‘Branding’ is defined as ‘the promotion of a particular product or company by means of advertising and distinctive design.’ What this really means is that you want as many people to recognize your company as possible. Branding doesn’t necessarily mean anything good or bad, as your reputation is something that comes from actions and not a name or a logo. However, the best way to ensure your branding is well remembered is to combine it with a great reputation.
There are so many ways to brand your company and to get your name out there. Here are a few ideas to kick off your branding.
Logos
You may have names your company on day one, but a logo is always a good accompaniment. If you think of any popular company, you will picture the logo too. Starbucks has the siren, Volkswagen has their VW sign, and Mcdonald’s had the golden arches. You can create a logo yourself, or you can hire a professional.
Business Cards
Wherever you go, you might meet a potential client, and you don’t want to miss an opportunity. You should always have a business card or two on you at all times. These are a great way to start passing your brand around. Try not to overload your business card with too much information, point them towards your website where they can find out all the great things about your company, rather than trying to stick it all on a palm-sized piece of card.
Office Stationery
A lot of people wonder what the point of having branded stationary inside the office is. You’re already in the building, so you obviously know the name of the company. Which is true but think about the free advertising you’ll get from your employees walking around with branded lanyards. You have to buy stationery for the office anyway, so why wouldn’t you take the opportunity to stick your logo on it all.
Packaging
If you sell a particular product rather than a service, then you will want to think about branding your packaging. You can look into bespoke stand-up pouch packaging for any smaller products, and unique boxes for anything larger. You need to make sure that your logo and name work on whichever packaging you choose, and make sure that your aesthetic comes across correctly.
Stickers
Stickers are a great way to spread your logo – you can include them in orders and give them out at events. Stickers are such a simple, yet versatile type of branding and they spread over so many industries; Apple stickers are everywhere, and Monster energy drink stickers are predominant throughout skater and biker groups.
Unique Products
Each industry has products and items that can be used to promote the company. Coffee stores could brand and sell tamps, beauticians might brand makeup brushes, and a tattoo studio might sell temporary logo tattoos. There are so many options to consider, and you can explore different ideas throughout your years with the company.