Today, all people talk about is branding, branding, branding, but what does it really mean?
Well this week that is what I have been looking at for Michelle Mercer Photography. I needed to discover what it meant to me and my business. Without doubt, branding is one of the most important facets to a business; without it I will run the risk of getting lost in a sea of photographers. I have spent time looking at some of the brands we find on the high street and web. What brands do i know and love. My ten year old has a great game on his iPod which is a guess all about image logos and it was great to make me see how large blue chip companies use simple fonts and graphics to make a distinctive logo and brand.
Branding. according to Wikipedia, a brand is a "name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers". Right now what does that mean to me? but now we have a definition of the word I can start to see how branding is everywhere. What i read, where I go, what i listen to and watch, how it effects, influences and alters behaviour and decision-making process.
An effective branding strategy gives my business an umbrella for its different services; Wedding, Portraiture and Commercial. From the consumers perspective photographers are everywhere and its a daunting task to select one. So effective branding will make my business stand out from the crowd!
Did you know that branding is not just having your logo or a website? Everything defines a brand from the way you pose your clients to the editing techniques used in post-production. To establish myself in the marketplace and standout from the crowd.
In order to define my brand I embarked on a little exercise, answering a few simple questions;
1. What is my company name?
2. What is my vision?
3. What are the benefits and features of the products that differentiate me from the competition?
4. What existing perceptions, if any, are there on my brand?
5. When people think of my brand, what do I want them to think and feel?
6. What segment of the photography market do I want to place myself in?
7. What will I do to stand out from the crown?
Well this week that is what I have been looking at for Michelle Mercer Photography. I needed to discover what it meant to me and my business. Without doubt, branding is one of the most important facets to a business; without it I will run the risk of getting lost in a sea of photographers. I have spent time looking at some of the brands we find on the high street and web. What brands do i know and love. My ten year old has a great game on his iPod which is a guess all about image logos and it was great to make me see how large blue chip companies use simple fonts and graphics to make a distinctive logo and brand.
Branding. according to Wikipedia, a brand is a "name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers". Right now what does that mean to me? but now we have a definition of the word I can start to see how branding is everywhere. What i read, where I go, what i listen to and watch, how it effects, influences and alters behaviour and decision-making process.
An effective branding strategy gives my business an umbrella for its different services; Wedding, Portraiture and Commercial. From the consumers perspective photographers are everywhere and its a daunting task to select one. So effective branding will make my business stand out from the crowd!
Did you know that branding is not just having your logo or a website? Everything defines a brand from the way you pose your clients to the editing techniques used in post-production. To establish myself in the marketplace and standout from the crowd.
In order to define my brand I embarked on a little exercise, answering a few simple questions;
1. What is my company name?
2. What is my vision?
3. What are the benefits and features of the products that differentiate me from the competition?
4. What existing perceptions, if any, are there on my brand?
5. When people think of my brand, what do I want them to think and feel?
6. What segment of the photography market do I want to place myself in?
7. What will I do to stand out from the crown?