7 minute read

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Your Brand is how customers perceive who you are and what you do. And if you ask me, it’s the most important part of your business.

But what does it mean to invest in your Brand?

Traditionally, we think of brands as big corporate companies like McDonald’s, Apple, and GAP. For them, investing in their Brand involves multi-million dollar budgets and hiring marketing and design agencies to help change people’s minds about their Brand.

But for the girl next door. Business looks a lot different.

To grow your business, you need to make strategic investments in building and marketing your Brand. 

What investing in your Brand will look like for you depends on your season of life & business – and your most valuable resources, time, and money.

• Scenario 1: Early on, you may have more time but less money to work with when it comes to building your Brand, so you tackle what you can on your own and only invest when necessary.

• Scenario 2: As you build your business and add to your already full plate – time becomes a more valuable resource than money, and you invest in outsourcing anything that isn’t the best use of your time to someone more specialized in that chapter of your Brand’s development.

• Scenario 3: Anywhere between 1-2, you are weighing the scales to choose which resource is more valuable to you now, money or time.

Pro tip: If investing in your Brand can save you time and make you more money in the long run – it’s a win-win.

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4 Ways you can invest in your Brand:

🕘🕘🕘🕘💲Research: You can learn pretty much anything in a google search bar

🕘🕘🕘💲💲Education: Workshops, courses, resources, and content from other entrepreneurs and creators who have done what you are trying to do.

🕘🕘💲💲💲Done-with-you: Coaching, Mentorship, and Consultations.

🕘💲💲💲💲Done-for-you: Hiring A Brand designer

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Now that you understand why you need to prioritize investing in your Brand and what that investment could look like for you. Let’s talk about the three most impactful ways you can invest in your Brand.

I’ve curated this list after working in digital marketing for over five years and studying firsthand how investing in your Brand can set entrepreneurs like you up for long-term success, fewer headaches, and a more fulfilling business model.

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1. Brand Strategy

Brand strategy refers to the long-term plan for how a brand will achieve its goals and objectives. Developing your Brand’s strategy includes defining the Brand’s purpose, values, target audience, and unique value proposition.

Real talk- I teach my 1:1 clients to consider their brand strategy as their Brand’s blueprint. It guides the entire project. Without it, you risk encountering structural and foundational issues within your Brand and business. Therefore, every decision you make when building your Brand should be rooted in the strategy and plan to bring the vision for your business to life.

Signs you need to invest in strategy:

• You feel unclear about how to bring your idea for a brand and business to life.

• You have a hard time talking to one person in your marketing and need a clear idea of who your audience or niche is.

• You feel the need to constantly change your Brand’s visual elements in hopes that it will resonate with your audience.

How you can invest in your Brand’s strategy:

• The DIY Option: Your strategy should be the first thing you invest in when you start a business. If you feel confident taking this step on, on your own, there are tons of resources online to help you (check out our template).
  • Disclaimer: I can tell you from personal experience that developing your Brand is hard. You hold it so close. It means a lot to you; you can get too inside it. Your Brands strategy is an example of where you should get some trusted feedback or 1:1 help. A second set of eyes is quite possibly the third most valuable thing in your business.

• Done With You Version: Work with a brand strategist to help you develop and understand the value behind your Brand and create a plan for how you will articulate it (Check out our Brand Foundations offers)

When something needs to be clarified or fixed, your first step should be to look at your strategy for solutions. Of course, as a passionate entrepreneur, the mission and vision of your Brand should remain true. Still, the rest of your Brand’s strategy is a living, breathing document that will need to be adjusted over time as your business grows and your industry evolves.

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2. Brand Identity

The simplest way to think of your brand identity is everything that people see and, more importantly, recognize. Your Brand Identity includes your logo, colors, fonts, and overall brand design, as well as your messaging and how your interact with your audience. Your Brand identity should be one of a kind (just like you).

Developing a brand identity as an entrepreneur has not traditionally been considered necessary. But digital marketing changed all of that. Now, people expect to get a feel for who you are, what you do, and how you do it through a computer screen before ever even having a conversation with you.

How you present your Brand online will directly inform your audience’s impression of your business. Therefore, your Brand should look, feel, and sound like you.

Signs you need to invest in your brand identity:

• What people see online when it comes to your Brand is inconsistent or non-existent

• What people see & read doesn’t accurately represent your Brand’s values or vision

• Your Brand looks, feels, and sounds like everyone else – and doesn’t stand out in your industry.
• Your branding is outdated.

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How can you invest in your brand identity?

• The DIY option: Use templates and design tools to create your own brand identity
• The Done-For-You-Option: Hire a professional designer to create a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing brand identity. Most designers offer different tiers ( check out our brand intensives and custom packages) of services to meet your needs and budget.

🌶 Hot take: investing in just a logo is a waste of money

You are better off investing in a Brand cohesive brand identity designed so that each element compliments the other and works together to build brand recognition and convert fans into die-hards. #brandloyalty

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3. Website

If you don’t have a brick-and-mortar physical location that your ideal clients can pass by on an afternoon walk – then your website is the online equivalent of your storefront.

Whether they happen upon you in a google search or seek you out directly – people are going to your website to get to know you, what you do, how you do it, and let’s be real here… how much it costs to be a part of your world.

Your website is your stake in the ground that is digital marketing. I often call your website the showpiece of your Brand. 

I want you to have a website that gets bookmarked. A website that engages the viewer, speaks to different selling styles and tells your story—helps people form the same connections with you as if they were walking into your storefront.

Signs you need to invest in your website:

• Your website traffic is decreasing, or you have low conversion rates.

• Your website is outdated.

• Your website isn’t mobile-friendly.

• Your website content is disorganized.

• Your Brand has evolved, and your website no longer represents the value of what you do.

• You are embarrassed by your website.
  • Sounds harsh, I know, but I have clients tell me this a lot.

• You don’t understand how to make the most of your website.

• People can’t find you online.

How can you invest in your website?

• DIY approach: You can use website builders and templates to create your website.

• Done with you approach: Many designers offer template customization (check out our branding intensives) as an option for brands who want a professional touch without the cost of custom design.

• Done For You approach: You can hire a professional web designer to create a custom website that accurately reflects your Brand (check out our custom packages)

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Investing in your Brand is crucial for any business owner wanting to grow their business online. Your Brand is how customers perceive who you are and what you do, and it is an essential part of your business. It sets you apart from your competitors and helps you build a lasting relationship with your audience. That’s why it’s essential to make strategic investments as you build and market your Brand to increase its perceived value and brand recognition.

Here at Cedar June, I offer a wide range of services to help entrepreneurs like you develop their brands in every season of life and business.

My branding services are designed to help you build a brand that stands out in your industry and resonates with your target audience. I believe that every Brand is unique and deserves a customized approach. Therefore, I work closely with my clients to understand their business goals, target audience, and values to create a brand that accurately reflects their vision and mission.

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If you are ready to invest in your Brand – check out our newly updated Services.

If you are still in the DIY Camp ⛺️ – I’ve got lots more love (and smores and fireside stories) for you on Instagram and in my Weekly Newsletter – click here to subscribe.

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