Many small business owners quickly find out that running a business is not all about having the best product or service, but also the best brand.  Most successful businesses are successful not only because they are good at what they do, but because they have taken the effort to develop an identity.  
 
A brand is a name that customers grow to attach to a product or service.  And above that, it is a collection of their feelings and perceptions about the quality, image, status, and value of your product or service.  A brand thus simultaneously associates your name to a product or service, and communicates a particular guarantee about what you can expect from it. 
 
There are three main components to building a successful brand: identifying a need, exceeding expectations in satisfying that need, and then getting the word out.  If you have started a business, you've already identified some need or demand. 
 
Next, imagine to yourself what feelings or perceptions you want customers to conjure to mind when they think of your product.  Do you want to be known as the fastest?  The most economical?  The highest quality?  Try to experience your service or product through the eyes of your customer and see what it would take for you to think these things.
 
The last step is to market the brand.  This is achieved through word-of-mouth, advertising, and promotions.  Keep in mind it is essential to any marketing campaign to make it as easy as possible for customers to find and contact you.  In an increasingly virtual world, this means having a website is absolutely essential.
 
Many customers find the products or services they want through search engines and, by not having a website, you could be missing out on the free promotion of your business.   Websites do not have to be hugely expensive or complicated to run.  To help get started on building a brand, take advantage of our free website for thirty days offer.  Visit MyCorporation for more details.