How To Develop A Brand Strategy: For entrepreneur & Small Business Owners.

You'll hear everywhere and know how important it is but do you have a brand strategy in place? Well, first of all, let's break down both words;

Branding; Your brand is your promise to your customer. It tells them what they can expect from your products and services, and it differentiates your offering from that of your competitors. Your brand is derived from who you are, who you want to be, and who people perceive you to be.

Strategy: According to the business dictionary: A method or plan chosen to bring about the desired future, such as the achievement of a goal or solution to a problem.

One thing I want to point out before moving on is that Branding Branding Is a long-term Strategy. I mean if you're not willing to put in the work to build a strong brand then entrepreneurship I really for you.

How do you go about building your Brand Strategy though? I've broken it down into six straightforward steps so let's go right into them.

Identify your ideal client: I know you probably see this but you've got to know who you're talking to. Think about it, how would you go about building a business let alone a brand if you do know who you are serving? H? re are some questions I'd suggest asking yourself;

1) Age

2) Income

3) Gender

4) Marital status

5) City

6) What is their living situation

7) Education background

8) What industry are they in?

9) Values, Beliefs

10) Lifestyle

11) Hobbies

12) Interest

13) Where do they live in?

14) Where do they shop?

15) Why do they shop there?

16) How do you get their information?

17) What keeps them awake at night?

18) What are they afraid of?

19) What are their top three daily frustrations?

20) What social media platforms do they use the most?

21) What are their hopes and dreams for the future?

22) What does their ideal life look like?

23) Does your business offer something that solves a pain point or dies your business offer something that is a luxury product/service?

2) Your Why+ Purpose: Why did you start your business in the first place? You've got to know why before you help people achieve theirs.

What is the purpose of your product or service? Not the features or deliverables but the transformation you will create through your products or services.

3) Your Core Values: What do you stand for? We all have core values instilled in us, and when we were just children and as we got older we began forming our own throughout life experiences so what are yours?

Ask yourself what you stand for as a person. Yup, as a person! Don't even think about your business because if you're a creative/ entrepreneur then chances are your business! You may add services, pivot, or start a new business but your core values will mostly remain the same.

4) Storytelling: Now that you are your why, purpose, and core values it's time to develop the story around your brand.

Your story is= Why + Purpose + Core Values: All good branding is done in a form of a story because it helps communicate what your brand is all about by taking your audience on a journey, connecting with them through emotion, and it helps differentiate you.

5) Communicating/ Messaging: This is all about effectively presenting your brand and what it can do for your audience through your;

1) Website

2) Social media channels

3) Newsletter

Being clear on your story (your why, purpose, and core values) will allow you to develop messaging that communities it In a way that

1) Inspires action

2) Privokss emotion

3) Educates

4) Builds Community

5) Sells

6) Scheduling/ Consistency: Last but not least it's scheduling it all out! What good is it if you do all the hard work of developing your brand but then don't communicate in s consistent manner?

If you can't do it for one month then expect to get long-lasting results. You've got to show up in a way that is authentic and consistent. Your audience wants to hear from you and they expect to hear from you consistently.

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