The Importance of Branding
When you think of Chick Fil A, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Customer Service? The sauces? Chicken sandwiches? Whatever it is, whatever this first thought is, is how you perceive Chick Fil A. Whether it’s a good or bad chicken, good or bad sauce, you have developed an opinion and you associate this with a good or bad experience. Branding is essentially psychology. The opinion you have developed in your mind a direct correlation between yourself and the company. Successful businesses know this and this is why most place an emphasis (execution is another thing) on customer service. (The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding is a great resource.) They know that one bad opinion or experience can ruin the potential of gaining more customers. The same can be said one good experience, it can turn into an abundance of referrals and potential longtime customers. Still with me?
Successful branding is when a customer can walk away completely satisfied with a product or service that you offer. This positive experience will lead to word of mouth marketing. What’s word of mouth marketing? In my opinion, the best marketing that you can have for your business. Why? It’s free, most of the time it you’re not present when it happens, and it comes from a trust worthy source. Think about it, when is the last time you took a friend or family member’s word for it? Whether its a restaurant, a car, or a vacation spot, it’s a little different when it comes from somebody you trust. The moral of the story is to make sure the product you offer, the service you sell, is a memorable one that will leave your customers with a great experience.
