Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I just wanted to throw in my 2cents. What we see over and over is that companies staying afloat in difficult times are the ones with a strong branding. From logo to company company culture. Inform your customers about your services (solutions!), your vision/mission, your employees.. whatever makes your company unique and memorable. The economic situation we are facing right now can also be an opportunity to trim fat and focus on core values or services.. be analytical and then get creative. The next wave is coming! Greetings from LA, Marc. 

Branding can be an incredibly effective way to differentiate you from the competition and build fierce loyalty from your customers.  Unfortunately, some people mistakenly believe that branding is wholly defined by a logo, tag line or other similar marketing materials.

For instance, if you`re trying to build a premium cosmetics brand, your logo should indeed have an expensive, high quality look and feel.  But in order for branding to truly impact your business, you can`t stop there!  You`ll want to make sure:

• Your product is actually superior.
• Your packaging is constructed of higher grade materials.
  
• Your customer service is friendlier and more helpful.
• Your website is tastefully designed and visually impactful.
• Your ads only show up in upscale publications or well established websites.
  

In a nutshell, your business should consistently reinforce the brand at every customer interaction point.

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Fundamentals for Founders: How to Start a Business



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Fundamentals for Founders:
The Practical Guide to Kick-Starting Your Business