Is branding as important to small businesses as it is to big corporates?

Answer 1

Good question!

I am always impressed when small business owners think hard about their branding.

My two-part answer:
1. Yes, small business branding is very important
2. No, small business branding is not the same as big corporate branding (no matter what those design agencies try to sell you!)

For example, your small business "brand" may very well start with just your name. Your first branding activities may consist of developing a "logo" treatment of your name and website address and then ensuring that this "brand" appears on everything you produce and distribute. You will also want to make sure that your business is referred to in precisely the same way in everything you produce. Early branding can start out that simply.

You should not get sucked into expensive graphic design or ad agency brand work .... those are not at all necessary when you're starting out and they will use your precious start-up funds.

However, developing your true brand identity and values is important from the very start. And you can grow from there.

Good luck with your business

Answer 2

I think branding is vital, even with small businesses.
A brand is more than a logo, it is how a customer feels about your business, its about what you stand for. You don't need a huge budget to build your brand, just make it easy for people to talk about your service.
If what you do is easy to sum up in a single sentence, then word of mouth will have a massive impact on building your brand and making your company great.

Answer 3

Not to my small 4 man, £450k T/O business. Remember in many cases, people buy from people. This can be true whether your business is big or small. My customers couldn't give a stuff how fancy the website is, or how posh the letter headings are. They care that we do the job properly, to budget and on time.

Business is alot simpler than many people make it out to be.

Answer 4

Yes, it just varies in style and application. What you can deliver in terms of a one-person business (hopefully qualities like professionalism, personal service, quality) etc need to be "corporate standards" in giant industry leviathians.

The best small brands probably argue they do no "marketing" or "branding" - they do, but its just endemic in ALL that they do, and doesn't cost one zillion $'s with advertising agencies attached!

Answer 5

A brand is a profesional label and helps the customer identify and later recognise a good product.

Answer 6

Most definately yes.....We spent time and money changing our branding and it has really paid off. We combined the brand change with local sponership, press releases and generally anything else to get our name out there.

Answer 7

Yes it is because ur small business will only b a corporate in da time 2come. So if u have goodwill as a small firm only den y not?

kudos.....

Answer 8

Actually no....if you disagree then tell me what the "brand" is of your local supermarket or florist or gas station or lawyer.

Branding takes MILLIONS SPENT EACH YEAR...it's about conveying the image and not just the product. 90% of startups fail in the first 5 years because they can't even market...and you're worried about branding?

It's insane...it's very very much like a person who has a min. wage job, pays child support, but is concerned about getting new rims for his crappy car. (thanks to Judge Judy for the example).

Answer 9

All product are inventory by bar codes that products are issued when they go into the industry markets.Unless you make your own things and sell out of your home base store and not out side it the answer is yes.

Answer 10

Yes, absolutely!!

It sets you apart from your competitors.

Make sure that you use your branding on EVERYTHING !!