Small businesses are the engine of our economy. Do you agree?
Women-owned small business setups are increasing by the day, empowering more and more women. Female-led businesses are on the rise, becoming a force to be reckoned with.
However, reaching the sky is still a struggle for many businesswomen in a widely male-powered world. There’s a lot at stake for female entrepreneurs in their ability to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace.
With these small business branding ideas, you can make your small biz a buzz in the town! It’s time to stand out and thrive no matter your obstacles.
Design A Unique Brand Identity
A unique brand identity for a female-led small business is an important thing to have. It helps to create a memorable and recognizable image for the company. It also makes it easier to stand out from other businesses in the same industry.
Founder at QuenchList, Fanny Surjana advised, “As a female-led business, you want to make sure your brand identity is strong and recognizable. Use colors representing your brand, and create a style guide to maintain consistency across all marketing materials. It’s also important to invest in quality design and photography.”
For successful brand identity design, it’s essential to do research first. Find out what brands in your industry are doing well and what they’re not doing so well. Then you can use this information to build your own brand identity that will make you stand out in the crowd.
Image Source: neelyandchloe
Attach A Compelling Story
It is not easy to be a woman in business, but you need an edge over your competitors if you want to succeed. Your brand has to be memorable and unique so that people will remember it when looking for what they need. The best way of doing this is telling a story because people love stories, and they will remember yours as well.
Leader and Recruiter of USScrapYard, Hannah Dworkin said, “You need to place a strong emphasis on presenting genuine stories both ‘on-stage’ and ‘off-stage’ if you want to increase the value of your brand and win the affection of one thousand of your most devoted fans.”
Stories have always enticed human beings because they build a culture of sharing and caring. A gripping tale can inspire us, motivate us, and move us.
CEO of CouchFrame, Sammy Shayne said, “Branding female-led businesses depends on the story of the business and the values.” Women business owners need a story for their brand because they are not as visible in the marketplace as their male counterparts.
A story can help them stand out and create a personal connection with their customers. In a male-dominated world, female entrepreneurs have to tell their stories to gain trust and make their brand memorable.
Image Source: creamandamber
Explore: Success Stories Of World’s Winning Startups Led By Women
Make Use Of Advertising Appeals
You may think about the relevancy of advertising appeals in branding, but they are vital to a brand. Ad appeals are strategies used in marketing communication to attract attention and persuade customers to take action, such as inquiring about a product or buying a service.
CEO of FindPeopleFaster, Ellie Walters said, “The kind of branding that is fitting for a small business led by you as a woman should be branding that focuses on appealing to the emotions of your client base. Emotional intelligence is a vital tool in branding female-led businesses.”
There are different ways to use advertising appeals to target female consumers – such as through marketing messages that feature female empowerment or emotional triggers like fear or guilt to motivate purchase decisions.
Co-founder at iPayDayLoans, Mila Garcia explained, “Emotional branding is the one advantage all female-led businesses have. You must focus on cementing your brand identity with a brand story that is at the heart of everything that you do.” For this, consistency and creativity are essential elements of success.
Image Source: symbologyclothing
Tap On The Power Of Social Media
Today, social media holds the key to global branding and marketing success. It is an excellent and cost-effective way to promote your business. It can reach a wider audience than your website. It can also help you build a solid and loyal following. Social media is for networking, customer service, and community building.
Founder and CEO of Kroma Wellness, Lisa Odenweller advised, “Use social media like Instagram and Twitter, which encourages a conversational tone even from businesses. Make posts where the CEO details their entrepreneurial journey. Displaying the business as a team of individuals will garner more consumer loyalty, especially from women.”
When it comes to using social media for branding purposes, there are many ways female entrepreneurs can take advantage of these platforms. For example:
- Facebook and Instagram ads can be used for targeting specific audiences
- Twitter is an excellent platform for following influencers in your industry
- LinkedIn is an excellent place for posting content about your company
Image Source: taskrabbit
Research Before Branding
While all the ideas and practices above are important to small business branding, the core of it all is research. The research will help identify what the target audience wants, how they want to be approached, and how they want to be treated. It is important that the woman-owned businesses understand their target audience in and out.
CEO of Connecticut Explore, Suzanne Bucknam emphasized the significance of conducting research. She said, “Be sure to conduct market research and ask yourself pertinent questions related to the brand and its audience. Keep yourself updated with the latest news in the field, and trends, and be harsh with your questions, only then will you be prepared.” For such research, make use of data analytics tools that help entrepreneurs monitor and evaluate large sums of data regarding buyers.
Last Note
Know that no matter if you are branding a female-led business, rules and processes are usually the same unless you break conventions.
Co-founder of Step by Step, Esther Strauss said, “Branding is branding, whether the leader is male or female. You’re branding the business and the value you provide to your customers, not a person. Building a brand means first defining what your brand is, and then designing all your messaging to reflect that brand.” And this is partially true except for when it comes to the aesthetics and tone of the business.
The typography may vary, colors may differ from one gender to another, and even the overall persona may slightly conflict between a male versus a female entrepreneur. So when branding a small business for a female entrepreneur, make sure to understand the client and the brand before proceeding with the branding process.
Do you have any branding ideas in mind for female-owned businesses?