When it comes to marketing and communications the single biggest mistake business owners make is focusing all their time and attention on driving tactics and campaigns, while giving little attention to their brand strategy.
“Think of your brand strategy like a GPS for your business,” says Janine Lloyd, award-winning brand strategist, founder of LloydBrand, and co-founder of Brand Growth Track.
“Without it, you might drive around in circles, wasting money and time, not to mention the stress and frustration that comes with it. With a brand strategy, you know your destination (your vision), the best route to get there (your positioning and messaging), and how to avoid traffic jams (competitors and market challenges).”
Your business needs a brand strategy because it gives you direction. Without it, you risk blending in, attracting the wrong customers, or wasting time and resources on ineffective marketing.
A strong brand strategy defines who you are, what makes you different, and how you connect with the right audiences – helping you stand out, build trust and be taken seriously.
“A strong brand also builds internal pride, inspiring employees and creating a sense of belonging, while reinforcing and driving your internal culture,” Janine explains. “It also informs how your leaders and employees talk and act, ensuring your business actions match the perception you are trying to create.”
Janine shares her 6 tips for creating a powerful brand strategy:
1. Act like a human
Most companies compete on features, benefits and price. Yet humans connect with people. Your brand has a personality and should behave like a human. Just like a person might be adventurous, nurturing, funny or reliable, your brand projects very similar traits. Your personality is a powerful psychological tool: when it feels like “someone” people want in their lives, they listen, relate to you, and stay loyal.
2. Communicate your why
Many companies focus primarily on what they do, rather than why they do it. Brands that go beyond functionality and connect with customers on an emotional level, form deeper and more lasting relationships. You need a purpose-driven brand with an inspiring ethos, a strong viewpoint, and you need to communicate how you are actively contributing to make a positive impact in your customers’ world.
3. Get very clear on who your customer is
Speaking to everyone is not good for your business. You need to get very clear on who you are talking to so that you attract the right people. When you know who you are targeting and really understand them – their needs, pain points, and aspirations – you can create messages that actually speak to them. You can now align your marketing channels, product features and campaigns in a way that actually matters to your customers.
4. Create a clear unique value proposition (UVP)
Your UVP describes the benefit of your offer, how you solve your customer’s needs and what distinguishes you from the competition. Your UVP is not just a message, it is a differentiator. It explains to your audiences exactly what your company offers that your competitors can’t. It defines your differentiation and explains why you’re the right choice to help solve their problems.
5. Create clear messages and a consistent “story”
When what you say is scattered or confusing, people tune out. However, when you are clear, customers quickly understand what you stand for and who you are, making it easier for them to buy from you. When you communicate your story consistently, you become a brand that people want to trust and follow.
6. Use AI strategically to get the best value
AI is a powerful tool to create the marketing communications your business needs – from emails, social media campaigns, to sales materials and website copy. However, if you do not give AI context or direction you will land up with generic, confusing, or inauthentic messaging. For AI to be effective you need to “brief” it, and that is where your brand strategy or “GPS” comes in.
Marketing moves the car, but strategy drives the journey. “When your brand has direction, every campaign has impact,” Janine concludes. “So, stop guessing, start steering, and watch your brand arrive exactly where it was meant to be.
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Roger Boniface is the founder of EDISIM, a training provider that uses simulations to offer real-world learning experiences in the classroom. In under three years, he has managed to integrate his business simulation concept into some of Africa\’s top business schools. He lectures at Wits and GIBS in South Africa and Strathmore Business School in Nairobi. Named as one of the 30 under 30 Africans to watch by Forbes, Boniface is also the founder of Artson, an event company that hosts art and wine tasting experiences, and he took on JCB, a small textile wholesaler. Although he didn\’t launch JCB, he has increased the annual turnover to R13 million in 3 years.