If you have a business, it's important to brand it.
Here are 3 basic ways to do so:
1. Create a Mission
What is the purpose of your business, and how do you convey that to people? Your mission should be a straightforward statement that describes what you're about in a sentence or two.
A wordy, general mission won't help you brand your specific business. It won't get people excited about your business, or brand, either. Try to really get at the heart of your business, and describe what makes it special, unique, important.
Once you've created the best, most accurate business mission, don't change it! Make sure you maintain the same mission, brand, and identity throughout all of your business documents. This brings us to #2...
2. Make it Match
Be sure that your website, stationary, brochures, and all other materials relating to your business match. This means you should use the same logo, color scheme, tagline, business name, contact info, mission, and so on for all documents relating to your business.
Your social media outlets should also match your brand. Do this by creating screennames related to your business name, using your logo for profile photos, and always maintaining a professional online persona that accurately represents your business and what you're about.
By making your business match, you'll also appear more professional while creating a specific-to-your-business brand.
3. Become an Expert
Now that you have your business mission with stationary and a Facebook to match, you have to build trust by proving your expertise. People purchase the same brand again and again because they trust it.
So how do you become an expert?
While you may know you're an expert, you have to prove that to people by making your knowledge accessible. You can do this by teaching classes regarding your business and/or some aspect of what you do, attending and speaking at seminars and conferences, and writing articles on your blog, someone else's blog, or even in a newspaper, magazine, and/or other print media.
You can also create a brief biography about yourself to place on your publications, website, and social media networks. This will allow you to list your credentials, education, and experience in your field of business.
How do you brand your business? Comment below!