Sow the seed 5 essential tips for growing a healthy brand
Dirt, seeds, and add water; that’s all you need to grow a plant right? Yes this is true, but there is a little more to it. It’s very similar to growing your brand; you sow the seed, but it takes time, care, exposure to “light” to really grow. Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) provides 10 essential tips for How to Grow a Healthy Plant. I reviewed these tips, and took five of them to demonstrate how similar the process is for growing a healthy brand. Use your imagination and go with me.
Prepare the proper environment: BHG suggests that good soil preparation is the “single most important thing”to do for your flowers. This is an important step for building and growing your brand; you have to start at the beginning. Get a piece of paper and pen; jot down and outline what your brand means to you, and how you want it to be perceived. You are laying the foundation, or preparing your soil for growth. You know my motto – Strategy + Creative = Effective Marketing = Results, in this case = A Successful Brand. The first part of that equation is strategy!
Don’t try to do too much too fast: “Seed depth and planting time is critical to emerging new life”. Establishing a brand is a process and it takes time. I know in the beginning you really just want to get out there, you want to get your feet wet; you want people to know the brand, but pace yourself. You’ve outlined your vision for your brand, now expand that vision. Who do you need to engage, what resources do you have access to, where do you want the brand to be in 6 months, or a year?
Weed out bad influences: “Weeds rob your seedlings of nutrients and water and make them look bad”. As you are growing your brand, it’s easy to get discouraged. You feel like people don’t know your brand, you haven’t generated enough leads, you’re tired from the late nights and long days and the list goes on. You have to weed out that negative thinking and always circle back to why you decided to establish this company, consulting business, organization in the first place.
Be overprotective: “Once seeds sprout, they are at the vulnerable seedling or toddler stage”. Protect your brand, employ brand monitoring tactics to gauge chatter about your brand. You should also literally protect your brand by getting your name/logo trademarked. You’ve created something that is your own, no else has it and you want to make sure it stays that way.
Consider additional support: BHG says that you should consider additional support as your plants mature and grow; this applies to brand building as well. Who is your support system? Who is on your team? You don’t have to do it alone. You’re specialty is baking, but you wouldn’t know where to start with developing a logo, tagline, marketing plan; then solicit support from a professional, (raises hand), tap into your resources.
Celebrate as you graduate: What do you do when you’re plant has grown out of its current pot – you move it to a larger pot. When you see your brand growing, making an impact, reaching your audience, celebrate! Congratulations, you’re brand is healthy and growing, and that is something to be proud of! But don’t stop there….