It is no surprise that we love plants here at the Greenhouse and think that the growth of a brand is not too dissimilar to the growth of a plant. So here is a rundown, from brand expert Ash Greenhough, of the key elements you need to focus on, when growing your business!
Light – A plant needs light to grow. So does your brand! The more exposure you get, the more well-known your brand becomes. It’s important to remember that your brand is far more than just a logo. Your brand is the core of your business and should be a critical element in your business planning – your brand affects how your company is perceived, it increases business value and it gives you more credibility. You want your brand to build awareness, trust and loyalty with your audience.
Water – Water is so important to plant growth. Without it, the plant will inevitably die. If you liken this to business, healthy flow of income is a critical component to keeping any business thriving. Like a plant without water, a business without income could struggle on for a short while – a stressful time for both! – but ultimately, it wouldn’t survive. That’s why it is so important to pour regular time and money into your brand – to lessen the drought. Despite the temptation to pull back on advertising and brand development in the busy times, remember that it is important to keep the flow of communication running between your business and your target market…connecting with the people who are not just ready to buy now but to those who will be ready to buy in 3, 6 month's time. Make time in your planning to work on getting (and keeping) your brand at the fore of your customer's thoughts, all year long.
Fertiliser – Plants need fertiliser to keep growing. Fertiliser ensures plants don’t lose necessary nutrients and keeps them strong and healthy to last long into the future. So, let us help you to make sure your business is future proofed! We can help you to redefine the category you are in and make sure your brand stands out amongst the rest. Keep your brand well fed and relevant – think about all the ways you can communicate to clients, such as social media, website engagement, print material. Connecting with clients will help to strengthen and grow your brand.
Pruning – Plants need pruning to improve growth. Likewise, a brand needs continuous maintenance in order to grow, remain relevant and never get stagnant. Make time in your yearly plan to review your branding and see what is working and what isn’t. We live in an “attention economy” so it is important to invest time into ensuring your brand is getting the recognition it deserves! The market will always change so you need to ensure your brand adapts to match with this.
Weeding – Weeding is never fun but sometimes it is necessary to the growth of the plant. Weeds can block out sunlight and steal water – which as we said before, is critical to growth! So as hard as it can be sometimes you need to take a good hard look at your brand and not be afraid to get rid of things that may not be working. We can help if you want to do a brand refresh!
Pest Control – When setting up a garden it is important to put procedures in place to protect your plants. The same is absolutely true with your brand – the last thing you want is a legal battle! So, make time to review your insurances and ensure they are all up to date. If we are working with you we will always give advice to make sure your brand is unique, your website is secure and no copyrights are breached. The result of this is growth and development, which we think is critical in brand success. So, why not make the most of it being the beginning of a new financial year and take a look at where your brand is now and where you would like your brand to be. We would be happy to have a chat with you about how we can help!
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