A Simple Guide to Branding and Branded Content
With the creation of online marketing, it is easier than ever for small businesses to take off. However, the online marketing platform is very crowded, which makes it difficult to stand out from the competition. Before you get started, there are a few strategies to consider about how to brand your business and make branded content.
What is Branding?
First, it is important to know how to brand your business. Branding is the act of creating a name and identity for your business that will be recognized by consumers. Branding involves keeping a consistent image that aligns with established company values and interests. Additionally, it requires creating a “voice” that mirrors these values and interests.
Your brand is also your commitment to your customers, which shows them who you are, and what you can and will do for them. A strong brand will help your business be more memorable and show customers what you stand for. Your brand should have a clear message for its customers. Branding also involves using different branding strategies to gain success and promote your brand.
What is Branded Content?
Second, you must understand what branded content is, and how it works. Branded content is an important tool in the online marketing world. It links content to a brand so that consumers will also associate the content with that brand. Branded content is often funded or created by an advertiser or established company. This allows companies to reach a broader audience online, mostly through social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other popular sites.
Branded content is less invasive than traditional content marketing, which has made it popular among brands who seek to develop a strong consumer base. This is an excellent way to define a brand in more detail than just a logo or tagline. Branded content typically relies on storytelling to make it successful.
An example of branded is a sponsored Instagram post. You probably see these a lot while scrolling through your feed. Often, someone with a large following is paid by a company to share or review a product publicly. It allows brands to reach larger, more diverse audiences with little to no additional effort in marketing.
Some brands also pay social media websites to host their ads across the platform. Facebook commonly shows ads on sidebars, or other places where they will be seen by users of the site.
Branded content strives to appeal to emotions and encourage notoriety and attention for the brand. This format focuses less on products and more on the reputation of the brand. These types of ads are also primarily consumed by choice. Consumers usually have the option to close branded content.
How to Brand Your Business
When branding your business, it is important to keep in mind how you wish to appear to customers. Your brand should reflect your values and services accurately. Thus, you create an image for your brand.
Most brands use logos and taglines for memorability and uniqueness. An effective logo or tagline will be easy to identify and associate with your brand. The tagline should also reflect your brand’s values and identity. The best taglines are simple, yet clear. Taglines and logos tell consumers who you are, and are a key step to brand marketing and development.
You should also define your brand and research your target consumer base. This step can be more complicated. Hiring a marketing or advertising expert can be useful for new brands. They can provide useful insight on successful branding and marketing strategies, and ways to potentially improve your brand’s effectiveness.
Ultimate branding Strategies
Branding strategies determine how your brand’s message gets across, and to whom. Ideally, your brand has a target audience in mind. To successfully convey your message to your audience you will need an effective brand strategy.
Part of that strategy is where you do your advertising. Also you must be sure that it will reach a significant portion of your target audience. Is this via Facebook or Instagram? Google Ads? Research where the majority of your customers are online, and tailor your advertising strategy to the results. This may mean using multiple advertising platforms, or making use of branded content.
Another important brand strategy is what you are communicating to your customers. If it is unappealing, off-brand, or does not fit your target audience, it will not be effective in selling your brand.
Furthermore good branding strategies will create a strong, reliable brand and increase the value of it. Strong branding strategy is itself is a branding strategy, as it will establish brand equity and quality. Satisfied customers are likely to return, and more willing to pay for the guaranteed quality of what they receive.
With this information, you can begin to create your brand, and explore the world of branded content!