The Importance of Branding for Businesses

Prior to launching an advertising campaign or developing a marketing strategy, it is crucial that you determine your brand?s identity. Simply put, a brand?s identity is its singular ?personality? that serves to identify a company or business and distinguish it from its competitors. Although ?branding? has become a buzzword popularized by entrepreneurs, many people still have trouble grasping what the term means.

So what is branding, exactly? Branding is successfully creating a brand identity that will not only make your business more appealing in comparison to your competitors, but it will also convince consumers that in a sea of prospects, your business is the only one capable of satisfying their needs. Many different components can go into developing a brand, including eye-catching designs and a unique name; however, a brand encompasses more than just a logo. It?s what clients take away from the experience of working with you. It?s what your company stands for and is known for within your market. Coming up with a brand means coming up with what your company promises to deliver, whether that?s perfectly seasoned gourmet pizzas or impeccably tailored shirts. Branding includes the overall style of your company and the meaning it has to clients. Ideally, it would motivate people to buy your products or use your services.

If you don?t define your brand, you create the possibility that someone else will do it for you, including your competitors. Defining you brand allows you to control?or at least influence?how others perceive you. An effective brand marketing strategy minimizes your company?s chances of fading into the background and solidifies your reputation as a veritable force to be reckoned with. Strong branding demonstrates that a company aspires to something greater than just business as usual. By raising your status from a basic commodity to a brand, consumers will be willing to pay a premium for your services or products.

Ultimately, branding is perhaps most essential because it increases the chances that people will remember you, even as the battle for consumers? attention (and money) rages on. A fully-developed brand identity will push your business to the forefront of consumers? minds, making them more likely to recognize you, enlist your services, and remain loyal long after the conclusion of your professional relationship. It takes a lot of time to build (and maintain) these valuable customer relationships. Let me give you a few examples of successful branding:

-????????? Coca Cola: The majority of people instantly recognize this brand. Their logo, the Christmas songs, TV commercials, ads and cans are a part of the Coca Cola branding strategy. This brand has been around for decades, allowing its message to go from generation to generation, and all of Coca Cola?s efforts have paid off. Wouldn?t you agree it is quite hard to imagine a world without Coca Cola?

-????????? McDonald?s: Remember when you were a kid and going to McDonald?s was a treat? Of course you do! This is why you will probably take your (future) children to come and have a quick bite here every once in a while. McDonald?s introduced Happy Meals for children, including a small toy in every meal box. A smart move, given the fact that competitors soon offered similar deals. Furthermore, they incorporated the word ?Mac/Mc? into their product names, like ?McNuggets? or the famous ?Big Mac.? These decisions have had major influence on the way customers perceive the brand.

-????????? Apple: Apple has found a way to become one of the most popular brands in the world by branding themselves successfully. Mac computers aren?t for just anyone, nor are the iPad or the iPhone. The late Steve Jobs was known for his way of presenting new products to the public and used his black turtleneck sweater as part of his strategy. Even the use of putting an ?i? in their product names is all part of Apple?s branding strategy. The designs of the products, the campaigns and product launches are all in sync with Apple?s style and its branding.

You can say that these companies have become experts in business branding, based on their successes. Branding could be perceived as part of marketing or as a separate component, but it is definitely closely related to marketing. Before you start diving into concepts to market your business, make sure you have determined a brand identity and are aware of all the aspects that come with brand management.

Do you have a branding strategy? I would love to hear some creative tips! Please leave a comment.

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Source: http://www.onlineadvertisingagency.info/?p=283

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After bitter debate, Romney and Santorum eye Mich. (AP)

[unable to retrieve full-text content]AP - A bitter and often personal debate behind them, Republicans Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are shoring up their campaigns in different ways ahead of a series of crucial presidential primaries.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120223/ap_on_el_pr/us_gop_campaign

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HBT: What they're saying about Carter

Gary Carter passed away this afternoon at the age of 57 following a fight with brain cancer. Here?s some reaction from around a baseball world in mourning.

Mets chairman & CEO Fred Wilpon, president Saul Katz and COO Jeff Wilpon:??On behalf of everyone at the Mets, we extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to?Gary?s family ? his wife Sandy, daughters Christy and Kimmy and son D.J.? His nickname ?The Kid? captured how Gary approached life. He did everything with enthusiasm and with gusto on and off the field. His smile was infectious. He guided our young pitching staff to the World Series title in 1986 and he devoted an equal amount of time and energy raising awareness for a multitude of charities and community causes.? He was a Hall of Famer in everything he did.?

MLB commissioner Bud Selig: Driven by a remarkable enthusiasm for the game, Gary Carter became one of the elite catchers of all-time,? said Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. ??The Kid? was an 11-time All-Star and a durable, consistent slugger for the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, and he ranks among the most beloved players in the history of both of those franchises. Like all baseball fans, I will always remember his leadership for the ?86 Mets and his pivotal role in one of the greatest World Series ever played.?On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Gary?s wife, Sandy; their daughters, Christy and Kimmie; their son, D.J.; their grandchildren; his friends and his many fans.?

Former Mets manager Davey Johnson, via Adam Rubin of ESPN New York: ?Gary was a one-man scouting system. What people didn?t know was that he kept an individual book on every batter in the National League. He was the ideal catcher for our young pitching staff.?

Former Mets teammate Darryl Strawberry, during an interview on WFAN: ?I wish I could have lived my life like Gary Carter. He was a true man.?

Former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda: ?Rest in peace Gary Carter. Gary played for me and was a Hall of Famer on and off the field. I respected and loved him.?

Former Mets teammate Howard Johnson, via Andy Martino of the New York Daily News: ?It?s a sad day for his family, and for us. The way things happened with Gary this year, it is tough to take it all in. Kid was so incredibly strong. There is not much you can do at this point, other than pray for the family.?

Former Mets teammate?Dwight Gooden: ?My batterymate, my friend, I am so blessed to have played with & can call Gary my friend he meant a lot to me on & off the field with the way he battled his fight to the end gives me a lot of strength & faith to battle mine, we will always be connected at the hip RIP my brother.?

Former Mets teammate Ron Darling, via MetsBlog: ?The baseball world lost one of its gladiators today, and I have lost a friend. ?Gary Carter was everything you wanted in a sports hero: a great talent, a great competitor, a great family man, and a great friend. ?To know Gary was to care deeply for him, and I am deeply saddened. ?All my thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sandy and their children.?

Former Mets teammate Bob Ojeda, via MetsBlog: ?We are all very saddened to hear of Gary?s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time. He was not only a Hall of Fame ballplayer, but also a Hall of Fame man as well. He is gone too soon for us to understand. May he rest in peace.?

Former Mets teammate Wally Backman, via Andy Martino of the New York Daily News: ?He was a big brother figure to a lot of us. He was one of our leaders.?

Hall of Famer Johnny Bench: ?I am so sad! The Kid has left us. I started calling him Kid the first time I met him. He was admired and loved. Thank you for our past.?

Mets third baseman David Wright, via David Lennon of New York Newsday: ?If you strive to be half the player and half the person Gary Carter was, you?ll be all right.?

Former Expos teammate Steve Rogers,?via the Associated Press: ?Learning of Gary?s passing feels as if I just lost a family member. Gary and I grew up together in the game, and during our time with the Expos we were as close as brothers, if not closer. Gary was a champion. He was a `gamer? in every sense of the word ? on the field and in life. He made everyone else around him better, and he made me a better pitcher.?

Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, via the Associated Press: ?Nobody loved the game of baseball more than Gary Carter. Nobody enjoyed playing the game of baseball more than Gary Carter. He wore his heart on his sleeve every inning he played.?

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/16/what-theyre-saying-about-the-passing-of-gary-carter/related/

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