6 Things to do when starting a brand

Your brand is the foundation of your business; trying to start one without it would be like trying to build a house without a base for it to stand. But for new business owners who lack experience, it can be hard to ascertain the best strategy for building a trustworthy brand.

It requires a lot of effort with no immediate payoff but establishing a strong brand image is one of the most valuable long-term investments you can make in your company early on. But you don't have to go it alone.

Here are six brand-building methods to help get you started:

1. Create a unique brand name

First impressions are everything, and if you want your business to stand out, you have a memorable name. But a good brand name doesn't just grab people's attention; it tells a story.

Take Apple, for example; a tech giant that gets its name from a simple, two-syllable word that anyone familiar with the English language can recognize, and yet it has layers of meaning that tell you everything you need to know about the company and the services it provides.

When coming up with a name for your brand, you should be asking yourself:

• Is it overly long/complicated?

• Can it be confused with another company?

• Does it have meaning?

• Is the meaning related to the product/service you provide?

2. Designing a recognizable logo

It's a fact that people retain images in their memory longer than words, so having a recognizable logo to accompany your brand name is especially important.

Your favorite brands didn't choose their logos by accident; colors, symbols, shapes, and even font choices are all carefully considered for their universal symbolic meaning.

A logo that sticks with your audience tells a story about your brand through the visual language of design.

3. Building a navigable website

Having a great brand name and logo isn't worth much if you don't have a functional website.

Your website is where potential customers can learn more about your brand and its services. It's also where business takes place and where conversions are made.

When building your company's website, consider:

• Page layout

• Readability

• Clarity

• Presentation

• User experience

4. Social media marketing

Pretty much everyone is on social media nowadays, which makes it the perfect platform for reaching potential customers.

Establishing a social media presence for your brand can improve organic reach and provides a cost-effective marketing tool.

5. email marketing

People are constantly being bombarded with information, which makes it difficult for them to find what they're looking for.

Compiling a mailing list of past customers who are interested in staying up to date with your brand is an effective method for retaining their business.

A simple email wave is a quick and easy way to increase conversions and traffic.

6. Audience engagement

The key to building a long-lasting brand is to inspire a sense of loyalty in your audience. Social media has made it easier than ever for brands to engage directly with their audiences, so if you want to stay visible, you have to post frequently.

This process can be the most time-consuming of any other method on this list, but having a loyal customer base who trusts you is an invaluable asset to have in any competitive field -- so get out there and start brand building!