Developing a strong brand is an important part of creating a reputable and trustworthy business. But, along the line there are many mistakes that can easily be made which will affect your business’ reputation, and have the potential to make your business seem amateur. For many small businesses, the idea of branding can be foreign, but this does not mean it should be neglected.
Here are the 6 top mistakes you could be making that have the potential to affect your business’ reputation;
- Not investing in SEO;
Did you know that 75% of people do not go past the first page of search results when they Google a term? Many people don’t tend to scroll post this page as there is a certain level of reputation that is automatically given to the results on the first page. If you fail to invest in SEO, it is very unlikely that you will appear in the first page of results therefore affecting the way your business is perceived online.
At SEO Services Brisbane, we work with many businesses, large and small, to achieve maximum results when it comes to SEO. An increase in Google results will help you to attract interested customers to your business over a continuous period of time.
- Failing to be consistent;
It is one thing for a business to have social media platforms and to post content, but if you don’t post consistently with the same tone and message in each post, you could be giving your customers the wrong impression about your business. The ‘tone and message’ in each post should align with the values and mission of your company. In saying that, all posts should be unique from one another.
If you haven’t already it is a good idea to develop a content plan for the upcoming month including when you are going to post and to which platform, as well as what you want to post. Once you have done this, it is a good idea to make use of social media scheduling websites like Hootsuite or Later.com. This will save you time and money, and help you to remain consistent on your social media accounts. However, it is important to note that you shouldn’t just schedule a months’ worth of posts and then not visit your social media accounts, because maintaining engagement with new and existing followers is important.
See our copywriting services Brisbane page to get professional help in this area.
The same goes with the content that you post on your website’s blog; it should be consistent with your brand’s tone and message, as well as provide value for the reader.
- Not having a solid mission and set of values;
In the previous point we touched on the importance of remaining consistent on your social media platforms. This would be virtually impossible if your business doesn’t have a solid mission and set of values. Your mission is the reason you do what you do, and the values are the way in which you conduct what you do. It is important to be transparent about this information with customers and to make the information known on your website.
- Misunderstanding your USP;
Every single business of the 21st century should have a USP (Unique Selling Point); it is what helps to set you apart from the next company who is doing something similar. It is important to understand what your competitors are doing, and how they are doing and to be clear on the things that you do differently (and better). This will help you when it comes to proving why you are better than the next company and why you are worthy of a customer’s time.
- Failing to develop brand identity guidelines;
One aspect of developing a brand is developing the identity; this consists of a variety of components including logo, colours, tagline / mottos, fonts, imagery, and overall style. Each of these components go hand in hand when developing a successful brand. It is important that you brand identity is unique and that it speaks to your customers ie. A brand new café in an artistic location would develop an identity by creating a logo that matches the tastes of the target market, as well as creating menus, in-store promotion, and overall style with matching colours, fonts, and writing style.
- Lack of value;
One of the main parts of conducting business is providing value to your customers and lack of value can deter you from developing a strong brand. No matter what product or service you offer, there is definitely some way you can add value to the customer process. But just remember it doesn’t have to be of monetary value ie. You could start a blog on your website that teaches your customers new skills relevant to your industry. You could start a YouTube channel to promote your products and provide information. You could go out of your way to make the customer experience unique and special. Providing value leads to exceeding customer expectations which is important.
These aren’t the only branding mistakes that exist, but they are definitely important to consider when you are developing a brand.
At WebsiteFix we work with many businesses to help them achieve success in Website design and SEO, both of which are important aspects when it comes to building a strong brand. Get in contact with us today to discuss how we could help your business.
