Standing out in the market requires a very strong foundation - Here's what's been working...

“I want to grow my business and build my brand. I need a new logo and Facebook Ads - can you help me Kira?”

I have lost count of how many conversations start like this.

And my reply is always the same.

Yes I can help you grow your business, but No, we aren’t going to start with the Logo and Ads.

Here’s Why:

The market is busy! You need to stand out or the customers desperate for your exact offer, will not see you and continue on to your competitors.

If building a brand can be likened to a tree - you want your tree to be tall and beautiful to be noticed! So yes Logo and Ads are important…

But…

Without a solid supporting structure, your tree will stop growing or worse - fall over!

This is how I approach building a brand:

Phase 1: The Roots – Establishing Your Brand's Foundation

Just like a tree, your brand needs strong roots to grow healthy and sturdy. This foundational phase is all about defining who you are and who you serve:

• Mission and Vision - What does your brand aim to achieve? How do you envision its impact?
• Positioning and Brand Story - How is your brand different? What's the narrative that connects your brand with customers?
• Brand Values - What principles guide your brand's decisions and behaviors?
• Brand Voice - How does your brand communicate? What tone and style resonate with your audience?
• Ideal Customer Profiles - Who are your target customers? What are their needs, dreams, frustrations? How can you help them?
• Visual Branding - With everything now clear to you, you are ready to develop a visual identity that reflects your brand's essence.

Phase 2: The Trunk – Strengthening Your Brand's Structure

With the roots established, the trunk of your brand can support your growth towards higher visibility and reach:

• Key Offers - What exactly are you selling? What unique value do your products or services offer?
• Website/Landing Pages - Develop a professional online presence that communicates your brand's value proposition clearly.
• Content Strategy - What will you be talking about? What content pieces will you create? Where will you post them? Having a plan saves tons of time and creates consistency.

Phase 3: The Branches – Your Communication Channels

Branches are where your brand starts reaching out into the world, making connections and expanding its presence:

• Email Marketing Strategy - Set up an email system to nurture leads and keep your audience engaged.
• Social Media Optimization - Ensure your social profiles are aligned with your brand's voice and visual identity, ready to engage effectively with your audience.
• Any other marketing/communication channels appropriate for your brand

Phase 4: The Leaves – Attract your ideal customers

Finally, the leaves represent your brand's ongoing activities that attract and convert customers:

• Content Creation - Regularly produce valuable content that attracts engagement.
• Organic Growth Strategies - Utilize SEO, social media engagement, and other organic methods to grow your following.
• Paid Advertising -Only now should you consider investing in targeted ads on platforms like Google, Instagram, or Facebook to amplify your reach.

By understanding that building a standout brand is a gradual process, from the roots up (not the leaves down!) you ensure that every element supports the next, leading to sustainable growth and a robust brand presence.

Start right!

...And let me know if you need help!

Kira

PS - Here is a digram from a talk I gave...