(Author and renegade Earnest Hemingway)

Brand Building 102. According to Hemingway: The first draft is likely to be s##t.

In the world of business, there is one thing that sets successful companies apart from the rest: a strong brand.

A brand is more than just a logo or a slogan; it is the emotional connection that a company has with its customers. Building a brand is no easy task, but with the right strategy, it can be achieved.

Firstly, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of your target audience.

Who are you trying to reach? What are their needs and wants? Once you have this information, you can tailor your brand messaging to resonate with them. Hemmingway once said,

“When writing a novel, a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.”

Similarly, when building a brand, you want to create a personality that your target audience can relate to and connect with on a personal level.

Secondly, consistency is key.

Your brand messaging, visual identity, and tone of voice should be consistent across all platforms. Hemmingway wrote, “The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shock-proof, s##t detector.” The same applies to branding. You need to be able to identify what works and what doesn’t work for your brand, and consistently make changes to ensure that your brand messaging is aligned with your overall brand strategy.

“The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shock-proof, s##t detector.”

Thirdly, storytelling is a powerful tool when it comes to building a brand.

People remember stories more than they remember facts and figures. Hemmingway’s style of writing was known for its simplicity and its ability to convey complex emotions in a few words. Similarly, your brand story should be concise, easy to understand, and emotionally engaging. It should evoke the right emotions and leave a lasting impression on your target audience.

Finally, it’s important to remember that building a brand takes time.

Hemmingway once said, “The first draft of anything is s##t.” You won’t get your brand messaging and visual identity right on the first try. It takes time, experimentation, and tweaking to get it right. Be patient and persistent, and eventually, you’ll have a brand that resonates with your target audience.

“The first draft of anything is shit.”

In conclusion, building a brand is not easy, but it’s worth the effort. By understanding your target audience, being consistent, storytelling, and being patient, you can build a brand that resonates with your customers and sets you apart from your competitors. Hemmingway would approve.

References:

• Brand Building 101: How to Build a Brand - https://www.brandkitapp.com/asset-page/138458-brand-building-101-how-to-build-a-brand-featuring-tips-from-the-22-immutable-laws-of-branding-apple-and-nike
• How to Build a Brand: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow: https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Brand
• How to Build a Strong Brand in 7 Steps - Six-Degrees: https://www.six-degrees.com/how-to-build-a-strong-brand-in-7-steps
• 7 Principles To Building A Strong Brand - Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jiawertz/2017/06/02/7-principles-to-building-a-strong-brand

Happy branding :)