When you’re starting out with a new business, there is a lot to think about. Due to this, branding can be left to the back of the queue but that’s never a great idea. Your focus on branding needs to begin at the very start.

If you’re not sure what you should be doing, then we’re here to help. We’ve taken a look at the key tips you need to follow in order to thrive. This will allow you to create a brilliant brand and get all the benefits that come with it.

Start with a name and logo

The first step on your branding journey is choosing a name, which you may already have. Whether you have a name or not, make sure it works in all cases, isn’t too long, and doesn’t restrict future expansion.

If you think of some of the biggest brands in the world, they usually have a short name which usually doesn’t mean anything such as “Apple”. You also want it to be future-proof too, which means not being too specific about what you sell.

Once you have a name, then you can get a great logo to go with it. There are many free online tools to help you with that, or as always we are here to help you out with the complete process. As with a name, a logo works best when it’s simple as that’s what helps to make it memorable.

Choose a look and stick with it

Most of the biggest companies in the world have a set look and stick with it. If I asked you to think of Adidas, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, or Disney then you’ll be able to picture their logos and know what style they have, along with their color schemes.

When creating a brand you want to cultivate a specific look that will become familiar with anyone who uses your brand. A lot about branding is being memorable, and you won’t be memorable if you keep changing the look of your business.

It’s best to stick with a particular color scheme, font, and general style. This will help to reinforce your brand and allow it to grow more quickly.

Have a mission statement

A mission statement is a short statement about what your business is and what you want it to achieve. It helps to set out who you want to be and gives something for everyone else to follow.

As you grow your business, you’ll want all your employees pulling in the same direction. They should know what level of professionalism and customer service is expected from them.

Many see the brand as the personality of your business. Is it fun and engaging, serious and professional or does it pride itself on delivering the best product out there? Whatever the personality, it’s a good idea to put it down in writing.

Consistency is key

We’ve touched on it already but with everything around your brand, consistency is key. This is why it’s important to give it a lot of thought when starting out. Once you start your business, you don’t want to change anything about your branding.

If you do, then it needs to be with serious thought and for a very good reason. Without consistency, your brand isn’t going to cut through. Consumers are loyal to brands because they are comforted by familiarity. If you take that familiarity away, you’ll struggle.

Act big

Our final tip is to act big. Right from the start, you want to give people the impression that you’re a big and successful company, even if you aren’t. Slick branding will help with that but you should back it up with professionalism and confidence. If you follow all of these steps, then you’ll soon find that your brand, and therefore your business, thrive.