3 Easy Steps to Brand Your Shop

“A brand is a story that is always being told.”

Have you ever thought about how a customer perceives your business?

Most small businesses have an extremely lean marketing team, if they have one at all. Even if your small business doesn’t have budget or bandwidth to allocate towards branding initiatives, there are still ways to improve your brand.

Here are three easy steps you can take to revamp your shop’s brand today.

1. DEFINE YOUR BRAND

This is a great starting point in developing your brand identity. Think about how you want customers to view your shop. Outline key qualities and benefits you have to offer along with the things that make you different from the competition. Don’t be afraid to check out what the competition or other brands you admire are doing, but don’t just copy their moves. Instead, use it as inspiration to come up with your own, unique brand style.

2. RECOGNIZE YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE

This is a great starting point when it comes to branding. Who are your customers? It is not enough to rely on a great product or service – you should know who you’re selling it to. Start by doing some research into your target audience’s behaviors and lifestyles. An easy way to do this would be to create a simple survey and distribute to your existing customer base. Once you have done your research, you should be able to determine the best way to engage your customers and you can now strategize on how your offerings can meet their needs.

3. LIVE IT OUT

Once you have taken the time to consider the direction of your shop’s brand, it’s time to integrate these strategies into every part of your business. Consistency throughout will make your brand memorable and valid. Take care of your customers and be honest; live out the vision, values, and mission of your shop. Make sure your customers know the value you have to offer them.

Input from your team is crucial. They need to buy in to the brand just as much or even more than your customers. Get their feedback on designs and messaging early in the process and you will have a much easier time implementing your new branding.

Have fun with the process and watch your business grow!