On Monday I went out to lunch with my son and a friend of his. The waiter who seated us said something quickly, and I immediately took notice. Perhaps it was the way he said or the intentional rhyme, but his catchphrase of “I’m so ridiculous, they call me Nicholas, and I’ll be your server today,” caught my attention and I smiled. Two days later, I’m still recalling this. Why? It was in the effective way he chose to brand himself.
What is branding?
Branding is the colors, shapes, and/or words that you choose to represent you or your business. The golden arches of McDonalds truly stands out. If that didn’t, the red and yellow would. Certain catchphrases that businesses use to advertise have been embedded into our memory. I can still recall the market manager on the commercial saying, “Don’t squeeze the Charmin,” from 35 years ago or the Oscar Meyer Bologna song. Some things just stick with you.
Why is branding important?
Branding is important in that it helps customers remember who you are. They can identify you out of all of the others.
Your branding should be consistent across your website, social media, and even in the product photos you use. Narrow your color scheme down and stick to those colors. Place your logo or catchphrase on your correspondences.
On social media, there is a woman who shares cooking and kitchen tips. She always starts her videos the same way, “Have you ever…” and ends the opening scene with “Come with me… I’ll show you what to do.” She’s easily identifiable. She even turned her catchphrase into a shirt that she wears in her videos. This is what branding can do! It makes you standout!
As you build your business or blog, think about how you want your customers to identify and remember you. Do you use the same colors throughout your website? Is your logo prominent? Is it catchy? I promise, once you find your “thing” you will see your branding take effect.
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