Imagine what it would be like if you can control other people’s minds—and you have the power to motivate, influence consumer buying behavior and persuade people to agree to practically anything you propose. If you have the power to shape someone’s reality?
The Truth Is… You Can!
It all boils down to perception. You wouldn’t show up to an important business meeting wearing mismatched socks and a shirt full of holes—you wouldn’t look very professional or competent. So don’t do it to your business. Quite simply, the image you create of your business for prospects is their reality.
The following three components should form a launching point for developing your small business branding and marketing direction for your small business.
A Bullet-Proof Business Logo
In the blink of an eye, your sale can be made or lost because of the credibility and professionalism of your small business logo. A professional marketing firm can help you identify the core beliefs and mission of your business, and translate those intangibles into a compelling visual service mark. Resulting in a logo that effectively plays upon the subconscious to create positive mental associations and persuade people to see your business the way you want them to see it.
Matching Marketing Collateral Material
Imagine trying to play poker with a deck of cards where each card had its own completely different suit… it’s impossible! The consistency of your sales message is vital to promoting a strong, healthy, unified business image. The look and feel of your business cards, letterhead, envelopes, product packaging, brochures and website should all maintain a standard look, as dictated by your brand, website brand and logo. That means visual elements such as fonts, colors and layouts should be standardized. If you laid out each of the above pieces on a table, visually, each piece should compliment each other.
A High-Impact Website
You simply can’t afford not to have a website for your business (Do I Need A Small Business Website?). With over one-billion people now using the internet, it’s too big of an opportunity to pass up. Even the smallest businesses can effectively use the internet to promote their products and services, attract new business, tap into new markets, and compete with the big dogs. With such widespread adoption of the internet, to many customers, you simply aren’t real to them if you don’t have a website. They expect to find you online! And if you do have a website, but it’s dying a slow, painful death, now’s the time to consider a website redesign.
Your overall, business image, or brand, speaks volumes about your level of commitment, dependability, quality of service, and overall value. That’s why it is absolutely mission critical your logo, marketing collateral and website send the right message about you and your business. Your customers will repay you in additional sales and loyalty, thanks to the confidence and comfort they receive from a consistent and carefully scripted brand image.
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