Digital branding has its merits in producing fantastic results towards businesses both small and large. It is a means to personal branding too as we look towards an integrated digital era where work and personal ambitions combine in a unified online persona. Let’s take a look at what you can reap as you focus on digital branding.
1. PLATFORM PREPARATION
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail” – Benjamin Franklin. We are uncertain of the future if we do not start preparing and using technologies of the future. Digital branding allows you to constantly work and massage digital assets such as social media platforms where it acts as a place for content dissemination to a ready community.
2. PEOPLE (Community)
Once you get into the momentum of preparing your social media platforms, the constant exercise of digital branding allows you to build a community of advocates that will have a higher chance of brand loyalty and communication. Content fed to them are more relevant and allows for a more receptive bunch of consumers.
3. CITIZEN JOURNALISM
A community is made up of different individuals that have their own characteristic and level of advocacy towards your brand. In the case of customer to customer (C2C) marketing, these individuals that are highly vocal; always willing to share their experience, will be your evangelists. They become your journalists to push for your brand’s promise, experience and product / service.
4. FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Building your brand digitally allows for quick feedback. First impressions online are vital to whether that lead stays or drops out. With proper digital branding and strategising, your brand has higher chances of capturing that lead with multiple impressions; curating content and a brand image that suits that lead. Make sure to constantly ensure that your brand is on-point with its overall look and messaging.
5. LEAD GENERATION
Ultimately, brands want to generate leads and convert them into customers. With a ready platform, a committed community and brand evangelists, it is almost in auto-pilot when a potential customer discovers your brand. If that lead is your target audience, proper digital branding allows for a quicker feedback and decision making from that lead. Take it one step further and capture that lead with a campaign; collect their data in exchange for a reasonable gift / prize so that they can experience your brand with a lower barrier of entry. Note: Always state clear terms of data usage, do not misuse data for mass marketing.
Your brand can still run without an online presence or any form of digital branding. However, what sets your brand apart with digital branding is the headstart you have to manoeuvre through the changing times, intentionally communicate with your intended target audience and stay far in front of your competitors. Give your brand that edge and make it global.
Read Part 1 for the benefits of digital branding.
