Where your product, service, or company as a whole is concerned, the importance of branding cannot be stressed enough. And where internet marketing is concerned, a brandable website is high-value currency. Branding dictates how people will see and think about your company and its offerings. A strong brand also helps customers connect your product or service to your name.
In today’s fiercely competitive online market, your branding strategy should be able to set your business apart from the competition. More than that, a good branding strategy will be central in convincing your prospects that you, not Company X, are the go-to choice in your particular industry.
Here are a few tips to help your business make its mark on the internet.
Your domain can make or break your brand.
Your goal when choosing a domain name is to come up with one that says as much about your company in as few characters as possible. You want your website to become indelibly linked to your business. The logic behind the length and content of your domain name is simple – people remember short but catchy domain names better. So choose wisely.
A user-friendly website works wonders.
While most internet users are aware of how web design impacts user experience, many fail to recognize the value of a user-friendly website in branding. In the absence of a physical location, your website serves as your business’s proxy headquarters. The more comfortable your customers are when visiting your website for the first time, the better the chances are of their coming back.
Be different.
Unless your business is one of the first few to break into an industry, you need to find a way to tell your customers that you are, without question, head and shoulders above the competition. Blending in is out of the question; your goal is to GET NOTICED. If you think that your industry is already saturated with businesses that are exactly like yours, it might be time to consider specializing. This may require time, money, and additional training, but if you can brand yourself as the leader in your particular niche, it is a worthwhile investment.
Branding is key – no buts about it. If you are in the process of building or updating your e-commerce site, now is the time to step back and think about how your current and potential customers see your business. Is my domain memorable enough? Do visitors find it easy to navigate my website? Does my company come across as an industry leader? The most successful business people know that thinking like their customers pays off. Take the time to evaluate your branding strategies today.