Branding with a twist

While the internet features many, many, many, many (you get the idea) tips on strengthening your brand, we like to tackle it from a different angle: Here is 10 Unusual Ways to Strengthen Your Brand

1. Be authentic rather than “relatable”. Yep, “relatable” wins the prize for most overused word of the year. In layman’s terms, don’t be a try-hard. Gain trust through authenticity.  
    
2. Aim for 1 great conversation over 100 mediocre “interactions”. Oh yay – another overhyped buzzword. Remember that real relationships are built on real conversation.
    
3. Tell your customers what you can DO for them. So your brand won 3 gold medals in the Macarena Championships – but how does that improve your customers’ lives?
    
4. How about some old-fashioned “listening”? We live in a world of automated responses and pre-recorded messages, which makes being heard somewhat of a rarity.
    
5. REALLY put yourself in their shoes. Don’t rely on statistics and demographics to tell you what your customer wants. Go the extra mile to experience what they experience.
    
6. Never underestimate the power of testimonials. This doesn’t mean sitting your customer down to film a TV ad. No! Find creative ways to showcase a good review.
    
7. Don’t shy away from transparency. Consumers love brands that aren’t afraid to be open about their trials, mistakes and uphill battles. Show off those battle scars, baby!
    
8. Under-promise and over-deliver. Place more emphasis on your service delivery rather than on self-promotion – a sure-fire way to exceed customer expectations every flippin’ time!
    
9. Boldly go where no brand has gone before. Don’t be afraid to push the boundaries to do what’s right for your brand – even if it means breaking the rules or risking failure.  
    
10. Remember that simple is usually better. In a world where everyone is fighting and shouting to be heard, it’s often the simplest message that cuts through the clutter.
     
11. Keep moving, keep adapting, keep engaging. No matter how big your brand is, there’s always work to be done. As the world keeps changing, so should your brand.

“Hey, wait a minute! That’s 11 tips – not 10!” Well spotted. That’s just an example of how you under-promise, and over-deliver (refer to point 8 above). Nudge-nudge, wink-wink.