Creating lasting customer relationships is a crucial aspect of a brand's purpose. This is because customers are more likely to become loyal advocates for a brand that has built a strong connection with them.
According to research, customers who feel a strong emotional connection to a brand are more likely to make repeat purchases. In fact, one study found that customers who feel emotionally connected to a brand are 5 times more likely to recommend it to others.
A brand that prioritizes building relationships with its customers is more likely to see long-term success. This is because loyal customers will continue to support the brand even in times of economic downturn or competition.
By focusing on building relationships, a brand can create a loyal customer base that will drive its growth and success over time.
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Why Is Brand Important?
A brand is more than just a logo or a tagline - it's a reflection of your company's values and purpose. Branding is critical to a business because it can change how people perceive your brand, drive new business, and increase brand value.
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According to Neil Parker, a good definition of brand strategy is the considered intent for the positive role a company wants to play in the lives of the people it serves and the communities around it. This means that branding is not just about marketing, but about making a positive impact.
A good reputation can build up whether you do something about it or not, but understanding and using branding means you take the reins and try to control what that reputation looks like. This is why it's recommended to consider branding from the very beginning of your business.
Branding is not just for big brands, it's about common sense and understanding your market and level of play. The cost of branding can wildly differ from case to case, depending on the level of complexity and resources required.
Here are some key reasons why branding is important:
- It can change how people perceive your brand
- It can drive new business
- It can increase brand value
By taking control of your brand's reputation, you can make a positive impact and build trust with your customers.
Establishes Trust in the Marketplace
Establishing trust in the marketplace is crucial for a brand's success. In highly crowded markets, trust is especially important because it can make the difference between intent and action.
A brand's reputation ultimately boils down to the amount of trust that clients can have in it. The more you trust a brand, the better your perception of it, the stronger its reputation and, thus, the brand itself.
To earn and maintain trust, a brand must establish a realistic and attainable promise that positions it in a certain way in the market and then deliver on that promise. If the promise is being delivered upon, trust builds up in stakeholders' minds.
A brand's reputation precedes it, and once a certain perception of the brand has been established, an uncontrollable chain of propagation begins. Word of mouth will pass the perception on and further reinforce or tarnish the reputation of that brand.
A strong brand will have no trouble drumming up referral business because of the familiarity and assumed dependability of using a name people can trust.
Develop a Voice
Developing a voice for your brand is crucial in making your customers feel a certain way after buying your products. This voice can be thought of as the personality of your company.
Your brand personality should make your customers feel a certain way, whether it's like an old family friend or a company that makes them feel elevated and successful. It's essential to consider how you want your customers to feel after buying from you.
A strong voice can inspire confidence in your customers, making them more likely to share information about your company, buy your products repeatedly, and go the extra mile to patronize your business.
Develop a Voice
Developing a voice for your brand is crucial to creating a strong connection with your customers. Your company's voice should make people feel a certain way, whether it's like an old family friend or a triumphant and exciting experience.
You want your customers to feel elevated and successful after buying from you. Your brand personality should evoke the emotions you desire. A confident customer will drive that extra half mile to reach your store, pay a little more for shipping, and tell their friends about your awesome company.
Your brand strategy should consider how your voice will make your customers feel. You want to create a strong identity that builds customer confidence. This confidence is what inspires customers to share information about your company and buy your products repeatedly.
A confident customer will go the extra mile for your business. Your brand identity should be clear and consistent in its message. This consistency will help build trust with your customers and make them more loyal to your brand.
Good Identity Starts with a Good Name
A good name is the foundation of a strong brand identity. It's something that customers remember and associate with your company.
Names are iconic and can be difficult to change without risking customer loyalty. Consider Google and Facebook, they're still widely referred to by their original names despite corporate name changes.
A simple, memorable, and original name can make a big difference in how customers perceive your brand. Think of a few particularly memorable logos and how simple they are, like the yellow "M" that stands for McDonald's.
A good name can be the starting point for building a strong brand identity that customers will remember and return to.
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Core Beliefs and Values
A brand's core beliefs and values are the foundation of its identity. They're what set a brand apart from others and make it relatable to its target audience.
Your brand's mission statement highlights how it intends to serve its consumers and what it's trying to achieve. For example, Loop's social impact is a critical part of its brand, as it's linked directly to its mission on its homepage.
A multifaceted brand identity is something that people talk about and remember long after they've interacted with the brand. This is why it's essential to create a brand identity that remains on the minds of consumers, even when they're not actively shopping for your product.
Your brand values are non-negotiables as you grow and scale. They ensure your brand remains strong, even as things like your logo or products evolve. You can define your brand's mission and vision in the following ways:
Customers demand transparency from businesses, and they want to know that they're putting their money behind a company that does good in the world, or at a minimum does no harm. This is why it's essential to be crystal clear about your brand's mission and values during the branding process.
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Examine Competitors
You need to know what's out there in the market. Examine your competitors to see how they're doing it. Look at the companies in your industry and analyze their marketing strategies, including the colors they use and the impact of their logo design.
Customers have strong feelings about companies, both good and bad. You want to know how customers feel about your competitors and how you can differentiate your company from them. Examine the highs and lows of your industry to learn from the successes and failures of others.
A Strong Identity Builds Customer
A strong identity builds customer confidence. This is because customers are more likely to trust a brand that has a clear and consistent message.
A confident customer will drive that extra half mile to reach your store. They'll pay a little more for shipping from across the country. They'll tell their friends about this "awesome" company from which they buy their products.
A strong brand identity helps customers recognize a brand and encourages them to choose that brand over another. It's not just a product, it's a brand identity that makes customers remember when they return to the store to look for a particular product.
Customers are willing to go the extra mile for a brand they trust. This can be seen in the way they drive further to make a purchase or wear company-branded merchandise.
A healthy brand identity is one that customers are willing to go the extra mile for. This is because the brand has built a strong relationship with customers who are more likely to become repeat customers rather than one-time buyers.
Great Identity Examples
A strong brand identity can be incredibly recognizable, like Netflix's iconic red "N" logo. This simplicity is key to instant recognizability.
The Netflix logo is not just a visual identity, but also has a distinct sound, the "ta-dum" that signals the start of a show. This multi-sensory experience makes it unforgettable.
HBO also mastered the art of creating a recognizable logo with its "static angel" intro, which displayed the HBO logo over a screen of white television static and the sound of a TV warming up. This attention to detail made it a memorable experience.
A great brand identity can have a significant impact on customer confidence, as seen in the example of a confident customer driving extra miles to reach a store or paying more for shipping. This loyalty is a direct result of a strong brand identity.
What Is the Value of?
One important purpose of a brand is to increase business value, making it a more appealing investment opportunity due to its firmly established place in the marketplace.
A strong reputation is key to a strong brand, which translates into value that can mean influence, price premium, or mindshare. This value is a business asset that holds monetary worth and must be accounted for on a company's balance sheet.
Branding is not just about creating a logo or slogan, but about building a reputation that people remember long after they've interacted with your company. A multifaceted brand identity is what people talk about and remember.
Brand purpose is a high-level stance that can form the backbone of powerful change and action. Today's brands are increasingly aware of the potential benefits of creating resonance between the personal values of customers and the values demonstrated by the brand.
Customers demand transparency from businesses and want to know that they're putting their money behind a company that does good in the world, or at a minimum does no harm. A 2018 study by CSR specialists Cone found that:
By creating a brand purpose that resonates with customers, companies can boost loyalty and drive business growth.
Measuring the Impact
Measuring the impact of your brand's purpose is crucial to determining its success. You need to gather information on whether it resonates with your audience or not.
To do this, you must determine which metrics to use. Brands may choose a variety of KPIs, including customer satisfaction, brand sentiment, and employee engagement.
Establishing realistic, achievable goals is essential to providing an accurate measure of your success. This will help you identify whether your purpose is resonating with your target audience.
Surveys and focus groups can gather input from your target audience to see how they view your brand's purpose. This will help you determine if it's meaningful to them and if it inspires them to act.
83% of US consumers say they are more likely to be loyal to brands that lead with purpose. Customer loyalty and advocacy are helpful indicators of how well customers align with your brand values.
Here are some metrics to consider when measuring the impact of your brand's purpose:
- Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT)
- Net Promoter Score (NPS)
- Customer reviews
- Social media interactions
- Customer referrals and retention
Employee motivation is crucial to your brand's success. Studies show that employees work 20% better when motivated.
Create Strategies
A strong brand purpose is the foundation of a successful brand strategy. By having a clear intention, you can create messaging that resonates with your target audience.
Patagonia's brand purpose is to protect the wilderness, which aligns with the values of its customers who care about the environment. This shared value creates a strong connection with customers.
TOMS shoes' One for One model is a great example of a brand purpose in action, giving away one pair of shoes for every pair sold. This model has been in business for 17 years and has given out over 100 million pairs of shoes.
Having a brand purpose helps you develop a strategy that is grounded in data and ingenuity. This approach can help you navigate change and stay in tune with your customers.
Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty is a successful example of a brand purpose-driven strategy, inspiring women to feel confident in their skin. The campaign began in 2004 and has since become a cornerstone of the brand's messaging.
By creating a brand strategy with your purpose in mind, you can attract customers who share your values and create a loyal following.
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Sources
- What Is Branding and Why Is It Important for Your Business? (brandingmag.com)
- What is Branding? Can Brand Values Grow Your Business? (mailchimp.com)
- Oatly (oatly.com)
- 2018 study by CSR specialists Cone (conecomm.com)
- “brands that don’t stand for something will be disposed of” (forbes.com)
- every Unilever brand to have a purpose (bloomberg.com)
- Real Beauty (dove.com)
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