Successful, long-lasting companies have powerful brands that evoke an emotional response from customers.
Did Apple make 'the best' MP3 player when it released the iPod? Not necessarily, but it did make the one people thought was the best.
Apple created a product that, in consumers’ minds, embodied a set of values and aspirations they connected with.
Now, it's no easy task to achieve that same level of brand loyalty but utilising the 'Brand First' mentality can help to begin to separate you from your competitors.
Here are some things to consider when transforming your product or service into something people genuinely care about. A brand.
* Figure out what your business stands for. or more importantly, what doesn’t it stand for?
Are you dedicated to entirely eco-friendly business practices? Will you only source materials manufactured in India? Or are you an ardent supporter of human space exploration?
Whatever your company’s platform is, make sure people know about it. Even if it has nothing to do with the specific product or service you sell, consumers want to know what kind of business ? and people ? their money is supporting.
* Find out your target audience, who are the people who’ve never heard of you ? but if they did ? would rally behind you?. Your customers act as your brand ambassadors as they spread the word about you.
* Part of the beauty of being a startup is that you don’t have to behave in the same way a stodgy multinational corporation does.
You can be a real person connecting with other real people. Namely, your customers. You can be personal and involve them in the process of creating and running your business.
* Entrepreneurship isn’t about being infallible. It’s literally the embodiment of the human condition: success in spite of adversity. Show your human side, flaws included and get people involved in your story.
Businesses are being launched with the help of strangers from the very beginning. If you’re honest with people about the state of your business, what you’re objectives are and why you’re doing it, often times the public will reward you.
* If you’re launching a startup, you’re likely putting your entire livelihood on the line. If that’s the case, you ought to make sure the gamble is worth it. Be bold and remember that every person has the potential to achieve their achieve fullest potential.
Courtesy: www.monsterindia.com
