Top tips on creating a stand out brand...

by Startacus Admin

Ree Ree Rockette knows a thing or two about creating a stand-out brand!

Having left her previous career of teaching and book loving (otherwise known as being a librarian) Ree Ree Rockette followed a new career path of lipstick, blogging and multi-coloured hair. Ree Ree often writes about business and has created a standout lipstick and hair salon brand. Startacus was keen to gain some wisdom from Ree Ree on this very subject...

"After leaving a career in education, I created my own niche lipstick brand, Rockalily Lipsticks. After a year of running this as my full time job, I have extended the brand to Rockalily Cuts, my own hair salon. I also run a business group for ladies starting and running their own businesses, Wonderful Women: Minding Our Own Business. I am mildly obsessed with brands, and branding, as well as business in general. My blog, which preceded my businesses, helped to form and create my own personal brand.

Here are my top tips on creating a stand out brand....

Speak to a niche audience. This doesn't mean you'll only sell to the niche, but it does mean you have a defined message.
Tell your audience explicitly what your brand stands for. Subtle can just be confusing.
A brand is more than a logo and a font. A brand is what your customers (or potential customers) believe you to be.
No brand exists in a vacuum. Keep an eye on what people are saying about you, as well as what your competition are doing.
Dare to be a little different. A brand means you are recognisable from your competition.

Only promise what you can deliver, each and every time. A brand must be consistent, for every single customer.
Understand your customer base. What influences how they spend their money? Where do you find them?
There has never been so much choice, so your brand is often the deciding factor as to why a customer would choose you. Why should they chose you?

Brands are at their strongest when they are authentic and true.
Research branding that you admire. Learning from the best is just common sense!
A brand doesn't need to be static, it can change and develop over time. Remain flexible and fluid.
Never ignore feedback. Sometimes we think our brand stands for something, but no one else gets it! A brand is only what people understand of it.
Don't be scared of standing for something. If you don't actually have a point of view, or message, you'll just appear bland and forgettable.

3 Actionable Tasks for Homework (have no fear, I won't be checking up on you!):

Describe your ideal customer. Where do they shop, what do they do in their spare time, how much do they earn, what music do they listen to? Give them a name, and make sure your brand messaging speaks to them.If you had to describe your brand's personality in 5 words what would they be? Does everything you do and say help to reinforce these traits? Why should your customer chose you over your competition? Does your brand messaging explicitly tell them why?"

I am always happy to talk branding! You can catch me on twitter @ReeReeRockette and @RockalilyLondon or on facebook, or of course on my own site www.rockalily.com

 Thanks for the great tips and advice on creating a stand-out brand for your business!

Fancy checking out the branding of some of our Startacus members?  Why not take a look at the idea's, projects and startups in our collaboration space , or better yet why not add an idea, project or startup of your own?

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