Do you have a brand?

And more importantly, do you need one? Don't hate the messenger, but yes, you probably do need one. Before we get into what constitutes a "brand", lets talk briefly about why it's so important to have one.

Think about a company you know and love...maybe it's a makeup company, a shoe brand, a car. Whatever is it, they have a brand, part of which is to encourage you to trust them, recognize them, form loyalty to them, and maybe even have a friendship with them. The next time you need a new lipstick, sneakers, or a car, you are going to look to your "friend" first, because you trust their opinion and values. And that's where the magic happens...and by magic, I mean sales/follows/leads etc. When someone trusts you and your

judgement, they are more likely to

"buy what your selling"

Your brand details your values, ideals, p.o.v, voice, etc. Your brand speaks to a niche group of people who identify with you and your "product", and will look to you to fulfill whatever the (metaphorical) problem is that they have. Your brand should evoke some sort of emotions, that encourages people to connect with you. Without emotion, without solving a "problem", without some soft of "use", you won't be attractive to follow - no one is coming to you for anything, because you fall flat or they are confused about what it is you can offer them.

So, how do you build/create a brand? Lets break it down

Pinpoint your niche: you cant be everything to everyone, so it narrow down. Who is your audience? You should be speaking to a very specific group of people, who align with your ideals, values, humour, etc. What is your main goal/topic/purpose etc.? What problem are you solving?

Create a voice: what kind of language does your ideal client use, how do they speak, is grammar important to them, do they use slang? What kinds of things are important to them? Do they talk about politics, art, the environment, travel, finances, pets, children, relationships? Once you pinpoint all of this, you will have a voice and point of view.

Figure out: where your client/follower/etc lives, how old they are, how much money they make. what they do for work...not literally, but figuratively. If you make handknit wool sweaters, you are going to be selling them to someone different than someone who makes linen dresses. Once you know all these things about your client, you can better sell to them because you understand their needs and wants.

logo for Honey Lounge Vintage

Create a logo, colour scheme, fonts, and more: branding also includes having a logo, using the same fonts repeatedly, choosing a colour scheme to use. You also might use the same emojis, phrases, tag line, font size, etc repeatedly. By doing all of this, you create brand recognition. When someone is scrolling through Instagram, you want them to recognize your post is you without them reading the handle first.

Once you have decided on and built your brand, you will attract likeminded people and your community will grow. A community is built on trust, loyalty, and like minded opinions. Once you have a developed an online community, you will better achieve your goals: gain more followers, sell more classes/items, book more appointments, get people to read your log or listen to your podcast.

So, if you haven't figured out your brand yet, it's time to sit done to do some research and brainstorming. Head over to canva to play around with fonts and colours to build a brand kit. If you need a hand, send us a message, follow along on Instagram, slide into our DM's or send an email - we would love to assist you.