One of the hardest things to do when building a successful company is creating and maintaining brand authenticity. This means developing a brand that is true to you but also appeals to your target audience. It’s something that takes consistency and passion. Sounds easy? Like we said, it can be one of the hardest things you have to do as a business owner… and that’s okay. 

SO LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR BRAND

When it comes to branding, your brand isn’t just your visuals, your brand is the perfect combo of design, language, storytelling, and relatability. Your brand represents YOU. By keeping your brand true to yourself, you’re better able to maintain consistency. When we start removing the authenticity from our brand, we feel disconnected from it, which in turn means our audience feels disconnected from it too. Being able to be consistent with your brand, in turn means that your audience will consistently engage with your brand.

Your brand, its visuals and its voice, makes you relatable. It showcases your personality, and most importantly it builds trust. When your audience feels like they can talk to you like their friend, that’s when the real connection happens.

We always say that when marketing and selling your business/services it’s 80% who you are and 20% what you do. So that means showcasing YOU through your brand is imperative. 

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAINTAIN YOUR BRAND AUTHENTICITY? 

Tell your story

People are tired of all the fake stuff on the internet, from shiny social media to totally fabricated reviews. So when it comes to social media, we recommend showing up personally and authentically. Business owners often show only the joyful side of life, which isn’t very relatable. We all struggle and showing the joyful side is always easier. However, your struggles make you human. People want to know the person and face BEHIND the brand, not just the polished result. You don’t need to post every second of your day, but when you do share your life, people forge a connection with you. By extension, what you’re building professionally and providing to better their life will mean more to them.

Know your values

If your company doesn’t hasn’t established its core values, we highly recommend it! The TVSCo. Core values are Transparency, Accountability, Dignity, Polish, Self-advocacy, and Empowerment. By following these, our teamwork is smoother and our client experience is, too. 

Consistency

We preach consistency around here and we don’t mean using the same graphic colors, etc. every time. We mean maintaining the same messaging, visuals, and goals across all the platforms and channels you are on. If your website is purple but your social media is green, your visuals don’t align, so how can your viewers trust they are engaging with the right company? The same thing goes for messaging. People want someone they can rely on to solve their problems. If your brand looks messy, it may deter the ideal client. 

Humanize your brand

AI is changing most markets, influencing the marketing world, saturating our screens with repetitive news. So find ways to stand out! By engaging with genuine comments, sharing behind the scenes, and, of course, NOT relying on ChatGPT for everything, you show viewers that YOU (not some random robot) are there for them.

Adapt

So often, clients come to us with marketing in place, but it doesn’t adapt to the changing trends, market demands, and their target demographic. So a shift has to take place. But no matter what shifts you need to make, hold onto your values and continue to focus on your consumer’s needs! Marketing shifts are rarely about finding a new identity; they’re just new ways of presenting the identity you already have.

Lastly, never be afraid to ask for help.

Talking about ourselves and putting yourself out there can often feel intimidating, especially when we start to overthink or don’t know where to start. If you see yourself approaching this wall or if you just need some guidance along the way, ask others who know you well for insight. This can create the starting point you need, and give you a little confidence boost too.

So let yourself shine through your brand, and implement ways to keep it authentic to your core identity. Soon enough, your messaging and visuals will fall into place and maintaining it will be a breeze. 

You’re doing great. 

PS: if you need help or a jump start, our inbox is always open.