If you’d like to strengthen your brand and make it instantly recognizable so that it helps you generate more business, consider the following 3 tips:

We’re all familiar with certain brand names in our day-to-day lives. We all drink “Coke” or “Pepsi” rather than just “cola” or “soda.” We buy our clothes from the Gap or Express. Even when it comes to over-the-counter medication, we think in terms of “Advil” or “Motrin” rather than Ibuprofen.

At some point, it’s possible for a product to become so popular that people start using the brand name to refer to the product (such as “Kleenex” or “Xerox”), rather than the class of things the product actually falls under (facial tissue or photocopy). Here are some tips to help you do that:

A Catchy Name.

“Coke” was actually named after the drug that was being added to the product. Yes, Coke actually contained cocaine until 1903, when it was removed. Now, “Coke” just has a catchy sound, although probably not as much as “Gap” or “Express.” A catchy name is not a necessity for branding but it definitely helps. If Coco Chanel had been named Jean-Marie LeGrand instead, would the “Chanel” brand have the same degree of resonance today?

Conveying Passion.

Branding is about taking what you feel passionate about and being unafraid to show it to people. Sometimes, people feel a little self-conscious about showing passion for certain things. If the thing that you’re passionate about has nothing glamorous about it, you may think you don’t need to be passionate about it. But there are many everyday things that sell as well as they do because of the passion with which they are conveyed. Consider cornflakes or other cereals like Lucky Charms or Fruit Loops. These are just regular things that people use everyday but advertisements for these cereals still convey passion, when you see kids (or grown ups) being excited about eating their breakfast every morning.

Being Patient.

You can’t create a brand name overnight. Certain things do take off very quickly, if the idea behind them really appeals to people. But there’s no need to be upset if you don’t manage to do this right away. As Malcolm Gladwell points out in his book, Outliers, there’s a 10,000 hour rule i.e., people who spend 10,000 hours or more practicing their craft usually become great at it. Similarly, the more time you spend creating and developing your brand , the more likely it is that your efforts will bear fruit.

By focusing on these tips, you can help ensure that your branding takes your company in the direction you want. (Feel free to contact me to learn more about branding for your business.)

If you enjoyed this article, you may also want to check out these others:

4 Mobile Marketing Mistakes To Avoid
4 Common Social Media Mistakes and How To Avoid Them
4 Ways To Grow Your Business Using LinkedIn
How To Amp Up Your Visibility With Facebook
4 Ways Business Blogging Helps Build Trust In Your Business
Grow Your Business With Email Marketing
Combining Blogging and Social Media into a Truly Effective Strategy
5 Ways You Can Benefit By Using LinkedIn

This article is published by Will Sherwood | The Sherwood Group |Website Design | Graphic Design | Marketing Communications: The Sherwood Group has over 30 years of experience working with all sorts of companies, small and large. Our clients range from entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 firms, in nearly every business sector, from across the street to around the world (and yes, even Europe, China, and South America). Our goal is to create advertising,  graphic design, website design, and marketing communication that still looks fresh and relevant 10-15 years later. Our mission is to stir your imagination and leave your competition shaken and wondering,  Now what do we do?”  We are located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Do you need help growing your business? Click here to check out the social media marketing and website design packages from The Sherwood Group. We’ll help you capture new business and achieve your goals.

“Like” us and/or “Follow” us at these social media sites and we’ll return the favor:

LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter

Please comment. We’d like to know if you found this article informative or helpful?