Website Development & Strategy!

Putting An Online Brand Strategy To Work!

Creating a formidable brand online is not easy and can take time. There are various branding methods you can pursue. To stay on course with your branding, you need an implementation plan. Online branding can be done on two major platforms: your company website/blog and social media networks in a process known as website development.

Building Your Brand Through Your Website/Blog:

Your website is the first contact potential customers have with your company. If potential customers do an online search for your company, your company’s main website should be one of the first items that pop up. The customer’s perception of your company can and most likely will be determined by the look of your website, especially if the first visit to your company is through an online channel. This is why it should be professionally designed. A website that looks unprofessional will lead to loss of business, so it is crucial to keep in mind the key points below when developing and implementing an online branding strategy.

Key Website Design Branding Components:

Below are some of the ways through which you can enhance your website branding:

a) Overall Design

Have a professional website for your business. A well-designed website offers a good experience to users. Your customers should be able to easily navigate your site and find the information that they are looking for.

At a minimum, ensure the website has information about your company, products or services, and contact information. If you are affiliated with reputable clients or brands in your industry, mentioning them on your website can enhance your brand and increase trust with your potential customers.

Unfamiliar with how to develop a professional website for your business? Contact professionals, whether it be an individual freelancer, a small business or a large corporation. Meet with professionals, explore your options and then go from there. You want to ensure the job is done correctly as mistakes on your website can be very costly, especially if they are received rather negatively by your viewing audience.

b) Logo & Color Theme

Your website should have your logo and be designed with your business’ colors. Your logo and colors help customers to immediately identify your business, which can be crucial to your sales. Do not underestimate the power of using your business colors for branding. Once your logo and colors are selected, keep everything consistent. Make sure that your business cards and other branding materials match your website.

Branding is mostly about what customers see about your business. Your logo is one of the things associated with your business. Get a professional logo that stands out and reflects your ideals. Stand out and be unique. Don’t get being unique confused with having a complex design. Standing out does not always mean complexity, sometimes simplicity is what really catches the eye.

c) Your Voice

Your “voice” refers to the approach you take to various issues in your industry and how you relate to your prospects, customers, suppliers, and competitors. Get a website established and then develop it over time. Fill it with loads of useful content and other information for your viewers. This way, they can learn more about your brand and then pass that information on to others. In regards to adding content, don’t add random unnecessary content as many viewers find this unappealing and many search engines will discard it as spam.

Check out a useful infographic below regarding some key elements to consider when building and developing a new website.

Stay consistent with your brand and let your voice be heard. Social media is another key element to building your brand online as social media is the key outlet to letting your voice be heard and spread online.

Building Your Brand on Social Media:

In today’s world, social media cannot be ignored for the impact it can have on sales and brand awareness. People are talking on social media about your product or brand. Sites like Yelp and Google Places and other consumer review websites can give you an idea of how your target market perceives your company.

Whether you take part in the conversation is up to you. However, it will be better to be part of the conversation and educate your prospects to influence their brand perception.

There are many social media networks where you can establish a presence. However, this does not mean all networks are important for your business. You only need a presence on the networks where a majority of your customers are. For most businesses, having a presence on Facebook and Twitter are a must. Other social outlets like LinkedIn and Snapchat follow closely.

Each social network is unique and each requires a lot of time to build and maintain. Choose social media networks that best suit your brand’s niche. Use each social network to share useful information to your viewers, as well to carve out some stellar content to which your viewers can read and share to others. Social media networks are a key element to building brand awareness.