3 Brand Myths Blasted

Let’s be honest — you can’t afford NOT to brand your biz. 

If you want to run a successful business, you must put work into your brand (or risk leaving money on the table). 

I get it, the concept of branding can be confusing. Branding advice is a dime a dozen, and there are so many myths circulating that you may be falling for some untruths that can keep your brand STUCK. 

As you work to grow your company, it’s important to have a firm grasp on what branding is and why it’s so important to the health of your biz. Your brand is your most valuable business asset, and a brand strategy is crucial to move your business forward. 

What Branding IS

First things first — let’s start with getting clear on what branding is exactly:

Branding is the reputation you have with your audience which includes the impressions, the feelings, and the stories that are held about your business. 

It’s the overall representation of who you are, what you stand for and what you can deliver. 

Marketing guru Seth Godin further explains branding as “A brand is the set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer’s decision to choose one product or service over another.”

What Branding ISN’T

Branding myths are everywhere, but I’m on a mission to help female entrepreneurs break free from these limiting beliefs so they can fully realize their brand’s growth potential.

Here are the top 3 branding myths I see time and time again that will hurt your brand:

Myth #1 : “My business is too small or too new to worry about branding.”

There’s a common misconception in the business world that branding is only meant for the big companies or those who have been in business for many years. 

This couldn’t be further from the truth. 

Branding is for big and small businesses. No matter the size, you must establish your own brand identity to thrive. In today’s competitive marketplace, it’s the best way to get noticed, stand out, and connect with your audience. 

Even if you’re new to the market, it’s smart to brand early and often! Brandless brands are making choices in order to position themselves according to their market and offering. Whether you like it or not, your audience is making judgements about your brand.

Myth #2 : “I have a logo, tagline and website, so I’ve already figured out my branding”

Please don’t think because you have a logo, brand colors or a fancy website, you’re all set. These are just a small part of your brand, not the full story. You must take time to develop the story behind your brand and create a strategy that will attract your ideal clients. Your logo could never do that on its own!

More than colors and fonts, your brand is your messaging. It showcases your personality and passion, encapsulates your values and mission, and creates an impression and experience with your audience. 

Branding encompasses all the touchpoints in your customer experience from the language used in your welcome email to the onboarding process to the delivery of goods.  

If you think branding is a task you do once when starting a biz and then cross off your to-do list forever, think again. There’s no such thing as one-and-done branding. 

Instead, branding is an ongoing strategy.

It’s inevitable — the market will change, and competitors will come and go. It’s especially crucial to revisit your branding each time a new product or service is released. Your audience needs to be told how this change or addition to your biz will benefit them, so they are lining up in droves to buy.

Myth #3 “My brand should appeal to as many people as possible”

I know that it seems like MORE is a good strategy for your business, but it really isn’t.

When you first start out, you want your brand to attract any client and all clients. But at some point, you’ll hit a wall and learn that it’s difficult to sustain a business that doesn’t have a specific, target audience.  

You actually want your brand to be laser-focused, narrow, and specific in your expertise. This will increase your relevancy, help you become more memorable and referable, and make you stand out from the other generic competitors. 

Have you fallen for any of these branding myths?

If they have restricted your beliefs about branding in the past, it’s time to let them go and take action! If you don’t invest the time it takes to craft your brand and message, others will, and you’ll get passed over and left behind.

Start your brand strategy early, develop a message beyond just a logo and find your power niche. These three simple steps are the key to a captivating brand that attracts clients.

Need help with your brand building? Download my FREE Ready, Set Brand guide to get you brand clarity FAST.