Many entrepreneurs focus on building a business, rather than a brand – this is a mistake. Developing an online brand can play an important role in helping you to build a long-lasting, successful business. Just look at Apple – whenever they release a new product, people line up outside their shops to get their hands on it. This is because they feel an emotional connection to the brand and trust in the quality of their items. An online brand is the ultimate way to give your business a competitive advantage and connect with your audience on a more personal level. With that in mind, here are our top ways to build your online brand.
Understand the importance
The first step to building your online brand, is to understand the important role that it plays in the success of your business. Some business owners are reluctant to invest in online branding, because they feel that it may be a waste of money and yield little results. However, building your online brand can have a number of significant benefits such as creating awareness and interest in your business, attracting new customers, growing your business online, and securing repeat customers. All of these are important factors in any successful business.
Research your target audience
Before you can build an online brand, it is also important to understand your target audience. Make sure you do thorough research and establish who your audience are and what will appeal to them – this includes things like their gender, age, and interests. You can use a number of online tools to help you identify your target audience. Some useful examples include Google Trends, Compete, and Comscore. These tools with provide you with valuable information on your target audience, and help you determine what they will want to see and hear. This will enable you can create an effective online brand strategy and develop your brands voice.
Use a range of media platforms
The most effective online branding strategies use a variety of different media platforms to capture their audience. For example, use content networks to develop your brand through repetition, then use behavioural marketing to get your advertisements seen by your target audience. You also need to consider what social media you are going to use. There are plenty of different social media platforms, so make sure you find the one that’s best for your business. Your market research should help you understand what social media your audience uses, and how to reach them. Remember that social media is a great tool for getting organic traffic and building your online brand, so make sure you take advantage of it! It’s also important to keep in mind that media platforms are constantly evolving, so make sure you are flexible and adapt your strategies to any new changes.
Create a recognisable logo
Your brand logo is extremely important. It has the power to arouse interest in your audience and build awareness of your brand and business. Make sure you choose a unique logo, that is easily recognisable and reflects the story behind your business – brands like Apple and Nike are a good example. Keep in mind that people are likely to forget or confuse a logo that is too complicated, so it’s always best to keep it simple!
Remember that content is key
Posting regular quality and relevant content, is one of the best way to connect with your audience and build your online brand. We see content everywhere – from Google and Youtube, to Facebook and Instagram. Good quality content will attract more people and if they enjoy it, then they are going to associate the value of your content to your brand. Posting high quality content is also a great way to encourage similar reputable organisations to repost your content and include backlinks to your website. This will help to generate more traffic to your website and enhance your organic search presence. Remember, the more prevalent your brand becomes in the mind of your peers, the stronger your reputation will grow online.
Build your reputation online
Building your reputation online is extremely important. People aren’t going to buy from your business if they don’t know or trust it. Online reputation and brand authority is also an important factor in your search engine rankings, as more authoritative sites will appear higher in search engine result pages. This will help to drive more quality traffic to your website and generate more conversions for your business. It is important to remember that building an online reputation for your brand will take time and consistency is key. Keep posting quality, relevant content and eventually your brand will build a following and brand authority online.