Co-Founder of Y Not You Media, helping businesses market & brand online with content, strategy, social media, & targeted ads.
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There is no one key to building an online brand in 2023. Rather, it requires a combination of several things to be done. Luckily, building a brand online is as simple as it’s ever been with access to so many tools to help. However, it is still not easy. It’s also important to realize that brand-building cannot be achieved overnight. It requires doing the right things consistently over time.
Here are some things you can do in 2023 to build and grow an online brand:
1. Develop A Strong, Cohesive Brand Identity
This includes creating a unique brand name, logo and visual aesthetic that reflects your brand’s personality and values. A cohesive brand identity is a consistent visual and verbal representation of a brand across all channels. It includes the brand’s mission, values, personality and positioning in the market. The main attributes of a strong brand identity include consistency, clarity, relevance, differentiation, authenticity, adaptability and cohesiveness.
A great modern-day example of a company with a cohesive brand identity is Apple. The brand’s identity is closely tied to its innovative and premium products. Its logo, a simple apple with a bite taken out of it, is easily recognizable and has become synonymous with high-quality technology. Apple’s visual identity is a sleek, minimalist design aesthetic with a monochromatic color palette of black, white and silver.
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2. Create Content
Consistently producing and sharing valuable, relevant and engaging content is crucial to building an online brand. This can include blog posts, videos, graphics, photos and other types of content. In 2023, when creating content online, it is important to create video content. I believe video will continue to reign as king on social media platforms specifically.
3. Be Active On Social Media
Social media is critical for building an online brand and connecting with your target audience in 2023. The main platforms to build an online brand on are Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Let’s break down each:
• Instagram: A community-building platform, people typically use Instagram to make decisions to buy from or work with someone. In my experience, IG has been one of the best platforms to make real connections that you can take offline. You can do this through the use of engaging and direct messages (DMs).
• TikTok: A video-based platform to get discovered on through its organic reach and search and tagging features.
• YouTube: The second largest search engine in the world behind Google. People use YouTube daily to search for things, and having video content there is a great way to boost your organic reach. Its hottest feature is YouTube Shorts for videos that are 60 seconds or less, which competes with Reels and TikToks. YouTube Shorts have great organic reach and can help build your awareness in 2023.
• Facebook: A personal Facebook account is still very important to stay in front of those who already know you. You don’t want them to forget who you are or what you do. Facebook, being around for over 10 years, has built up quite a user base in its time. Most people’s friends have been connected with them longer than they have on other platforms.
• LinkedIn: A professional network that makes it easy to connect with those in professional industries. Its organic reach is good, so putting out content here helps build your brand awareness.
Consistently posting and interacting with followers on these platforms can help build your brand.
4. Build A Professional Website
A well-designed website is an essential element of any online brand. Keep it clean and concise and help viewers easily gather whatever info they came to your site looking for. Consumers have become accustomed to using websites to size up a company and gauge their credibility and legitimacy. A subpar website that is slow, antiquated, wordy, hard to navigate and dated will leave viewers feeling the same about your business.
5. Establish Yourself As An Industry Expert
Share your knowledge and insights with your audience through blog posts, speaking engagements and videos on social media. This can help establish your brand as a trusted source of information in your industry. If you have knowledge and experience in your industry, share it online—especially on different social media platforms—consistently. Also mix in some of your own personality and personal interests. This will help in building rapport with your audiences.
6. Engage With Your Audience
Building an online brand involves more than just sharing content—it’s also about building relationships. Engage with your followers by responding to comments and messages, and encourage them to share their own thoughts and experiences. Use social media platforms to connect online with others and build a relationship that you can then take offline to further strengthen. Comment on others’ posts and send out messages to connect with people for the first time.
7. Collaborate With Other Brands And Influencers
Partnering with other brands or influencers can help expose your brand to a larger audience and establish your credibility both in local areas and industries nationwide. Features on social media platforms, such as collaborations on Instagram, give you the ability to collaborate with another account and get exposure to their audience as they get exposure to yours as well—a great win-win for both parties. Find other brands and influencers who align with your brand to keep your brand identity cohesive.
By following these tips and staying consistent, you can build a strong online brand in 2023 and beyond.
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Author: Tony Pec, Forbes Councils Member
