| Branding is the ability to distinguish your products/services within a target market and brand equity is the total value of a brand based on associations and expectations.
Following are key elements that help determine brand equity: |
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1. Brand Awareness is critical and falls into two categories:
- Recognition: refers to consumers remembering past exposure to your brand.
- Recall: is about what product/service comes to mind when a category is discussed.
2. Brand Loyalty measures how loyal a consumer is to a brand:
- Cultivate strong relationships by providing exceptional customer service and high quality products/services.
- Offer loyalty rewards and incentives to encourage repeat purchases and referrals.
3. Perceived Quality is the value consumers equate with a brand … perception is everything:
- Differentiate yourself from competitors – specialization and/or exclusivity can lead to a higher perceived quality.
- Share your brand story to build trust and establish an emotional connection; consider how your product/service addresses customer needs.
4. Actual Associations is anything with which a consumer might associate a brand:
- Use a logo, specific color, tagline, etc., to encourage consumers to think about your business.
- Ensure consistency across all marketing materials, such as websites, social media profiles, etc., creating a cohesive visual identity.
Brand equity is an invaluable resource that sets your product/service apart and keeps your customers loyal. Understanding this equity can help generate insights to help narrow down a target market and determine a brand’s need for growth or repositioning.
Source: Entrepreneur.com, reported by Erica Dushley Saraway, Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor/VP Marketing & Sales