Your brand is the impression you make. It’s an intangible collection of all the thoughts and emotions people feel when they interact with your business. And it’s always changing and evolving as your business grows.
Branding, on the other hand, is everything you do to make that impression. It involves everything from the tone of your emails to your logo and color scheme. It’s a huge collection of all the things you do and use in your business.
Is your branding helping you build the brand of your dreams? Is it helping you reach your goals? Here are three sure signs that it’s time to invest in your branding:
- Your business has evolved
If you think back to when you started your business, it’s pretty likely that very few things have stayed the same. That’s because our businesses evolve with us. We can start off feeling very sure of what we want to do and still change our minds years down the line. Life is full of learning and growing, and our businesses grow and evolve with us.
Even if you started off with branding that worked perfectly for your business, ask yourself if it still does what you need today. If your business has gone through major changes, your branding may not be attracting the right people or communicating your message anymore. If you have changed up your offerings, gone from solopreneur to dream team, expanded to new locations, feel passionate about a new audience, or have raised your prices, it’s definitely time to revisit your branding.
- You’ve outgrown your marketing materials
Do your palms start to sweat when someone asks you for a business card? Do you rattle off a long apologetic explanation before giving someone your web address? Most business owners start off with marketing materials they put together themselves. That awesome bootstrapping drive works really well when you’re trying to get your business off the ground on a tighter budget. But it’s a mistake to think the branding you DIY’d will work forever.
As your business grows and gains a reputation, you may start feeling like those marketing materials you put together aren’t giving the right impression anymore. You’ve grown a lot since those early days and aren’t in learning mode anymore. You have more to offer because you’ve gained experience and know what you’re doing. And your branding should reflect that! It should show that you’re an experienced and serious professional establishment, worth your clients’ time, trust, and money.
- You’re not attracting your ideal clients
Your business is not for everyone. You have a unique combination of skills, experience, and personality that make you the right choice for your specific tribe. There is a group of people out there looking for exactly what you have to offer. And doing things in a way that resonates with them can make all the difference for your business.
If you’re having a hard time connecting with your clients, feel frustrated because they’re not willing to pay what you’re worth, or can’t make sales even though your shop is getting traffic, it’s probably because you’re not attracting the right people. The ultimate goal of your branding should be to present your business in way that resonates with your tribe so that you’re reaching the people who are excited to buy into what you have to offer.
Your branding should help you reach your goals, not embarrass you and hold you back. It should communicate who you are and where you’re going. It should give a positive impression of your business. And it should attract the clients you’re passionate about working with.
If you don’t have the right tools to make the impression you need to make, it’s time to invest in your branding.