Startups are booming across the U.S. That’s good since the recent surge in startups is a sign of the strong recovery of the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic recession.
However, as the market gets crowded with innovative new companies, standing out becomes a real challenge, especially in the online world.
As more and more consumers turn online to the internet and engage with brands, having a strong online presence is a must. This is important not just to attract customers, but also to build lasting connections.
Keep reading to learn about the key branding principles that can help your startup thrive digitally.
Long gone are the days when consumers only supported businesses in person.
People nowadays search for businesses online. A survey conducted by Statista in January 2023 found that 21% of respondents searched for a local business on the internet on a daily basis. And nearly 32% said that they used the internet multiple times a week for the same purpose.
Mostly, people discover businesses through its website. Nobody will find yours if you don’t have one. The absence of a website is considered a red flag. So, don’t delay building it.
Fortunately, you don’t need a tech background to design a website. An AI-powered website builder can help you create a professional yet eye-catching website. The site will also be mobile-responsive. That is, it will adapt to the size of the screen on which it is displayed.
And guess what? Your site, which will be professional, visually appealing, and mobile responsive, will be ready in as few as five minutes.
Just make sure to choose the right AI website builder when designing your website. Hocoos advises picking a tool that offers everything you’d need to build a site, from custom domains to blogs.
People often remember visuals better than words. That is to say, they will remember a logo, a color scheme, or a style much faster than they will remember words.
So, be consistent when it comes to visual branding. Your brand should look and feel the same wherever people find you—whether on your website or in a brochure. This doesn’t just mean using the same logo everywhere—that’s a good start, though. It also means choosing a color palette, typography, and style for images and sticking to it.
A consistent color palette for your firm’s logo, digital content, and promotional materials can increase brand recognition by up to 80%.
Brands like Tiffany & Co. and Christian Louboutin are great examples. The former has its robin’s egg blue, while the shoes of the latter feature blood-red bottoms.
Don’t fall into the trap of ‘posting just to post.’ Focus on building community instead. Social media is a space where you can have conversations, answer questions, and show a more personal side.
Successful brands don’t just post; they engage. They reply to comments, retweet mentions, and even laugh with their followers.
Coca-Cola, for instance, is one of the world’s largest brands, with innumerable consumers globally. Yet, the brand has an interactive page on X, formerly Twitter. It makes tremendous efforts to acknowledge tweets with brand mentions or hashtag campaigns, as well as prompt and personalized @replies.
Don’t just stick to one platform because everyone’s on it. Find where your audience hangs out and focus there. If your ideal customers are on Instagram and TikTok, make those your priority instead of spreading yourself thin.
Do you know that content is a part of 90% of marketers’ marketing strategy? The high adoption rate signals that it is no longer optional but a norm.
But here’s the kicker: just churning out content won’t do any good. Your content has to add value. Don’t create content that tries to sell something. Rather, produce content that genuinely helps, educates, or entertains your audience.
When done right, good content will bring people back to your site, increase your visibility, and improve your reputation.
If you’re a fitness startup, for instance, don’t just post about your products. Share workout routines, healthy recipes, or mindset tips that your followers will find useful in their daily lives. Or, if you’re in tech, put out beginner-friendly guides that make complex topics easier to understand.
Building a successful online brand takes time and consistency, but the rewards are worth it.
People don’t just buy products—they buy stories and connections from brands they feel aligned with. These principles can help create a brand that not only stands out online, but also builds meaningful connections with customers. After all, in a digital world full of options, those genuine connections make all the difference.
