Have you heard a lot about branding, but you’re not sure what the big deal is? Have you ever bought a product, been thoroughly impressed, but later seen an advertisement that did not do the product justice? Branding is making your advertisements match your products and services so potential customers can see the quality of your product and be enticed into buying.
Effective branding requires identifying your selling points and then portraying those selling points through advertising. All of your marketing materials–even down to your logo, colors, ads, and commercials–should reflect the tone, flavor, and experience of your business. A dull advertisement or listing does not inspire mouths to water or people to get into the car to drive to a new establishment. However, a lovely photo of a delectable dish, an elegant flyer portraying a romantic meal, or a funny coupon inviting you to have a good time watching the Super Bowl with a platter of wings and potatoes skins – all those advertisements will make someone get up and go. But advertising costs so much money! You’re afraid to spend money on ads that truly tantalize, so you hope the cheap flyer and the dull listing will bring you customers. But if you don’t spend time branding and getting current with internet advertising strategies, you’ll look dull in comparison, and you’ll lose out to exciting, interactive online advertisers. The most current branding plans involve customizing websites, enticing customers through online entertainment, and making use of social media tools. People expect to experience your business before they even encounter your salespeople, product, or services. Customers want to feel like they know suppliers, and you can grant that wish by making your marketing materials unique and interesting. They want to be inspired by the photos on your website. They desire something extra in the buying experience, such as inspiration or satisfaction that their purchase is justified. The way to do this is through branding, the surefire way to establish yourself in the market space.
