Building a professional business brand might sound challenging at first, but it doesn’t need to be an expensive endeavour. Discover how you can easily create a professional brand on a budget using the tips below.
Whether you are starting from scratch or re-branding an existing business, there’s a few simple ideas that you can implement to create your professional business brand. And the good news is that you won’t need a bank loan to fund the transformation.
A great place to start would be to review your current branding…
Take an objective look at your current website, social media platforms, marketing, advertising, etc.
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- Is your branding consistent across all these platforms?
- Does it project the professional image you are aspiring to?
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If the answer to either of these questions is no, then you have work to do! That could mean anything from putting in the time and effort to learn more about branding and how you can maximise its potential, to going all out and hiring a branding strategist for specialist advice.
There’s lots of options available, so choose the one that is most suitable for you, your business and your budget.
Your business brand should be a combination of your business mission, your values, your attitude, your messaging and your style
Here’s 3 tips for building a professional business brand, on a budget…
Tip 1 – Invest in Your Website Development
WordPress is the easiest platform to use for creating your website and making subsequent changes. Anybody can install and update a WordPress theme, but a professional-looking website will require extra work.
If you have the funds available, you can hire a website developer. They will work with you to create a professional website that aligns with your business brand and as a result, attracts your ideal customers.
Alternatively, if you are on a tight budget, it may be more cost-effective to invest in learning the skills you need to create and maintain your website for yourself. There are some fantastic WordPress themes that are really easy to customise. I highly recommend using Divi by Elegant Themes. It’s a favourite amongst many DIY busines owners due to the ease of use and wide range of functionality.
Your website provides valuable business credibility
Tip 2 – Use Stock Photos to Maintain Your Professional Image
Throughout your business you will need a lot of photos, especially if you have an online-only business. Social media accounts, your website, your blog, advertising and marketing materials – both on and off-line will all require images of some sort. These images will also play a role in your business branding.
The chances of personally taking enough photos, of the highest quality, to cover all the possible eventualities is very slim and that’s why so many companies rely on stock photos.
There’s a huge variety of copyright-free stock photos available on many websites such as Unsplash, Pixabay and Picjumbo. There are also premium stock photo websites for when you need a special or unique image.
Make sure to check the licences before using the images. Whilst some allow free use for all purposes, others may apply conditions of use, such as ‘editorial purposes only’ or ‘accreditation required’.
Use stock photos that match your business brand
Tip 3 – Consider a Professional Headshot Photo Shoot
People buy from people not businesses. So, it stands to reason, that if you’re the face of your business brand, you’ll want to include a recent photo of yourself in your social media accounts, on your website, etc.
Even if you don’t think of yourself as photogenic, experienced photographers can work wonders and take some great shots, that even you’ll love. They also have a gift for showcasing your personality in your photos. Images like this go a long way towards building the know, like and trust factor with your potential customers.
You could also use your professional headshot on promotional materials that you hand out, such as your business card. This will add an extra level of recognition and as a result, people are more likely to recall who you are and the conversations you had together, when prompted by a visual reminder ie. the photo on your business card.
People buy from people they know like and trust
When you’re on a tight budget, building a professional business brand is entirely possible. Keep in mind the business image you want to protray and most importantly, create one that best reflects you and your business.
