content that will speak to your audience and build lasting relationships.
3. Cohesive Company Vision
A strong brand can help you attract the right type of employees that hold similar values. Having a clearly defined brand identity and brand pillars ensures consumers, employees, and investors are on the same page. It makes understanding the company's values and objectives easier, and helps employees, especially social media marketing managers, to understand the brand's unique characteristics.
"Build trust by maintaining consistent brand messaging that connects deeply with your target audience." ~ Shannon Ortiz
Brand Identity Workshop
At BoostUs Social we believe small and medium-sized business owners want to share their passion and their purpose with the world, more specifically with the consumers who will benefit from what they have to give back. The most effective approach to building brand identity and trust is through authentic self-reflection.
Complete a Brand Identity Workshop with BoostUs Social and clearly define your brand voice, tone, visual elements, pillars, and goals to create a consistent brand message that will build trust with your valued target audience!
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