Your brand is your image, and with millions of products and services competing for consumer loyalties, today’s images means more than ever. Unfortunately, a great product/service alone often isn’t enough to put you on top (or anywhere near it).
In recent Fast Company article, Emily Heyward gives a unique perspective on the importance of branding. “When I was in middle school, we had a blind cola taste test (not entirely sure what the intended educational purpose was, but what I learned stuck with me). The contenders were Coke, Pepsi, and RC Cola. Everyone had their bets as to who would win between Coke and Pepsi. And guess what? RC won by a landslide. Everyone in the class preferred the taste of this brand that I don’t think you can even find anymore in the U.S.”
You CAN still buy RC Cola. The fact that the author is unaware of this says something, does it not? RC Cola has a great product, but it’s not as widely recognized as Pepsi and Coke. Why? Marketing of course. Your name (and much more than that, the image you generate to go with it) are your brand. Getting your name out there gets you remembered when it’s time for the consumer/client to decide whose product/service they will choose.
Still think you can wait to develop your brand?
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