So what are the ingredients in a brand?
Let me count the ways . . . wait . . . I can't count that high.
The multitude and plethora of possibilities boggles, how 'bout we keep this simple and let your brand reveal itself. In fact, I'll bet if you asked your customers to, they could describe your brand. And, you doubting Thomas-es should ask, you might be surprised.
The truth is you've been branding about all along. The color of your sheets, the quality of supplies, the environment you create, the vehicle you drive, the media you advertise in, the clothes you wear, the niche market you chose and even the market that chose you.
Modality and style are a brand, and so is your locale or the fact that you have multiple locations. You may not have branded consciously, but you have a brand.
Big corporations with buckets of R&D funds are able to drive their brand down our throat, but massage therapists generally don't have that kind of money. And, even though corporate branding can be obnoxious, they do the research necessary and ask the questions needed to identify what it is that their customer relates to.
A more potent question is not how to brand, but how to brand consciously, with strategy, clarity and consistency?
The trick is to flush out the pieces of your creation that are working, creating interest, and minimize the pieces that are not, then highlight and sell, (read that: point out with confidence and pride, and share your story), your brand.
That last part is where you communicate what's working by saying out loud, in print, by behavior . . . this is what I do, and this is what you can expect.
Basically your brand is a combination of things you do or the way you present your massage business and values.
Want a simple start to branding? Give your massage business a consistent professional look.
- A Logo
- A web location
- A look
- A color scheme
- A uniform
- A story
- Values
- A mission
- Community Interest
- A project
- A friendly 2-way method of communications
- An assessment process
- A feedback process
- Personal Interest or challenge to share
- An expected sequence of events
- Repetitive Advertising
- Cross Marketing with related/representative themed businesses
It actually boils right down to what you wear, how you speak, where you do your business, and what interests you hold as a person. Truth is the best brand is an honest brand. That means you consistently present your values in a way that makes people like you, your work, and what you represent.
It's one of the reasons that it's so important to be natural and to continue to develop both personally and professionally.
If you don't know what your brand is, you may give confusing messages to the public and your potential customers. This is by no means a judgment of character . . . yet it is an opportunity to get conscious of what message you deliver while branding about.
If you have questions that I can help you with, respond in the comments so we can all learn together!
Best of success to you,
~ B ~
rebelmassage@yahoo.com
http://www.massagemsoi.com
http://massagetrend.blogspot.com
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