Branding plays a crucial role in the success of every business. And when it comes to startups, branding is of paramount importance. It is vital for the development and growth of an organization.
Your brand becomes a part of the customer`s everyday life. For instance, if a customer wants to purchase a product, he or she would like to buy from a company that not only offers great quality products but also provide other assurances. And, if a customer feels that your brand is the best in the market, then a customer will buy it even if it is a bit costlier. This is the impact of having a solid brand image.
A brand is what helps your business distinguish your product from the league and helps consumers associate themselves with your brand.
But many entrepreneurs fail to recognize its importance in the initial stage of the business. They make the mistake of obsessing over their products and turn a blind eye to every aspect of the branding. This can lead to a series of disastrous consequences for the product as well as the company in the long run. Due to the negligence, the brand might become unnoticed and irrelevant.
According to an analysis conducted by the Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB), ‘brands contribute on an average of 19.5% and if the impact is measured based on firm cash flow, profits and firm value, the impact could be contributed for over 50% of the enterprise value.
Another report by the Marketing Science Institute (MSI) that included around 220 consumer products found that a superior brand preference or reputation commanded price premiums of 26% on average, even when brand quality is the same.
Brand Image: A living persona
Your brand image is like a living entity. If your brand can create ripples in the market and generate excitement by showcasing life, you can get a loyal clientele. Your brand grows and matures over the years and builds its persona just like a living entity and provides a solid competitive advantage.
In this age of digitalization, it is important to have a unique brand strategy that will engage the audience across multiple mediums. Therefore, it is essential for every company to carefully select and invest when it comes to building a brand that speaks volumes about the company`s unique business strategies and core values.
Branding is essential for business sales too!
If your brand connects straight away with your target customers, it will result in an excellent customer experience. And according to a report published in Forbes, ‘73% of companies with above-average customer experience performs better financially and also get higher revenue’.
Another report suggests that around 17% of the consumers are willing to pay more to purchase from a brand that has a great reputation and market value.
Harvard University professor, Gerald Haltman who is the author of ‘How customers think: Essential insights into the mind of the market’, writes in his book that 95 percent of a customer`s decision-making process happens subconsciously. Hence, the major reason why a customer will choose your brand instead of your competitor will largely depend on how the consumers ‘feel’ about your company.
And why this factor is important for a startup? Startups tend to have major competitors who have a larger team, better infrastructure, brand reputation, and marketing knowledge. A good brand image will help you to attract more customers and your product will finish on top of your competitors.
Brand Image: Honesty v/s Perfection
Startups represent innovation and a distinct approach towards the same product that is already available in the market. It`s their uniqueness that connects them super strongly with their customers. However, too many companies want to represent their brand under a perfect and idealized spotlight. This results in a brand image that lacks the character, texture, and trust of a consumer.
Another blunder that most startups do is copying other businesses or internet trends and images. Creating a fake image of their brand that does not represent them would simply mean wasting the most valuable emotional factor due to which a startup ends up eroding its customer base.
Branding in the internet age
With technological advancements, the internet has slowly taken over. Today, with the advent of affordable smart-phones, branding of products online is no longer a luxury. It has become a necessity for startups where they can sell their products to a wider audience.
With cost-effective internet that is available to most people, a business must use this opportunity. Despite the changing times and mediums of advertisement, branding is still an integral part of advertising and the business world. Hence, listen to what stakeholders and customers have to say about your brand, and use their feedback to make improvements. This will also build a better brand image.
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