Brand values are an essential part of your business, whether you run a physical store, an eCommerce site, or both. Show
You need customers who want to buy from you because they believe in your brand. To do that, you need strong core values that are well communicated to your employees, partners, and customers. Here is what you need to know about establishing strong brand values. What brand values are right for your business?For most people, the first values that occur to them are rather vague: quality and reliability stand out quicky as brand values that most businesses can get behind. By explaining just how your business embodies this value, you can better distinguish why it is an essential part of your company's core values. Considering a wide range of brand values can help you to determine just how to break down your business brand value into themes that you can incorporate into every aspect of your business. A list of values is a great way to brainstorm what is essential to your brand mission. If your mind goes to quality, consider values like accuracy, attention to detail, consistency, craftsmanship, excellence, expertise, and precision. On the other hand, if you want to express customer service look at values like accessibility, approachability, care, communication, customer-centric, dependability, and empathy. What brand values are right for your business?Core brand values are at the center of your brand. They are incorporated into the look of your brand, your marketing campaigns, and the relationships that you forge through customer service. StructureMost business owners know how important it is for a brand to be consistent and distinct, but many people don't realize how vital brand value is to every aspect of your company. Value gives your brand form. Without it, your efforts to create consistent branding will fall short. Product SalesA brand is more than the value of the products or services that it sells. By building a positive association in the minds of customers, you can charge more for the products in your brick and mortar store or eCommerce website. Consumers are more likely to buy from a brand with whom they share values. Furthermore, loyal customers will keep buying from you again and again. By having strong brand values and encouraging customer retention, you can make sure that you will continue to get their sales for years to come. If you have an online store, you may benefit even more from strong core values, since customers may be less willing to trust an online company unless they have built a strong sense of a core brand and associated values. How do you write brand values?Brand values are a crucial part of a strong brand. They are the core values that your company believes in and stands for. A strong sense of brand values builds morale within your company and increases loyalty to your brand. This can be especially important for eCommerce business and other online businesses that may struggle to create a sense of connection with employees and customers. Great brand values should:
Creating brand values that accomplish these goals may not be simple, but it is important. Distinguish values from goalsYour business doubtless has several goals that are fundamental to your business success. These aims define where you hope your business will go and what you long to achieve. It is essential to differentiate goals from values because, very often, they may contradict one another. You may have a monetary goal to meet or a big purchase that has always been a hope for your company, but your brand values might discourage you from meeting that goal. Goals are where you want your business to go. Values are how your business behaves as it gets there. Do your researchCompetitionYou may share some values with another company, especially if they have a similar business to your own, but you should not have core brand values that line up perfectly with someone else's company values. Know what other company's core values are so that you can differentiate yourself. Target AudienceThe best brand values are those that also appeal to people who purchase from your brand, encouraging brand loyalty. Find out what your target audience values and work that into your list of core values. Brand StoryThis can be an easy bit of research to overlook. You already know your brand, so why research your story? Whether you started your company yourself or not, it is essential to step back and look at how your company started and where it is going. There is a good chance that a significant core value is buried in your brand story. Authentic branding wins customersOne of the most common mistakes that businesses make when they are defining their core values is trying to be too idealistic. Consumers will look right through brand values that are too
whitewashed and perfect. You want core brand values that reflect the reality of what your business is and helps customers to feel like they can connect with you. Instead of safe, "pretty" values, think about the raw feelings and struggles that connect your brand to the world. Sometimes it is better to start with a negative experience. By thinking of how your company worked through a difficult time, you may find the significant
brand value hidden in that experience. Think of what made you feel angry, uncomfortable, or disappointed in your company. Then, think of the opposite feeling:
A strong brand can be the difference between an abandoned cart, and a conversion.
What do you stand for?Sometimes we get caught up in thinking what we want our business to be and the differences between where we are and where we want to be, without thinking enough about the bottom line of what we stand for. Measuring and hoping for growth is great, but don't let it get in the way of thinking about what makes you proud to be a part of your company. What would you say about your company if you were
bragging to a friend who didn't know what you did? How about if you were explaining your company to an older person who you respect? Looking at your company from another angle can help you arrive at your core values. Ruling out optionsSome of the first
values that may occur to you may not be the best. There are many values that you want your business to embody, but you can't use them all as your core brand values. You need to choose the values that can accomplish your three goals: clear and sincere, build connections, and set you apart. You may find that value is heartfelt to your company and builds connections with your employees and audiences, but it does nothing to set you apart. Or you may find a very
unique value, but realize that it won't do much to connect you with your audience. Generic values that are no more than sound principles of business are also not good options. You want customers to see that you are going and above and beyond, not adhering to the bare minimum of business ethics. Examples of brand valuesOne of the best ways to develop your brand strategy around values is to look at what other companies have done. Every brand experience is different. You cannot expect a giant corporation like Coca Cola to have the same sort of values as a growing eCommerce company. However, looking at the ways that another company has formed its core values can
help you develop your own, sometimes in unexpected ways. Here are some summarized examples of brand values. Check here and here for the full lists. BigCommerce
Cars.com
What are some examples of brand values?Brand Values Examples. We back our customers.. We make it great.. We do what's right.. We respect people.. We embrace diversity.. We stand for inclusion.. We win as a team.. We support our communities.. Which would be an example of a way that a brand can add value to a product?Companies that build strong brands increase value just by adding their logo to a product. Nike can sell shoes at a much higher price than some of its competitors, even though their production costs may be similar.
How does a brand create value for the customer?How do brands create value for the customer and the firm? They facilitate purchases by making a product easily recognized, they establish loyalty because consumers begin to trust certain brands, they protect the firm from competition, and reduce marketing costs.
How can brands and companies best communicate their values in a way that is genuine?Top Tips to Authentically Communicate Brand Values. Tip #1: Weave Your Values Across the Customer Experience.. Tip #2: Support Your Values With Real Data.. Tip #3: Make Opportunities for Customers to Participate in Holding up Your Values With You.. Tip #4: Bring Your Team and Customers Into the Conversation.. |