Things are looking a little different around LocalUp these days.  We’ve got an amazing new logo, a great slogan, and the new website is shaping up nicely. This rebranding effort has been a huge time consuming project, but we are really happy with the results, and with 100% certainty I think we can all agree that it was worth it.

You might be asking why we’d undertake such a dramatic project, well the answer is easy, brands matter.  The importance of your brand as a marketing tool and a sales tool can’t be understated.  Consumers are fickle and given the choice of an established brand with a quality product or an untested brand, it really isn’t even a question, consumers just like you and me will default to the brand we are familiar with.

Coca-Cola, Nike, Apple, IBM these are some of the word’s most iconic brands.  How did they become iconic and how can you develop an iconic brand? The strategy is simple, but there aren’t any shortcuts and it will take real effort.

The key to developing a great brand is to always keep in mind that a brand is absolutely secondary to having a great product.  Wildly successful brands have wildly successful products, not just once, but for years and years.  Your business exists to sell a product or service, not to market a brand.  Consistently produce quality products and services and your brand will naturally become more valuable.  

A brand has power because consumers establish an emotional relationship with it, a brand is able to elicit images and feelings in customers. So, along with providing a great product to your customers, focus on providing a great experience for them. By going the extra mile and treating each customer like a VIP they’ll form strong emotional ties to your brand that will pay dividends for years to come.

Develop a look and feel that’s right for your business, and then deliver great products time after time.  Develop honest and special relationships with your customers, then and only then can you begin to realize the sales and marketing benefits of having a well respected brand.

As LocalUp site owners, what affect do you think your brand has on your business?