7 Business and Marketing Strategies for Creating a Well-Articulated Brand
The word brand was always very elusive. Sure, we can describe it as a way the public perceives one company and it covers all of the touch points ranging from visual identity to product perception. But, keeping in mind its relevance in the present-day business world, this broad definition is too simplistic. However, even though we have no good way of describing what a brand is, we are more than well aware of how this perception affects the fortunes of one company.
For instance, despite the price, discounts, and all other stunts, 59% of consumers prefer to purchase from brands they are familiar with.
More importantly, we have very rich experience in building well-articulated and consistent brands through different business practices and marketing strategies. Well, let us take a look then at a couple of these tried and through approaches that should help your brand register on the mainstream radar.
Define visual identity and stick with it
People are visual beings and communicate a tremendous amount of information in a visual manner. So, nailing down key visual components like logos, general design language, and core visual elements does make a great place to start your efforts. We suggest that you go back to your mission statement and try to single out a couple of keywords and work from these foundations. Also, take as much time as you need and avoid leaning too heavily toward contemporary trends. Your brand's visual identity is one of your most powerful assets - you don't want to undergo overhauls that indicate low confidence.
Keep things simple
In other words, you need to lay down the brand ideas and principles that will be easily marketable. Look at Nike – their entire branding idea is built around three simple words – Just do it. Apple is not as explicit but its products reek of speed and efficiency. Car manufacturers like BMW can boast about their power and reliability. All these keywords are incredibly easy to understand and to use in all sorts of marketing campaigns. They also present an excellent starting point for building your brand’s visual identity, corporate practices, portfolio strategy, and so on. The simpler you get, the better.
Develop a long-term brand development map
Branding is a process that heavily relies on public perception that is inherently unpredictable. Your goal is to keep as many factors under your control as possible and create a roadmap that will anticipate all the major turns and set up necessary contingencies. For instance, acquisitions and mergers, and all the ensuing alignments, portfolio adjustments, cultural clashes, and expansions to a new market can drastically damage the consistent image you were trying to build. That is why your brand should have a ready-made M&A strategy for such situations. You should do this for all similar disruptive events as well.
Give your brand some sense of purpose
Being proactive and overcoming some sort of obstacles always makes for compelling storytelling. You can use this knowledge to the benefit of your brand in two ways. First, focus your marketing strategy on your mission statement, and the issues your products and services are solving on a daily basis. Second, embrace some social causes your customers hold dear and take part in addressing these challenges. According to a recent survey, 63% of consumers stated they prefer buying from brands that reflect their own personal values and beliefs. If you want to go big, this is as big as margins go.
Define your most valuable customers
This is the old trick that is taken directly from the traditional marketing book. Be that as it may, you need to remember that no brand can possibly appeal to all people in the world. That is why you need to define your ideal customer that will keep your company afloat through repeat purchases and focus on reaching out to this selected group of people. Keeping in mind the complexity of branding efforts, this offensive will include an attack on several fronts – focused marketing strategies, zero-disruption customer experience, and engagement strategies modeled around the requirements of these people.
Give your brand a unique and authoritative voice
You can as well interpret this as some sense of personality or unique quirks. Of course, the easiest way to do that comes in the form of some sort of mascot or marketing character that will encapsulate these traits. But, don't hesitate to go past this simple marketing gimmick. For instance, starting a blog will give you plenty of opportunity to let the unique voice and traits of your brand shine through, while at the same time doing the massive heavy lifting in increasing its clout and industry authority. Also, this strategy will lure in a lot of people who are not, as of yet, interested or even familiar with your services.
Think about brand positioning
Last but not least, we would like to remind you that, unless you are going to tackle some completely new niche, your brand needs to make a logical part of the market landscape. This necessity to fill in the void, do something new, present a fresh take on an already existing idea, or plain and simply root out the direct competitors should inform all branding facets from the brand story, value proposition, visual identity, the tone of brand voice, communication with clients and so on. Ignoring these critical factors, on the other hand, can easily make your brand tone-deaf, overly ignorant, or simply not competent.
We hope these seven examples gave you a general idea about the strategies and tips you can use to make your brand more powerful, engaging, and well-articulated. The present-day business landscape is incredibly competitive and harsh. The best way to come to the top of this ladder is to make your clients a crystal-clear idea about what your company is all about and why they should care. Use then the tips we gave you and give your audience something truly memorable and unique.
6 Effective Strategies to Boost Your Brand Authority
Brand authority plays a vital role in today's business world. It is the ability of a brand to earn customer trust and confidence. A strong brand authority can help you win new customers, retain existing ones, charge premium prices, and weather tough times.
Strategies such as creating captivating content and adding share buttons for a website can make a world of a difference. Let's dive into a few different ways to boost your brand authority.
- Create Compelling Content
Creating compelling content is one of the best ways to boost your brand authority. This could be in the form of blog posts, infographics, ebooks, or even videos. The key is to produce high-quality content that will educate, entertain, and engage your target audience.
You can share this content on your site or guest post on other reputable sites relative to your industry. This will help you reach a wider audience and get more exposure for your brand.
- Get Active on Social Media
Social media is a powerful platform that can help you boost your brand authority. It allows you to share your content, interact with customers, and build relationships with other industry leaders.
Make sure you are active on the most relevant social media channels for your business. Post interesting and engaging content regularly and promptly respond to comments and questions. This will help you stay on top of your target audience's mind and build brand authority.
- Install Share Buttons on Your Websites and Blog
We live in a digital world. It is essential to make it easy for your website and blog visitors to be able to share your content. Installing share buttons for a website makes it more likely that your content will be shared, seen, and read by a wider audience.
When people share content with friends, family members, followers, or professional networks, it gives your brand a vote of confidence, similar to word-of-mouth marketing.
There are various plugins and code snippets available online that you can use to install share buttons on your site. Choose the best ones for you and make it easy for your visitors to share your content.
- Leverage User-Generated Content
Another great way to boost your brand authority is to leverage user-generated content (UGC). This is content created by customers or fans of your brand. It could be in the form of product reviews, testimonials, or even social media posts.
UGC is a powerful marketing form because it helps build trust and credibility. When potential customers see that others have had positive experiences with your brand, they are more likely to do business with you.
There are a few different ways that you can collect UGC. You can run a social media contest, add customer testimonials to your website, or even send out free product samples in exchange for feedback, reviews, posts, etc.
- Build Partnerships and Collaborations
Partnerships and collaborations are another great way to boost your brand. When you partner with another company or individual, it helps to build trust and credibility. This is because your target audience will see that you’re associated with a reputable brand or individual.
There are many different ways that you can build partnerships and collaborations. You can co-host an event, offer joint discounts or promotions, or even create co-branded products or content.
Building partnerships and collaborations takes time and effort, but it’s worth it as it can help boost your brand authority and reach a wider audience.
- Be Consistent, Creative, and Unique With Your Branding
Branding is one of the most important tips for boosting your brand authority, and it ties into all the tips previously listed. This means using the same colors, fonts, logo, style, etc., across all your marketing materials. This includes your website, social media accounts, email newsletters, business cards, and other collateral.
When your branding is consistent, it looks clean, professional, and trustworthy. Your target audience will be able to easily recognize your brand, which helps to build trust and credibility.
To stand out from your competitors, your branding must also be creative and unique. This means using a style that is different from your competitors. Research your industry and target audience to ensure your branding is on point.
Before You Go
Building brand authority doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, effort, and consistency to see results. Whether it be through creating compelling content, adding share buttons for a website, or leveraging user-generated content — there are many different ways to go about it.
Pick a few strategies that you think will work best for your business and start implementing them today. With time and effort, you will start to see your brand authority grow.
The Only Branding Checklist Your Small Business Will Ever Need. 13 Things to Keep in Mind
Branding is a vital aspect of any small business. A strong brand can help you attract new customers, keep current ones, and increase sales.
Small business owners have a lot on their plates, and it can be tough to keep up with the latest trends and marketing techniques. Thus, they need a branding checklist to determine the best branding strategy. This article is about the only branding checklist you will ever need for your small business.
This post is a compilation of all the branding-related things you need to consider before starting your business. The branding checklist below is not exhaustive, but it covers the basics that every small business needs to know about branding. It will help you create a compelling and memorable logo, name, slogan, and overall brand identity.
Why Is Branding Important for Small Businesses?
Branding is creating a unique identity for a company or product. Branding is the name, logo, and other visual elements that identify a company or product. It helps to differentiate your company from its competitors. This makes it easier for people to find and remember your name. Several reasons why branding is critical for small companies include:
- Branding can help to increase sales. People are more likely to buy products or services from companies they trust. A well-executed branding strategy can help build trust between you and your customers.
- Branding brings about loyalty among your customers. When customers feel like they're part of a community supported by the same brand values, they're more likely to stay loyal to that brand.
- Branding can help attract new customers and investors. A strong branding strategy can make it much easier for you to find new customers and investors who share your same values and interests.
Branding Checklist for Your Small Business
A branding checklist can be a helpful tool for any business. Having a plan in place is essential, and this article will give you the tools you need to create your own. A branding checklist can help you decide what your company stands for, where it's going, and who it's speaking to. It can also help you improve your marketing and how people think of your company.
Branding is not just about giving your company a name or logo. It’s much more than that. It’s about telling the story of your company and what you stand for. So what are some key things you need to keep in mind regarding branding?
- Create a Mission and Vision Statement
The first branding checklist that every small business needs are its mission statement and vision statement. These two statements will help guide every decision your business makes, from what products they offer to how they communicate with customers. Having a clear vision and mission statement for the brand is essential. It is an opportunity to express what you are all about, what you stand for, and why customers should buy from you.
- Tell Your Brand’s Backstory
A brand is a story. Your business has a story. It’s the total of all your experiences and perceptions you have collected over time in your business.
It’s important to develop a clear understanding of this story so it can be communicated across all platforms, from pitch decks to social media posts. This will help people understand why you do what you do and how it relates to their lives. Your customers will remember this story and associate it with the product or service they buy.
- Show Your Brand Personality
Source: Unsplash
There are a few key things that you need to keep in mind when it comes to the branding checklist. One of the most important is the brand personality which you need to revisit constantly.
Your brand personality should reflect the character of your business and the values that it stands for. It should be consistent across all channels, from your website to social media profiles. Some examples of brand personality types include:
- Innovative- This brand always looks for ways to improve its products or services.
- Passionate- These brands are driven by their emotions and use their branding to express these feelings.
- Friendly- These brands are friendly and welcoming, aiming to make customers feel at home from the first moment they contact them.
- Confident- Confident brands know who they are, what they stand for, and what sets them apart from the competition.
- Define the Brand’s Core Principles
Your brand should also embody core principles that guide everything else. These principles are more than just buzzwords. They should be at the heart of everything you do as an organization. They should drive every decision your team makes, whether it comes to design decisions or hiring practices. They should be communicated consistently and in a way that is easily understood by all.
- Create a Brand Message
To create a successful brand, you need to have a clear and consistent message that your customers can understand. This message should be communicated through your name, logo, marketing materials, and all other aspects of your business.
There are a few things that you need to keep in mind when crafting your brand message:
- Your brand should be easily recognizable
- Your brand should be honest and genuine
- Your brand should be relevant to the market that you're targeting
- Determine Your Intended Audience
Your business has a target audience, and you need to identify it to create a marketing strategy that's relevant to them. The first step in this process is determining your intended audience's demographics and psychographics.
Demographics are the basic facts about your target audience, including their age, sex, race, economic status, and educational background. Psychographics are the unique factors that make each different in your target audience. These factors can include values, beliefs, and attitudes.
Once you have a good understanding of your target audience, you can start developing marketing strategies that are specifically designed for them. You'll also need to create an advertising campaign that targets their interests, wants fears, and concerns.
- Identify Your Competition
Before you can start branding your small business, you need to identify your competition. This means understanding what they're doing well to succeed.
Once you have a good idea of your competition, it's time to start creating a brand that stands out from the rest. This will require a strong marketing and branding plan to help you reach your target audience. You'll also need to make sure that your product or service is top-notch and offers value that is unique to you.
- Make Sure Your Brand Has a Distinct Tone
To stand out, you must ensure your brand has a distinct tone. It's not enough to be unique; you must be relatable. Your business needs to be in tune with who you are as an entrepreneur.
If you have a logo, it should be the first thing people see when they visit your website. It's essential to make sure that it's consistent with the rest of your branding. If you're looking for a particular look, ensure your logo reflects that.
- Figure Out Your Color Scheme
You need to figure out your color scheme to ensure your branding is effective and helps you stand out from the competition. This will determine everything from the colors you use on your website and your marketing materials.
There are a few ways to figure out what color scheme works best for your business:
- Find complementary colors
- Ask a designer for help choosing colors that will work well together.
- Use a tool to test different colors against one another and see which ones generate the most traffic or leads.
- Create Profiles of Your Ideal Clientele
Creating profiles of your ideal clientele is one of the most critical steps of the branding checklist in your small business. With it, you'll be able to create a truly unique and memorable brand.
Your ideal clientele is made up of people who have the same or similar values as your business. They're also interested in what you offer and willing to pay a premium. To find out who these people are, you first need to understand what they want.
- Design a Logo
Source: Unsplash
The logo is the first and most crucial aspect of your branding. It's the visual representation of your business and should be designed to reflect your theme and values. It should be simple, elegant, and reflective of your company's values and mission. When designing a logo, you should:
- Make sure it's legible in all sizes.
- Keep it simple and contemporary.
- Use typography that suits your branding goals.
- Consider using color to add emphasis or create a sense of vibrancy.
- Choose a font that is easy to read and sophisticated enough to project an image of authority and prestige.
- Always test your logo against different backgrounds and colors to ensure it looks its best on every media type.
- Have a Mood Board
A mood board is a collection of images, text, and other digital or physical items representing your brand's feelings, style, and overall look. To create a mood board for your small business, you must first consider what type of branding you want. This can be anything from a logo to an entire website design.
Once this is figured out, collect images representing your brand's feelings and style. You can also use text to describe these feelings in words. You can create your mood board from magazine clippings to pictures from Pinterest or Instagram.
- Create a Content Strategy
Creating a content strategy is one of the essential steps to branding a successful small business. You must know what your target audience wants and how to reach them.
Content strategy starts with understanding who your audience is and what they're interested in. Once you have this information, you must create content that addresses their needs and interests. You should also use social media to reach out to your target audience.
A good content strategy will also allow you to monitor your performance and make necessary adjustments. By setting clear goals and objectives, you'll be able to measure the success of your efforts and stay on track toward achieving your ultimate goal.
Conclusion
The main idea behind this branding checklist is that it will save your business from all the pitfalls of poor branding. If you follow the suggestions above, you are sure to turn your business into a significant player. As part of your branding strategy, ensure that your brand personality is positive and inspiring.
You don't want people to feel pessimistic about their lives when they look at your marketing materials. This list will also help you identify the critical elements of your competitors' brands. Once you have this information, creating a unique and memorable brand that stands out from the crowd will be much easier.
How To Make Your eCommerce Website More Attractive
Did you know that 94% of online shoppers’ first impression of an eCommerce brand is related to design?
And we all know first impressions play a significant role in a shopper’s buying decision.
An estimated 12–24 million online shops currently operate worldwide, and this figure is rising rapidly. A staggering number of 119.9 billion visits to online stores occurred in 2021, and by this year, it is anticipated that sales made via eCommerce will have reached 5.5 trillion!
If you are planning to start an online store, these numbers must look pretty enticing, right?
However, not even a million of those eCommerce stores can earn more than a thousand dollars a year. In a market saturated with seemingly identical products, cutthroat competition, and empty promises, launching a new online store is no easy task.
It requires meticulous planning, great design and content, creative marketing ideas, and a sustainable implementation strategy to make a store successful.
And suppose your eCommerce website/product pages fail to grab the attention of your target audience. In that case, all your hard work coming up with new ideas, developing cutting-edge concepts, and effective marketing strategies will be for naught.
Therefore, it is imperative to make eCommerce website more attractive. In this article, we will discuss why you need to make an attractive eCommerce website and find out ways to make your website attractive.
Let’s get started.
Why do you need to make attractive eCommerce websites?
Let’s quickly check some stats to find out why you need to make an attractive eCommerce website.
- More than half (59%) of online users would rather spend their time on aesthetically pleasing websites than those with a less polished design.
- Design accounts for 94% of users' initial perceptions of a website.
- The design of a website is cited by approximately half of all internet users as an important consideration when making a judgment about a company's product or service.
- Web design is the top reason for low conversion rates.
- 38% of people will leave your eCommerce website if they find the layout unattractive.
Therefore, you must emphasize your eCommerce store design if you want to grab the attention of your customers, earn their trust and increase conversions.
Now let’s find out the ways to make your website attractive.
How to make eCommerce website more attractive
Here are some tips to make your website attractive.
High-quality images
75% of online shoppers rely on product images when making purchasing decisions. Nobody is going to buy something they haven't seen first. High-quality images of your products are crucial if you want to convince customers to make a purchase.
Investing in professional product photography and providing photos of the product from a variety of angles can do wonders for gaining your customers' trust. Customers are more likely to buy when they have faith in the legitimacy of the product.
Your conversion rate will suffer if customers can't see the product they want to buy on your site or if the image quality is poor. It is in your best interest to stock your e-commerce website with a large number of high-quality images of the products you are offering for sale.
Keep it simple
In a survey, 84% of web designers cited cluttered web design as the most typical error made by local businesses.
It's best to keep things as simple as possible when designing an online store site. Websites that stick to a minimalist design are universally praised for their superior aesthetics and credibility.
When you add more elements to a page, such as colors, banner ads, and pop-up windows, it becomes increasingly difficult to accomplish the primary goal of the website, which is to make a sale.
When designing an online store, you don't need a lot of extra features that visitors might get distracted by. Don't clutter up the design with unnecessary elements; instead, put all of your emphasis on closing the deal.
In simple words, in order to maximize sales, the design of your e-commerce website should be simplified.
Think like a website visitor
The quality of the user experience plays a pivotal role in influencing first-time visitors to become paying customers.
You need to put yourself in your customers' shoes if you want your eCommerce website design to resonate with them. When you put yourself in the shoes of the customer, you will be able to anticipate what it is that they want from your online retail store and then design your website to cater to those desires.
Don't know whether your website provides a good user experience or not?
You should get a second opinion by asking a friend for help or even hiring someone to check the user-friendliness of your website. Ask them to rate your website on how easily it can be used, how easy it is to navigate, how appealing it looks, and how satisfied it makes them feel overall.
Use the right colors
There is more to selecting the color scheme for your eCommerce website than simply picking out your favorite color and basing the design of your site on that color. The meaning behind your brand, as well as the type of customer you intend to attract, should guide the selection of both the color palette and the background colors.
Color is an extremely powerful tool, and if you are able to gain an understanding of the psychology that underpins color, you will be able to use that knowledge to your advantage and, in the process, drive significant sales.
For example, the color blue increases the feeling of trust, and red inspires the feeling of excitement and passion. On the other hand, the black shades represent luxury and elegance.
Easy navigation
Clumsy product pages are the fastest way to lose a customer. Your customers will quickly leave your website for a competitor's if they have to navigate through ten different menus before they find the product they're looking for.
Create simple navigation structures for your product sub-categories and individual product pages. Make it simple for customers to find what they're looking for and to refine their results by selecting specific criteria like color, size, and product type.
Store visitors are more likely to make a purchase if they can quickly and easily locate the products they need within your categorical framework.
Make your content scannable
Source: Wix
According to studies, most people only read about 20% of the text on a webpage. Therefore, make your content easy to scan so that you can get your point across and increase conversions even if readers don't read every word.
If you want your content to be read, whether it's a product description, a blog post, or an "about us" page, you should make it scannable, which means breaking up your content into sections. Keep your sentences and paragraphs brief, emphasize necessary details by bolding them, and break up long text passages with bulleted lists.
Content that is easy to scan increases the likelihood that your audience will absorb your key messaging, which in turn increases the likelihood that you will make a sale.
Mobile responsive design
- 62% of smartphone owners have made a purchase online directly from their handset in the past 6 months.
- Customers are 67% more likely to make a purchase on a mobile-friendly website.
- 50% of smartphone users prefer to use a company's or brand's mobile site over downloading an app when they shop or browse on a mobile device.
Therefore, you must have a responsive eCommerce website that is accessible through any type of device and any screen size. To put it simply, all devices, from desktops and laptops to tablets and smartphones, must be able to properly display your website.
Include social proof/reviews/testimonial
According to research, 73% of online shoppers check reviews before making a purchase.
Make sure that the positive feedback you've received from your current customers is displayed prominently on your e-commerce site. You should add a star rating system so customers can rate their purchases, and you can collect as many 5-star reviews as you can.
Put in a section for customer reviews, where they can upload photos and leave comments about their positive experiences. Involve your customers by having them write positive product reviews that you can post on your blog.
Reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers can go a long way toward building trust with new customers and encouraging them to make a purchase on your site.
Add product videos
- 80% of business owners say that using video helped boost sales.
- Nearly nine in ten consumers (86%) say that brand videos have influenced their purchasing behavior.
- A majority of buyers (66%) say they favor watching a video rather than reading text when researching a purchase.
Including a video in your product listings is a great way to show off your merchandise, explain how it works, and promote your business. It boosts visibility, motivates sales, and enriches the user experience.
Easy checkout process
- 70% of shoppers agree that if the checkout process is quick, they are more likely to make a purchase.
- When customers encounter difficulties during the checkout process, 17% of them give up and abandon their purchases.
Customers will leave if the purchasing process is cumbersome. Making a purchase from you should be as easy, quick, and stress-free as possible if you want to attract customers.
Keep the design of your checkout page uncluttered, basic, and straightforward. Customers should be able to choose between registering with your site and checking out as guests.
Clarify everything from the information you need to process the purchase and where they need to enter it. Clearly state the shipping options available, how much they cost, and the steps to take if there is a problem with their order or if they need to return.
After a customer makes a purchase, they should be taken to a confirmation page.
If you have a WooCommerce store, you can quickly create a direct checkout link for your customers to jump directly to the checkout page. This will make your customer’s buying experience with your store smother and satisfactory.
Product recommendations/Displaying related products
The "related products" are the suggested purchases that show up near where the shopper is right now. When a customer visits one of your product pages, they will see a list of related or suggested products.
The related products section is a great place to highlight related products, whether they are upsell, cross-sells, new arrivals, hot sellers, or clearance items.
You can increase sales and click-through rates by including product recommendations on eCommerce pages. The products you suggest to your clients, however, must be suitable to their requirements and make sense in light of their buying habits.
Proper execution of this strategy can strengthen your bonds with customers, increase your AOV, and keep site visitors engaged for longer.
Consistent branding
While it's important to follow best practices for eCommerce website design to increase traffic and sales, you also need your site to stand out from the crowd. Consistency in branding across your entire site will help it stand out.
Consistent use of brand colors and fonts across your site is essential. No one likes to open a web page and then be confused as to whether they have been redirected to the same or a different website.
If you keep your site's menu and color scheme uniform, you come across as reliable and professional.
Wrap up
In order to attract more qualified leads and actual paying customers, having a website that is both attractive and easy to use is essential. Therefore, designing a website that looks professional and is fully responsive is a must. Failure to do so will reflect poorly on your website and, by extension, your brand.
Even if you promote your products primarily on price comparison engines, your customers will still land on your product pages when they decide to buy from you. So, you need to design your eCommerce website following our tips to make your website more attractive.
And when you have a professional website with appealing product pages, you can confidently list and promote your products in different marketplaces and price comparison sites from your WooCommerce admin panel with the help of this plugin.
Let us know in the comments if you have any questions or suggestions on the topic.
FAQ
What every eCommerce website should have?
The following are the top essential things every eCommerce website must have,
- User-friendly and aesthetic design
- Mobile responsiveness
- Easy to navigate
- Easy checkout process
- User reviews and ratings
- Personalization
- Helpful product information
- High-quality images
- Transparent terms and return policy
What makes a website bad?
These are the things the bad websites have in common,
- Cluttered layout
- Complex navigation
- Lack of color contrast
- Non-responsive design
- Inconsistent typefaces
- Complex product pages
- Low-resolution images
- Outdated design
6 Tips For Building A Livestreaming Brand
Introduction
One of the fastest expanding industries in the world is live streaming. With new platforms like Facebook Live, YouTube, and Periscope, anyone can go viral with a single video or livestream. However, building a successful live streaming brand takes more than just being on camera. There are many different factors to consider as you grow your channel—from audience engagement strategies to community building techniques that will help you cultivate loyal viewers.
In this post, we'll cover 6 tips for building a live streaming brand that will help you grow your audience and get more views on your videos!
Set up a consistent schedule.
When you're first starting out, it's important to set up a regular schedule. This will help your viewers know when they can expect you to be there and what times are off limits for streaming.
In the beginning, your schedule may be very flexible because you aren't sure how many followers or viewers you'll get. I recommend setting up a stream that happens at least once a week (ideally twice), preferably on the same day(s) every week until you have enough consistent viewership to justify changing things up. If you're lucky enough to have an audience that's loyal and excited about watching new content from your channel every day, then go ahead and do it! But make sure that taking breaks is part of the plan—even if no one else is watching, it's important not just for yourself but also for those who care about seeing live events as they happen so they can stay engaged in the process of building a community around their favorite activities.
Create your own content.
If you want to build a successful brand on Twitch, then creating your own content is the first step. Making and following a timetable is the most effective approach to accomplish this. Make sure that the content you create is relevant to your audience and consistent with what they expect from you.
Your viewers will become invested in your stream if they can trust that they can tune in at any time and see new content being produced regularly by one person. By doing this, you will build up trust among your viewers for both yourself and the brand that represents yourself as a streamer.
To ensure that the quality of your streams remains high, we recommend blocking out several hours each week where no work is allowed to interfere with what needs to be done (streaming) and when it needs to be done.
Ensure you are using the right streaming gear and settings.
Before you start streaming, make sure you have the right streaming gear and settings. You need a microphone, webcam, capture card, gaming PC (or laptop), streaming software, and an Internet connection that can handle high bandwidth. The best way to get a feel for what kind of quality stream your equipment produces is to test it out before going live. If something doesn't work or isn't working the way you'd like it to be—whether it's your computer, microphone, or connection—you'll want time to figure out how to fix it before you hit "Go Live."
Engage with your viewers.
When you’re live, engage with your viewers! This is the one time that you can actually talk to them. Ask them for feedback about what they liked and didn’t like about your last video, ask for their opinions, ask what they would want to see from you next. The more interaction there is between you and your audience the better chance of building an audience that will stick around and help grow your brand!
The goal here is to get as many people as possible watching your streams so that they build up a following of loyal fans who will be excited when new content comes out. If it means engaging in conversation with some viewers, then go right ahead!
Support Others in the Livestreaming Community
The live streaming community is one that should be supported. By supporting other streamers, you’re helping them grow their brand and audience. You can also learn from their experiences and mistakes, which will help you avoid making those mistakes yourself.
Supporting other streamers has many benefits:
- It helps build your own brand. When someone is watching another streamer, they may discover your channel through their broadcasts or social media profiles. This could lead to a new viewer for you!
- You might get tips on how to improve your content and strategy from more experienced broadcasters in the space—helping you grow as an individual creator online rather than just focusing on increasing views and subscribers.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to grow your live streaming brand, there are a few things you need to know. First and foremost, you can’t just sit back and expect people to fall in love with what you do. The greatest thing about live streaming is that it takes work and dedication to succeed. That means setting aside time each day or week to create content, interacting with fans on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook (which we recommend using), and even interacting with other YouTubers in your field by directly messaging them on Instagram or reaching out via email if necessary!
The 7 Must-read Books About Logo Design
A well-designed logo is essential for any business. It is instantly recognizable, communicates your brand values, and inspires trust and confidence in your customers. For creating an eye-pleasing and memorable logo you need to learn about which business has what kind of logo and how to design it.
If you're looking to create a logo that will help your business succeed, you need to learn about the principles of effective logo design.
In this article, we are going to discuss 7 books that will teach you everything you need to know about creating an effective logo that represents your brand perfectly.
7 Must-read Books About Logo Design
Although there are several books published by the world’s famous designers, here we have discussed some of the most popular books about logo design you should read if you want to be a logo designer above average level
1. The Logo Design Book by Dan Brown
David Airey's Logo Design Love is a comprehensive guide to creating strong logos. Airey begins by discussing the difference between good and bad logo design, and he provides examples of each. He then goes into detail about the various elements that make up a logo, such as color, typography, and iconography.
He also offers advice on how to create a unique and memorable logo that will stand out from the crowd. The book is well-written and easy to understand, making it a valuable resource for any designer seeking to improve their logo design skills.
2. Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler
Alina Wheeler’s book Designing Brand Identity is an essential guide for anyone looking to create a strong and memorable brand. Wheeler walks readers through the process of developing a brand identity, from researching competitors to creating a unique logo. She also includes helpful tips on how to keep the brand consistent across different media. With its clear and concise instructions, Designing Brand Identity is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in building a successful brand.
3. Identity Designed by David Airey
David Airey is a freelance graphic designer who specializes in brand identity design. His clients have included major international brands such as Coca-Cola, Sony, and Starbucks. Airey's work has been featured in numerous publications, and he is also the author of the best-selling book "Logo Design Love."
In addition to his design work, Airey is also a passionate advocate for freedom of expression and creativity. He has written extensively on the importance of intellectual property rights, and he frequently speaks on the topic at conferences and events. Airey's commitment to defending the rights of creators makes him an invaluable asset to the design community.
4. Logo Modernism by Jens Muller
If you're a fan of modernist graphic design, then you'll definitely want to check out Logo Modernism by Jens Muller. This massive book collects over 6,000 logos from the late 19th century to the present day, providing a fascinating overview of the evolution of this type of design.
The book is arranged chronologically, so you can see how logo design has changed over time. But what's really impressive is the sheer scope of the book - there are logos from all over the world, from major global brands to small local businesses. Whether you're a design aficionado or just curious about how logos have evolved, Logo Modernism is well worth checking out.
5. Los Logos 8 by Gestalten
Los Logos 8 by Gestalten is a beautifully-designed book that showcases the work of some of the world's best logo designers. Whether you're a professional designer looking for inspiration or simply someone who appreciates good design, this book is sure to impress.
The book features over 1,000 logos, organized into eight different chapters. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of logo design, such as color, typography, and symbolism. With so many logos to choose from, you're sure to find some that you absolutely love. And if you're not a designer yourself, don't worry - the book also includes insightful interviews with some of the featured designers, so you can learn about their process and what goes into creating a truly great logo. If you're looking for a gift for someone who loves design, or if you just want to treat yourself to something special, Los Logos 8 by Gestalten is a perfect choice.
6. Marks of Excellence by Per Mollerup
In his book the marks of excellence, Per Mollerup argues that the design of logos and other trademarks is an important part of corporate identity. He provides examples of how the shape, color, and font of a logo can convey different messages about a company. For instance, a company that uses a circular logo may be seen as friendly and approachable, while a company with a sharp-edged logo may be perceived as cutting-edge and innovative.
In addition to shaping public perception, Mollerup believes that logos can also influence the behavior of employees. He cites research showing that people working for companies with strong branding are more likely to report higher levels of satisfaction and commitment. Ultimately, Mollerup makes a compelling case for the importance of good design in creating and maintaining a successful business.
7. Square, Circle, Triangle by Bruno Munari
In his book, Square, Circle, Triangle, Bruno Munari challenges readers to see the world in new ways. Through a series of playful exercises, he encourages us to look at everyday objects from different perspectives and to find hidden geometry in the world around us. The book is filled with Munari's characteristic wit and humor, making it a delight to read as well as a valuable resource for anyone interested in design.
Whether you're a seasoned designer or just starting out, Square, Circle, Triangle is sure to inspire you to see the world in new and creative ways.
Conclusion
Now you know about the world’s famous books about logo design written by world-class logo designers and authors. These books will help you a lot in becoming a perfect logo designer as the authors have talked about useful tips and tricks as well as the basic fundamentals of designing a perfect logo. Nevertheless, if you want to hire a logo designer, you may go to the internet, and search for any logo design company by typing there “logo design Singapore” or any region in which you want this service.
Author Bio:
Norrick is an experienced writer who has written for a variety of publications. He is currently writing for a gaming website pokemon scarlet and violet release date where he reviews a different kind of game. His articles are well-researched and interesting, a great mix of fact and fiction. He particularly enjoys writing about the newest titles as well as older ones.
Top Tips for Creating an Effective Advertisement
In order to have the means to create a good advertisement, you must first recognise what makes one successful in the first place. An effective advertisement will have a clear and concise message that will be communicated to your audience. It will take full advantage of eye-catching designs or styles that appeal to the target demographic of the business. Additionally, injecting originality into your advertisement will prevent it from getting lost in the crowd of similar brands.
Editable Templates
If you are just starting out creating your own advertisements, or been doing them for years, using editable templates will take away the stress of conjuring up a brand-new design by providing professional looking templates that you can insert your content onto. Facebook ads maker with Adobe Express, for example, allows you to create advertisements through features such as animation and photo editing services, with little to no cost. You can also turn your project into a shared template, meaning that staff across your business can use your template to insert their own creative spin on it.
Explore All Types of Advertisements
Although a lot of advertisements are on social media platforms online now, due to our digital world, there are still a lot of advertisements that take other forms. This can be radio, television, or printed adverts (in magazines and newspapers). Different demographics are more likely to consume different formats of advertising, so think carefully about what platform your target audience is expected to see and adjust your marketing style accordingly.
Know Your Audience
As previously mentioned, factors such as age and gender determine how people will see your advertisements. Luckily, there are many tools you can use to quantify who exactly your audience is, including Google Analytics data and surveys, so from that you can thoroughly research what specific trends appeal to your audience. You can also check your social media statistics to see engagement figures, which can show you the top interests and most interacted with posts. This is helpful in letting you know what kind of content is best received.
Consider the Balance Between Visual and Text
We are living in an incredibly fast-paced world. This means that huge chunks of text just doesn’t quite cut it anymore, in terms of popular and accessible advertising. Even biologically speaking, 90% of information sent to our brain is visual. If you want potential customers to genuinely retain your advertisement, giving them a visual to remember it by is the best way to do it.
Keep the Flow Across All Your Marketing
So, you’ve implemented all our advice. What next? Well, making one successful advertisement can soon get lost in a sea of less successful attempts from your company. If you want to keep continuous business growth, ensure that you keep on learning the trends of the times and reflect on other successful brand advertisements, to see how you can take them to the next level. It is an ongoing learning process, and to have successful consistency you must learn the secrets of the trade as a foundation for your creativity to then rise from.
Real Estate Branding: 5 Ways To Build Your Brand
All successful businesses, big and small, have developed brands that know and recognize. The same is true for real estate businesses. Creating a brand takes time and building it requires careful consideration and thought. Branding is complex and it can’t be done at once. To brand your real estate business successfully, you should follow certain segments of branding. It’s essential to do it right as your brand will be what defines your business from its start all the way through years of existence. It is not something we change. It is an idea, a vision that encourages us to start a business in the first place. To learn more about branding your real estate business, keep reading.
First things first, you need to make a clear and plausible branding plan, covering all aspects of branding. And there are quite a few. Then, you should analyze your competition - it’s an important part of your branding. You should clearly outline your mission, vision and values. Additionally, designing a memorable logo and an unforgettable slogan is a crucial step in building your brand. Finally, designing a website and promoting it would be one of the last steps when it comes to branding.
- Start with a branding plan
To build a powerful brand, you should start with creating a plausible branding plan. No effective brand is created overnight, remember that. If you want your brand to be strong and trustworthy, you can’t tackle all aspects of branding at once. Branding encompasses many different elements. Building a brand implies considering the very foundations of your brand as well as creating an ideal client profile. You also need to take into account the area where you are located. When you have these foundational elements figured out, you can focus on building actual branding elements.
- Analyze your competition
Analyzing your competition should be among the top things in your branding plan. You must know what your competition is offering to see how you stack up. You should have a clear idea of why a buyer or a seller should choose you over your competition. For example, if your real estate business is located in Sydney, Australia, you should analyze all the real estate businesses in Sydney to get a general idea.
Then, you can narrow down your analysis to a specific part of Sydney, such as the Inner West and see how your competition ranks. If there are businesses that offer buying, selling and renting services, perhaps you can offer property management services. There are certain handy tools you can use to see whether people look for or need property management services in Burwood, or in some other parts of Inner West Sydney. Ultimately, your services should match the people’s needs.
- Clearly outline your mission, vision and values
This step is the very core of your real estate business. Your mission, mission and values are what define your business and brand. By defining these statements, you actually define how you serve the market and clients. The values you want to promote should be personal to you, but of importance to clients. Think about what prompted you to start your real estate business in the first place - this should be your value. Your key value could be honesty or family. These values benefit a specific kind of prospective client. Clients you share your values with will more likely opt for you rather than some other real estate business. What’s unacceptable is having no underlying values, a mission and a vision, as there are the things that fortify your brand and lead to success.
- Design a memorable logo and an unforgettable slogan
Even though your logo and a slogan might seem like small parts of your branding, they are in fact crucial. Your logo and slogan will be displayed everywhere: on your business cards, in emails, in ads, and on your website. It’s essential to create a professional logo that will aid your brand recognition over time. Your logo can be based on your values, personal ideas, target audience or your personality. Slogans, on the other hand, are also crucial when it comes to being remembered. The most effective slogans create an emotional connection with prospective buyers and sellers. Their aim is to clearly outline your unique offerings and qualities.
- Create a website and promote it
Finally, when you have all the previous steps covered, you can move to creating a website and incorporating all the details that you have previously laid out. Your website should be suitable for a real estate business and offer all the information your customers need. It should be user-friendly, easy to navigate and highly responsive. Moreover, you should hire a plausible digital marketing agency that will create your marketing strategy to attract customers.
You mustn’t forget about implementing certain handy apps that will protect your data and confidential information you have about your clients, their personal data including their finances. When contacting new customers, it’s perhaps best to use one of the spoof calling apps you can find online to protect your business from a potential data breach.
These are just some of the most basic and key aspects of branding - there are other, additional ones. Find all about them and then start drafting your branding plan.
6 Tips for Effective Online Reputation Management [updated 2022]
What’s the first thing you do when you hear about a new brand? For most of us, the answer would be: make a Google search. So, whatever appears on Google, especially on its first page matters. In most of the cases, people don’t even bother to go beyond the first page. No wonder, a majority of the businesses consider Google as the new business card. So, it is crucial that the online world projects your brand in a mostly positive light. In words of the British-American businessman Chris Anderson,
“Your brand isn’t what you say it is, it’s what Google says it is.”
While a majority of prominent brands avail online reputation management services to remould their image, not every business has the budget to do so. Even if you are a small brand, you can work proactively to shape your online reputation without requiring to choose an online reputation management service provider.
Here are some steps through which you can proactively manage your online reputation:
1) Assess your Overall Reputation
Before anything else, the first step would be to gauge your overall brand reputation. You need to find out what others are saying about you-your customers, prospects, business partners and other stakeholders. You can begin by conducting a simple Google search in your name and see what appears in the results. Alternately, you can collect their feedback through online and offline channels. Your current reputation will provide you with a base to work on.
2) Secure your Brand Name
What would happen if someone makes a Google search in your name and some other brand’s social profile or website appears in the top results? Your prospects won’t be able to connect with you.
It is, therefore, vital that you secure your brand name and own a domain name that corresponds to your brand. For instance, if your brand name is XYZ, you need to own the domain name ‘xyz.com’.
Besides the ubiquitous ‘.com’, you should target TLDs such as ‘.net’ and ‘.info’ that are increasingly getting popular. And if your budget permits, you can also acquire regional TLDs (such as .in (India) or .us (USA)) for the regions you are currently targeting.
In addition to purchasing a domain name, list your brand in local and industry business directories. You need to choose directories relevant to your business and make sure your information is listed accurately. Consistency in NAP (name, address and phone number) helps you rank better in local Google searches. Besides, most of these directories feature customer reviews. So, you get to know what others are saying about you and respond accordingly.
3) Build a Presence on Social Media
Considering the time people spend on social media, it is imperative that you build a presence on all major social media platforms. Social platforms are quite effective in online reputation management. As a matter of fact, around 74% of the users rely on social media to guide their purchases. So, be sure to create a profile on all popular social channels, be it Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn or Pinterest.
Maintain consistency across all your social profiles-using a similar layout, color scheme and logos is vital. Also, be consistent with respect to the content you publish on these channels. Make sure you churn out unique, valuable and compelling posts on a regular basis. You can post informative how-to guides, success stories of your brand and motivational quotes to keep users engaged. And don’t forget to add human touch to your posts. It will enhance the appeal of your brand while presenting you as a credible entity.
4) Monitor your Online Mentions
In this age of digital media, any news, positive or negative spreads like wildfire. Any negative mention of your brand can escalate into negative word-of-mouth in both the online as well as the offline space. So, keeping track of your online mentions is imperative.
The very first thing you need to do is to create Google alerts for all the relevant keywords: your brand name, your major product/services, popular industry phrases and key rivals. Google will notify you of your mentions through email, you can choose how frequently you want to receive these emails.
Besides, you can use social media monitoring tools to track your online mentions. Tools such as Hootsuite and Sprout Social help you track activity across multiple platforms and let you view all your mentions in one place. With such tools, the need to avail online reputation management services from an outside party is eliminated.
Read: 15 Social Media Monitoring Tools for 2019
5) Manage your Reviews
What’s the first thing you do when you plan to purchase a product online? Check its online reviews, don’t you?
Online reviews are a major factor affecting your purchasing decision. In fact, around 85% of the consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. So, it’s vital that you keep a track of what kind of reviews people leave online. Let’s have a look at some major review sites:
Google My Business: Google My Business is a highly-trusted source for online reviews and a must-have for all local businesses. For local search results, Google pulls a lot of data from Google My Business.
Amazon: If you are a product-based company and have your products listed on Amazon, it’s quite likely that users will check its reviews on Amazon even if they purchase it from somewhere else. Majority of the products on Amazon have enough reviews to consider it a credible source.
Trip Advisor: Trip Advisor is used by travelers that look for places to stay or activities to do in a particular location. People can look for reviews on hotels and restaurants. If you are into travel and tourism business, this is one place you must register a presence on.
Yellow Pages: Yellow pages is among the largest business directories across the world. Here, users can find a lot of information pertaining to local businesses such as their address, contact numbers, business timings in addition to reviews. By listing your business here, you can gain reviews and create a favorable impression among prospects.
Needless to say, this isn’t a comprehensive list. So, you must check out the niche review sites related to your industry.
Read: 26 Customer Review Sites for Collecting Business & Product Reviews
Encourage customers to leave positive reviews
If you deliver satisfactory service, you would like your customers to share them online. Most of the customers don’t review a product/service on their own, so you have to ask them to share feedback through email, phone or simply on the ‘Review Us’ section of your website. If your budget allows, you can offer them an incentive in the form of a gift, coupon or discount that entices them to share the review. For more details on how to actually achieve this the folk over at Dragon Digital have put together a guide Get More 5 Star Customer Reviews by Boosting Your Customer Experience.
Manage negative reviews tactfully
Customers appreciate when they realize someone is there to hear their voice. So, if you don’t pay attention to negative reviews, you may create an unfavorable impression on your customers. It’s important to remember that each review site has their own set of rules when it comes to comment moderation, so make sure you go through terms and conditions before you start managing reviews.
The first thing you need to do is to acknowledge that you have made a mistake and apologize. Accept responsibility for your actions and work together towards a solution. Even if you find it isn’t your fault, keep calm. Don’t shift the blame on someone else.
Handle the situation with tact: talk to your customers respectfully and try to explain things in an easy-to-understand manner. Thank the reviewer for their feedback and make a promise to offer a better service next time. And most importantly, learn from your mistakes. Fix the issue that caused the bad review in the first place and ensure that it doesn’t happen again.
6) Manage Google Search Results for your Brand
When someone makes a Google search for your brand, ideally your website along with your site links should be the very first result. Site links offer shortcuts to different areas of your website making it easy for the user to navigate through the most popular sections of your site.
To achieve this, you need to have an SEO-optimized website with proper site architecture. A well-optimized architecture will have all the webpages linked to each other. You can use Google Search Console to find out if your website gets indexed on Google.
Create SEO-optimized webpages and blogs to draw traffic to your site. To begin with, carry out keyword research to find out what terms people type on Google when they search for your brand. Tools such as SEM Rush, Ahrefs and Google Keyword Planner are immensely helpful in this regard. You can search for any keyword you intend to target.
Choose keywords that have a moderate amount of searches and relatively low competition and then create a quality blog post related to it. Your content should have proper headings and subheadings and should be easy to read. Monitor the performance of your website including your visits, click-through rate and bounce rate using Google Analytics.
Read: The Google Analytics 4 Tutorial for Beginners
Key Takeaways
Your online reputation is important for several reasons: a positive online image bolsters your revenue, drives more visitors to your site and builds trust with your customers. It’s therefore essential that you make an assessment of your current reputation, secure a domain name in your brand, establish a presence on all major social platforms, publish content on these regularly and track your online mentions through Google alerts and social media monitoring tools.
Create a page on all major review sites and monitor your positive and negative reviews. Build an SEO-optimized site with proper architecture. Keep a track of keywords related to your industry and post premium-quality blogs on your site regularly.
6 Crucial Places to Add Customer Testimonials for Better Conversions (+Examples)
Social proof is an excellent way to improve conversion rates on your website, whether you’re running an ecommerce company or offering a variety of services to clients. Testimonials from past customers can often be the most effective, provided that you use them correctly and place them on all the right pages.
Let’s take a look at six crucial places to add customer testimonials and how they will impact your conversion rates.
Your Homepage
Perhaps the most obvious spot to add customer testimonials is your homepage. Your homepage is often the first point of contact leads have with your brand, so it should inspire them to keep clicking and keep researching your offer.
Don’t put your testimonials too front-and-center unless you’re showcasing dozens of different choices. For example, PrepCenter needs the number of testimonials they have because they each refer to a different prep center.
Source: prepcenter.com
On the other hand, the WooCommerce homepage features only two testimonials. This is enough for visitors to understand what types of customers they work with and what they can expect from the service.
Individual Service Pages
Your service pages can also significantly benefit from customer testimonials. When adding testimonials here, make sure that they speak specifically about each offer.
Don’t add overly general testimonials to service pages. Ask customers how that specific service has helped them achieve a certain goal or why they would recommend it to others. You don’t have to focus on keyword stuffing — make sure the testimonial is natural and that it comes from genuine experience.
This Hootsuite page is a good example. It features one testimonial that explains why social customer care was important for the brand and how Hootsuite has helped them promote it.
Product Category Pages
Product pages are naturally the first place you’d think to put customer reviews and testimonials. But what about your product category pages?
They will be seen just as often, as customers try to decide which category of product they need. Plus, they’re a really valuable asset, so you don’t want to miss the opportunity to add testimonials to them.
Take a look at the Kuru Footwear orthopedic shoes page. It explains the craftsmanship behind the product in this category and talks more deeply about the benefits of wearing this type of shoe. Adding all of this information to an individual product page would have been quite overwhelming.
Source: kurufootwear.com
The testimonials at the bottom serve to highlight the key points and testify to the benefits of investing in this product. This adds further value to the entire narrative.
Testimonials Page
Creating a dedicated testimonials page can also help you improve your conversion rates. True, not all of your leads will venture there — but those who will can be swayed effectively. Even the mere existence of this page, which browsers will notice in your menu or footer, can speak volumes.
Campaign Monitor has a good example you can take a look at, as does Basecamp. Each has chosen to organize theirs differently, but the principle is the same: highlight the main pain points of your user base and show how your solutions have helped customers overcome them.
Your Careers Page
A lot of prospective clients will check out your careers page before they decide to work with you. They will want to know what you are looking for and what kind of people they can expect to work with. A lot of them will also refuse to do business with brands they feel are not treating their staff kindly.
Thus, your careers page becomes another great place to add some testimonials as well — from your employees this time, and not your customers. The people who work for you can be your best and loudest ambassadors. If they love the brand, your customers will love it too. Check out Bizzabo and their careers page to see how you can achieve the same effect.
Source: bizzabo.com
The Signup Page
It may seem a bit counterintuitive, but you can also add a testimonial or two to your signup page. While it’s the last step of the conversion process, it can still add another reassuring touch to your overall online presence.
Customers are not likely to bail at this point; that’s true. But by using another example from a satisfied customer, you’ll get them even more excited about working with you. Many Pixels does this simply but effectively. Note that this should never be the only place you add testimonials to.
Source: manypixels.co
Wrapping Up
Customer testimonials can significantly increase your conversion rates — as long as you ensure they are honest and genuine and that they don’t sound like promotional messaging. Don’t write them yourself. Ask for feedback from your customers, and rather than just sticking it onto your website, make sure to also use it to improve your business.