When Did Branding Start?
The practice of branding is thought to have begun with the ancient Egyptians, who were known to have engaged in livestock branding as early as 2,700 BCE. Branding was used to differentiate one person’s cattle from another’s by means of a distinctive symbol burned into the animal’s skin with a hot branding iron.
Over time the practice of branding objects extended to a broader range of packaging and goods offered for sale including oil, cosmetics, and fish sauce and, in the 21st century, extends even further into services (such as legal, financial, and medical), political parties and people. Branding in terms of painting a cow with symbols or colors at flea markets was considered to be one of the oldest forms of the practice.
What Is Branding?
A brand is simply your reputation in other people’s perception and branding is the process you develop to build this reputation So if you do branding correctly, you will put your business at the top, and if not, simply people will choose your alternatives.
“Your brand isn’t what you say it is. It’s what they say it is.”
— Marty NeumeierBranding Importance
Why Branding Is Important?
Branding not only makes a memorable impression on consumers but it allows your customers and clients to know what to expect from your company. Your brand is built to be a true representation of who you are as a business, and how you wish to be perceived.
Branding is the most critical aspect of your business because of the overall impact it makes on your company. Branding it’s what makes people choose you instead of others and pay you more for your services
“We’re living in a world of users have many alternatives so be the one they stick with.”
— Osama Sarsar
What Should a Brand Do For You?
Branding is not just about getting your target market to select you over the competition. It’s also about getting your prospects to see you as the sole provider of a solution to their problem or need. In its essence, branding is a problem-solver. A good brand will:
- Clearly deliver a message
- Confirm the brand’s credibility in the marketplace
- Emotionally connect target prospects with a product or service
- Motivate the buyer to make a purchase
- Create user loyalty
How Can Businesses Build a Strong Brand?
A strong brand is about feelings. First, you need to decide the feelings that you want to evoke from your customers. You need to be clear on your intended message and the mindset of your best customers.
You can build feelings in the way you treat your customers. You need to treat them in a manner that stands out from the competition. Southwest and WestJet airlines demonstrate this well.
How Branding Affects Your Business?
✓ Increases Business Value
✓ Generates New Customers
✓ Ensures customer’s loyalty
✓ Creates Trust Within The Marketplace
Some Branding Stats
#1
“On average, it takes 5 to 7 impressions for people to remember your brand.”
— Pam Moore
#2
“The top 4 qualities people use to describe why they are loyal to a brand are cost, quality, experience, and consistency.”
#3
“94% of customers are likely to show loyalty to a brand that offers complete transparency.”
— Label Insight
#4
“Color improves brand recognition by up to 80%.”
— Forbes
#5
“Presenting a brand consistently across all platforms can increase revenue by up to 23%”
— Forbes
#6
“Over 90% of people would consider leaving their job if offered a position in a company with an outstanding corporate reputation.”
— Everyone Social
