In a meeting not long ago, a graphic designer and I sat down at a table where people were exchanging business cards. I checked out his logo, and he studied the name on my business card.

"I know that logo. We've been in contact previously," I said.

"That's right. I know your name," he said.

Although we weren't able to pinpoint when or why we'd exchanged mail previously, we guessed it had been at least five years back. Neither of us has an extraordinary memory. Instead, he had created unique visual identity for his design services, and I had devoted effort to linking my name with creative marketing.

For at least five years his look and my reputation had lurked in the other's memory banks, while thousands or hundreds of thousands of other business identities had come and gone without leaving a substantial trace. Why? Memorability. It illustrates a vital element of effective branding.

What is Branding?

Branding is the technique of creating distinctive and durable perceptions in the minds of consumers. A brand is a persistent, unique business identity intertwined with associations of personality, quality, source, liking and much more.

Although a lot of people associate brands with big companies, the smallest of enterprises can use branding techniques with great benefits. When a home-based craftspersons ties a nicely designed label on all her products revealing the story of who she is and where her creations come from, she's branding her work. When the local market bundles groceries in bags displaying its logo in place of generic "Thank you!" or ordinary bags, it's branding. When your logo is displayed along side any of your internet marketing endeavors, it's branding.

While we relate brands with national names such as Crest, Huggies or Healthy Choice, branding doesn't necessarily need the budgetary resources of Procter & Gamble. Branding doesn't even require a product or a tangible delivery mechanism. Branding comes with repetition and that is quickly done with any internet marketing operation.

Methods of branding include association of a company with logos, distinctive colors, slogans, musical sounds or tracks, unusual characteristics, mascots, packaging, a memorable name, behavioral hallmarks and much more, easily implemented for the home based business also.

Why Branding Pays Off

Time, money and effort used on branding comes back many times over when the process plays out smartly. Here's why:

1. Memorability. It's simpler to remember the branded company than the "what's its name?" one.

2. Faithfulness. When people have a good experience with a memorable brand name, they're more likely to buy that product yet again than competing manufacturers.

3. Familiarity. Psychologists have shown that familiarity induces preference, and this helps make even non-customers more likely to recommend a brand name they are aware of.

4. Premium image, premium price. Branding may lift what you sell out of the realm of a commodity, with customers prepared to pay more for the well-branded products.

5. Extensions. With a well-established company, you can spread the respect you've earned to a related new product, service or location more easily.

6. Greater company value. Creating your company into a brand typically means that you could get more money for the company when you decide to sell it.

7. Lower marketing expenditures. Although you should invest money to create a brand, once it's made you get a bigger bang for every marketing buck using it.

8. For buyers, less risk. People tend to opt for the brand-name supplier over the no-name one when afraid of the outcomes of a mess up.

For those reasons and even more, branding fattens your bottom line.

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