When you start a craft business, you also create a brand for your business. Whether you realize it or not, every business has a brand. If you are like many new business owners, you may be unaware of your brand; therefore, you may not have begun to improve your brand. So what is a business brand, and what are some simple things you can do today to enhance your brand?
Regardless of how aware you are of your brand, it’s still there. So let’s take a look at what a business brand is.
In the craft business world, a brand is the name, design, logo, or any other distinguishing characteristic of your business. It is what sets you apart from others crafters. Your brand is the way you, as a business and individual, are perceived by those who are your audience. It is much more than just your name and logo; it is the experience the person gets when they come into contact with you. It is how others recognize you at craft fairs, on social media, and in day-to-day interactions. Branding creates a positive identity for your business, products, and customer services.
You can easily recognize large businesses’ names, logos, and colors. You also know what they offer, their values, and their reputation. They have a larger-than-life brand that represents every aspect of who they are. You can have that too, but how do you achieve that? Here are some simple steps that you can do starting today that will put you on the road to improving your brand.
Have The Mindset That You ARE A Brand
When getting into this mindset, you must change how you view yourself and your business. Ask yourself what you want people to think when they hear your business’s name.
Do you want them to think of a creative business that sells handmade products, or do you want them to think of a not-so-serious, maybe, sometimes on the side, wishy-washy hobbyist? Once you’ve got that in mind, you’ll know how to market yourself well. If you build your brand as a serious craft business owner, so will others.
Know What Your Online Presence Looks Like
Be aware of what your online presence looks like to others. Make sure you have business accounts for your social media accounts, complete them, and have clear images. This will be your first impression for your online customers.
Make sure your business name is the same across all social media accounts so that you are easily recognized on the different social media platforms. I recommend having an easy-to-spell and pronounce business name that isn’t easily confused.
Create A Business Website
Now I’m not a huge advocate for a website at the start of your business because I understand there are a lot of expenses in starting a new business. A website is one of the expenses that can wait until your business is up and running. But a simple website can help define your business brand if you have the time and extra budget.
A website doesn’t have to be complex; it can be simple. Make sure it contains your business description and a way to follow you on social media. Of course, the more professional your website looks, the more likely it will attract viewers. Having a website is always a step in the right direction.
Find Ways to Produce Value
One way to produce value is to stay in line with your brand. Posting quality posts that stay on topic with your business will create value for your customers. Only let your customers know personal information, such as what you had for lunch, if your business is about recipes or food. But for my audience, we are crafters and need to stay on topic.
Don’t just post whatever you’re thinking or feeling; post about different crafts, projects, and ideas that keep your business on topic and relevant.
Think Before You Post
Don’t post random things on your social media accounts. The people who follow your business are not interested in your life or what you did that day unless it was crafty. Make sure you don’t post so seldom that people forget about you, and don’t over-post, which could cause people to unfollow you.
Try to stay professional and adult when you post, and don’t let anyone who comments something mean cause you to be unprofessional by responding to them.
Become Friends with Other Craft Brands
One of the best things you can do is build a network with other crafters. Supporting other crafters will help you develop your business and create a positive image in the craft community.
The more allies you can associate with, the better off your business will wind up being.
Tell Your Story
What’s your story? How did you get to where you are now, and why did you begin your business? These are all interesting questions that will help build your brand.
An inspirational story will help inspire those following you and your business and will do wonders in getting your name out there. Not only that, but you should always strive to grow. Never stay in one place; always be making progress.
If you want to know more about how to tell your story, check out USING YOUR UNIQUE STORY TO SELL YOUR CRAFT PRODUCTS.
Want to know if you are ready to turn your craft hobby into a craft business? I’ve created a free checklist of the 5 Things to Have Before Starting A Craft Business so you can turn your hobby into a craft business. I created this checklist because I often see DIY Crafter and Handmade Crafters struggling with knowing how to get started as a business. If you can relate to this, my 5 Things To Have Before Starting A Craft Business is explicitly designed to help you know exactly what it takes to start a handmade business and get to do what you love, crafting. So if you’d like to take advantage of this free download.
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