Your business needs a brand, and consistency in the look, feel and message you are putting out there. Your brand is more than just your business name or your logo; it’s your identity.
What is a Brand?
A brand is a set of elements -- symbols, words, colors -- that characterize your company or product. The goal of a brand is to create an association with your company when a client or prospective client sees these images. Your business name, logo, and the colors that you select all play a part in developing your brand. This is why it is vital that these same branding characteristics carry over to your website and any marketing materials that you use. As your business becomes established, your brand can signify all of the positive attributes of your business, i.e., quality, loyalty and trust.
Do Virtual Assistants Need a Brand?
Short answer: YES! Just like any other small business, virtual assistants should develop a brand for their business in order to inspire trust among clients and prospective clients, create a following and support business longevity.
How Do You Create a Brand?
Creating a brand is an ongoing process that involves analyzing your business, product/service offerings, and target audience. Here are few articles that may be helpful to you:
- How To Create a Great Business Name, About.com Entrepreneurs
- Make Your Brand Pop, BusinessWeek
- Follow These Five Guidelines to Create Indelible Brand, Sacramento Business Journal
And here are a few great books to get you inspired as you build your brand:
- Accidental Branding: How Ordinary People Build Extraordinary Brands, by David Vinjamuri
- The Brand Bubble: The Looming Crisis in Brand Value and How to Avoid It, by John Gerzema and Edward Lebar
- BrandSimple: How the Best Brands Keep it Simple and Succeed
, by Allen P. Adamson
This post is expanded from Chapter 6: My Top 20 Secrets to Success in the book, VA Secrets Revealed! An Insider's Guide to Being a Successful Virtual Assistant. Grab a copy and follow along as I blog!
