Ten Branding Resolutions for 2011

brand results from a set of associations and perceptions in people’s minds. Branding is an attempt to harness, generate, influence and control these associations to help a business perform better. Any organisation can benefit enormously by creating a brand that presents the company as distinctive, trusted, exciting, reliable or whichever attributes are appropriate to that business. Intelligent use of design, advertising, marketing, service proposition, corporate culture and so on can all really help to generate associations in people's minds that will benefit the organisation. We've compiled ten actions you can take during 2011 to help ensure your company is getting the most out of branding. Evaluate your brand Every aspect of your business from your logo design to your website should be part of a larger picture. Consistency is as important as ever. Refresh your content Review your website content and your marketing materials. Is the content still current? Does it still reflect your mission and vision for your business? Focus on value Value is the key word for any marketing in 2011. With the economy poised to bounce back, it is more than likely that customers will take their new focus on value well into the new decade. Offer something extra, and make that something a key part of your business branding. Get personal Providing a one-on-one service to your customers can become a valuable sales tool, as well as offering that 'something extra' we just talked about. Video marketing 2010 saw a rise in companies using sites such as YouTube, Google Video and Daily Motion to promote brand and business. Utilise these avenues to raise awareness with a portfolio or showreel. Embrace technology More and more people are using handheld devices on a daily basis. Making sure your website can not only be viewed but viewed correctly will be a major asset. Become proficient at social media Social media should not be viewed as the 'be all and end all' of your marketing strategy, but you need to know how to communicate with your customers via this medium. Time to reflect If you don't already have a blog in place or don't know much about the art of blogging, then it's about time you did. Keeping an up-to-date blog is not just a tool for selling; it also shows a human side to your business and that your company is on the ball, with a dedication that may suit a customer's needs. A blog is also a good chronological record of goals, thoughts and accomplishments for you to look back on. Be patient It will take time for customers to associate with your brand, but the results will be worth the wait. Don't make change for the sake of change. Finally; have fun! Love your work and have fun with what ever you are doing, your enthusiasm will be contagious.

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