As a business owner, you already know that a strong brand is more than just a logo or a catchy tagline. It’s the core of the business, the reason for its existence and the inspiration for your customers to buy. Your brand is what sets you apart from your competitors, resonates with your customers, and establishes a lasting connection. But how do you uncover and define your brand’s soul? In this two-part series, I will break down the process of finding your brand’s soul into easy-to-understand steps, showcasing a few real-world examples to inspire and guide you along the way.
Defining Your Values
Oftentimes I see startups or entrepreneurs try to go to market with little consideration for how they plan to progress and grow beyond “sell more stuff.” They are so focused on their idea, their creation, and the reasons it is awesome that they forget to think about how to make sure their future customers also think it’s awesome! While passion is a commendable starting point, it’s important to recognize a critical truth: not all customers share the same values. Your values are the guiding principles that inform your business decisions and interactions with customers. They define who you are and what you stand for. By identifying your core values and integrating them into your brand, you can build trust and loyalty with those whose values do align with yours.
- Make time for introspection. Think about the principles and beliefs that are important to you as an individual. Consider your personal values, such as honesty, integrity, or social responsibility. Jot them down as you think of them.
- If you have a team or any co-founders, involve them in the process too. Conduct a few brainstorming sessions where everyone shares their values and beliefs.
- Identify individuals, businesses, or leaders you admire. Explore their values and the principles they uphold. You can draw inspiration from these role models when defining your own values.
- Are you or your team believers in environmental or social responsibility? Ethical practices are becoming increasingly important values for both businesses and consumers.
In Practice
Warby Parker is an eyewear company who has pushed to make their commitment to fair pricing and human rights a core statute of their business model. They began designing glasses in-house to keep prices down. Through their “Buy a Pair, Give a Pair” program they have provided over 13 million glasses to people around the world who may not otherwise have been able to obtain them. In doing so, they have created a brand that resonates with morally-conscious consumers.
Read their brand story
Crafting a Compelling Brand Story
After you have a clear understanding of your values, it’s time to shape your brand story. A compelling story is what separates the greats from the rest. When presented correctly, it inspires customer loyalty, builds trust, and evokes an emotional response that helps drive organic discussion and growth. To truly engage with your audience, be authentic, transparent and memorable. People connect with stories that feel genuine and relatable. Avoid hyperbole and instead, focus on how your brand can truly help solve your customers’ problems. Think about the values you identified earlier and how they might impact your story. How might those values might also be reflected by the channels you choose to tell your story? For example, if you are sustainability-focused and must print something, your business might want to only print on recycled or eco-friendly materials.
Identifying Your Target Audience
To find your brand’s soul, you must fully understand your target audience. Start by immersing yourself in their world! Research the market to uncover demographic information, behavior patterns, and trends. Supplement that data with customer feedback and surveys to gain direct insights. Conduct interviews, have conversations, and truly listen to what your customers have to say. Their voices hold the key to understanding their motivations and aspirations. Once you understand your target audience, you can tailor your brand to meet their needs and desires, and forge a genuine connection. This connection is what sets successful brands apart from the competition, allowing you to speak directly to your customers’ hearts and minds to make them feel understood and valued.
In Practice
Airbnb, a global online marketplace for lodging, understood the desire for authentic, local experiences. They created a platform that connects travelers with unique accommodations, capturing the essence of exploration and adventure.
Living Your Brand
Before you can hope to bring your brand’s soul to life, you must live it every day. Consider what we have discussed so far: values, storytelling, and audience. A brand’s soul isn’t just a marketing gimmick; it’s a commitment to these core components. To truly live your brand, consistency is key. Start by creating consistent experiences across all touchpoints of your business. Whether it’s your website, social media presence, or customer service interactions, ensure that each piece reflects the essence of your business. Consistency builds familiarity and trust. It establishes a sense of stability and reliability that your customers will come to associate with your brand.
Remember, living your brand is not a one-time effort; it’s a continuous commitment. It requires ongoing evaluation and refinement to adapt to changing market trends and customer needs. By focusing on staying true to your brand’s soul, you will be starting with a very solid foundation for your business upon which you can build and grow for years to come.
Understanding Your Purpose
Now that you’ve considered your values, story, audience, and ability to commit, we’ll move onto the final step of finding your brand’s soul. Ask yourself, “Why does my business exist? What problem does it solve?” This deeper purpose will guide your brand’s identity and resonate with your customers. By aligning your purpose with your brand, you can connect with the customers who share your values. Once you are able to answer this final question, and confidently express your brand’s values, story, audience, commitment and purpose, you can take the next steps and begin to reveal your newfound soul to the audience you’ve selected.
By aligning your purpose with your brand, you can connect with the customers who share your values.
In the journey from passion to purpose, we’ve explored the essential steps to define and breathe life into your business. We’ve emphasized the significance of values, storytelling, understanding your audience, and the consistent embodiment of your brand. The real-world examples of Warby Parker and Airbnb have illustrated how these principles can translate into tangible success. In next month’s follow up article, “From Abstract to Authenticity: Revealing Your Brand’s Soul,” I will delve deeper into the transformative process of taking your brand’s soul from abstract concept to an authentic, real-world embodiment. Be sure to subscribe to the CHC blog below to receive an email when part two is posted!
