Brand vs Branding: Do You Know The Difference?

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The terms brand and branding are often thrown around but are they the same thing? If you have no idea what brand or branding means, you came to the right place! Let's discuss your brand vs branding.

 

Your Brand vs Branding

If you're in the process of growing your business then you might have heard the term “brand” or “branding” being thrown around a lot. These terms sound similar but are they the same? 

The quick answer is no, brand and branding are not the same. Unfortunately, most entrepreneurs have no idea what makes one different from the other and that's what we're here for! To know the difference between these terms, let's define each one first:

 

What is a Brand?

A brand represents a business’ identity in the market it belongs to. Who you are, what you do, how you are perceived by your target audience – all these are tied to your brand. Your brand is your reputation. It's your customers' idea of what you are and the emotions they associate with your business that makes up your brand.

 

Your brand consists of three things:

Your Marketing Message

Your marketing message sets your business apart. If your marketing messages are not expressed properly, it will leave your target audience confused. You need content that resonates with your target audience to make the message stick. Through your marketing message, you can connect with your target audience and gradually build trust.

 

Your Marketing Efforts

A well-planned marketing campaign is important in terms of getting the word out about your brand. You want MORE people to know more about what you do and what you can offer to them. Your marketing efforts should include content marketing and SEO to achieve a wider reach.

 

Client Experience

Building a business isn't just about the number of deals you have sealed. It's about providing value to your clients and making the experience as pleasant as possible to gain trust. Providing a high level of customer service is an instrumental part of building a successful brand. When clients are happy with your service, they'll hire you for more projects and/or refer you to other prospects.

 

What is Branding?

Now that you know what a brand is, let’s talk about branding – how is it different from a brand? Branding is all about the visual identity of your business. In essence, branding consists of design assets that represent your business – logo, typography, imagery, tone of voice, and marketing symbols. 

When done right, branding helps establish a memorable brand. The look of your brand, the design elements that make your brand unique, the aesthetics that you have adopted for your business, all these are tied with your branding.

Successful branding is all about building a memorable and credible brand. When people see your business logo or typography somewhere, they’ll instantly associate it with your business – and hopefully, remember a positive experience with your brand. 

 

 

Defining Your Branding

Get a Logo

To start, you need to think about a great logo. Your logo represents your brand and it will appear on all of your marketing materials so be sure that it is something that encapsulates your business. You don’t want to change your brand logo in the middle of your marketing efforts – consistency is everything! Once you have your logo, place it everywhere on your website and blog site. This way, your readers will associate your logo with your business.

 

Perfect that Tone!

Make your marketing message stick by perfecting your tone. Your core message should convey your brand attributes. It should be written in a way that resonates with very specific groups of people – your target audience – so that you will attract the right attention. Make it meaningful, make it concise. By perfecting your tone, you’ll attract your ideal client while also building a credible brand.

 

Stick to Your Brand Standards

Use your brand logo, typography, colour scheme, and other branding elements all over your marketing materials. Never stray from your brand standards because this will only confuse your clients. Consistency is key to building a memorable brand. If your branding is inconsistent, it sends the wrong message. 

 

Your brand vs branding may be difficult to understand at first, but they are equally instrumental in growing a trusted, credible brand. Your brand leaves an impression on your clients while branding is the visual representation of your business. Mastering both will give you an advantage over the competition. 

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