Marketing for your business is always changing. As technology grows so do the habits of your customers. The continuity of future business relies on your businesses ability to stay ahead of the times. While the techniques or approaches differ from technological epoch to epoch, the core principles remain the same.
One such principle is that of branding. Developing a strong brand can significantly increase your business traffic and interest. Sometimes building a strong brand within the internet of things can be challenging, but luckily there is a help. Here are six trends to keep in mind when branding for this year.
Alternate Reality
Models of alternate reality branding focus on taking the experience a customer may have. For example, a clothing business or furniture store online may develop a mobile app that helps to realize products in space. They can use their smartphone camera to take the guesswork out of the imagination by placing pieces of furniture in the homes.
LifeStyle
Branding is powerful and has the potential to create a strong culture. There is a growing trend of lifestyle branding and marketing techniques. Fundamentally, lifestyle branding focuses on a niche market and works them vigorously. For example, if the target audience is young athletic adults branding may focus on popular culture.
Things that interest the target audience have the potential to create a strong association. This is best captured through social media, ads, and blogs. Developing a strong strategy is important, which is why some choose agencies such as Brandmatters.
Illustration
Illustrating your brand can have powerful effects. As graphic design and video editing software advances so do the potential for animation. Illustrating your brand is a great way to gain traction. Never underestimate the power of a good story. If your story is delivered properly it can evoke passion, hope, and become a strong call to action.
Minimalism
Minimalism has been a trend for a few years not, but businesses are taking it to the extreme. It could be a good time to clean up clutter, redesign packages, or logos. This trend creates a culture of efficiency, cleanliness, and humility. Never underestimate the power of simplicity.
Moral Alignment
The millennial market is an emerging culture in itself. There is tons of untapped potential waiting to be seized. Branding within growing trends can show that your business is conscious of social and moral dilemmas. For example, the concept of safe spaces was none existent a decade ago.
Taking the moral high road can make your branding more inclusive of your target audience. However, be warned that moral alignment can also work negatively. Topics like morality are polarizing so it is best to understand your audience, market, and the other variables involved.
Collaboration
Collaboration has a long trending tradition when it comes to branding. It is great for marketing because it can help companies save money. Collaboration is when one company or business work in conjunction with another. Classic examples are McDonald’s Happy Meals and Movie marketing. More recent branding tactics include PopSocket and Otterbox. They work together to pool their client base. By collaborating they have built a strong association between both products.
In Conclusion
Trends are constantly evolving so staying ahead of the curve is an ongoing battle. Understanding the trends in branding can help grow your business. It can take it from the stone age and bring it into the 21st century. Remember that technology has made the world smaller, consequently, there is more competition.
Customers are shopping online and remotely. When creating a branding strategy try to understand the axioms that drive the market. Take these six trends and leverage them in your strategy. Remember, that they are templates and must still be fit into the larger picture for your business. However, if done properly they can help develop strong brands and cultures.