Should I invest in branding my small business?

Is investment in branding a good idea for your small business?

It depends…

Last week I had a chat with someone who wants to set up their new business. We talked about what’s involved in their investment from the brand marketing perspective – because I wanted to be realistic –  and because they needed to think about their own investment in time and budget.

We discussed some of the essential foundations of your branding and marketing:

👉🏼 Target audience – how they find you and you find them

👉🏼 The value you provide them – the results they experience – and how you make their lives better

👉🏼 Packaging your offers e.g. 121, group and retreats – if you’re selling services

👉🏼 Your brand name and what your brand stands for – purpose, values, vision

👉🏼 Who your brand is – your brand personality – including your brand style and imagery, your brand voice, vocabulary and tone, and of course how your brand behaves

👉🏼 Core messaging for key pages of your website or landing pages

So, you can see how much brand thinking work is needed before we start talking about your logo and colours…

Branding deliverables

My aim is to provide you with a visual identity and brand aesthetic that will last for at least 3-5 years, including:

⭐ A brand logo that expresses your brand personality, vision and values. That captures what your brand stands for. Plus your brand ‘codes’ – the visual hallmarks of your brand – including symbols, icons, patterns, colours and fonts

⭐ Marketing collateral e.g. your business card, Word and PowerPoint templates, newsletter and social media banners and social media templates for posts

⭐ Your brand style guide – the blueprint for maintaining your brand consistency. Because being consistent helps build awareness and recognition for your brand over time

I talked about this work as an investment in your new business, and provided the ballpark fees along with a choice of payment plans.

What does ChatGPT say?

Later in the week, the conversation stayed in my mind, so I asked ChatGPT “is investment in branding a good idea for a small business?” Here’s the answer I got:

⭐ “Investing in branding can be a good idea for small businesses. Branding is an essential part of creating a strong identity and reputation for your business, and it can help you stand out from your competitors.”

⭐ “However, before investing in branding, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your target market, your unique selling proposition, and your business goals.”

⭐ “When done correctly, branding can help you build trust and credibility with your customers, create brand recognition, and establish a loyal customer base. It can also help you differentiate yourself from your competitors, which is especially important in crowded marketplaces.”

⭐ “That being said, branding can be a significant investment, and it’s important to make sure you have the resources to execute a comprehensive branding strategy. This might include designing a logo, creating a website, developing marketing materials, and establishing a social media presence.”

⭐ “Overall, while investing in branding can be a good idea for small businesses, it’s important to carefully consider your budget and business goals before making a decision.”

Choose experience and expertise

I think ChatGPT has provided a pretty good summary of the benefits of investing in your small business branding. It’s clear that it’s a serious decision.

If you decide to invest, you’ll probably get better value for money from people with experience. The people who know what’s involved and can guide you through the pitfalls.

And of course, I would say this 😊

Because sometimes that bargain logo or website may turn out to be a false economy 🤔

Thank you for reading

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When you want some help with your brand…

I’m here! My approach is flexible and collaborative. Whether you need a brand review, some help with your brand strategy or a full rebranding project.  Here are some of the ways we can work together:

Brand Review & Refresh

Rebranding (or new branding) project

⭐ Read a few client testimonials

I’d love to discuss what could help your brand now – Click Here to Book Your Call 

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