Branding VS. Marketing...What's the difference?

And which one does your business need more RIGHT NOW to get you quickly to your goals?

Branding and marketing are two distinct but interconnected aspects of a business's overall strategy. While they have different goals and methods, they work together to build a strong, recognizable brand and communicate that brand's message to the target audience.

Branding refers to the process of creating a unique identity and personality for a company, product, or service. It encompasses everything from the company's logo, visual design styles and website, to its core values, mission statement, and customer experience. The goal of branding is to create a consistent, memorable image that resonates with customers and builds trust and loyalty over time.

Marketing, on the other hand, is the process of promoting and selling products or services to customers. It includes a wide range of tactics, such as advertising, public relations, social media, events, and more. The goal of marketing is to drive sales and revenue by reaching and engaging the target audience, communicating the value proposition of the product or service, and persuading them to take action.

While branding and marketing have different goals and action steps, they are closely intertwined. A strong brand is essential for effective marketing, as it helps to differentiate a company or product from its competitors, build credibility and trust with customers, and create an emotional connection that drives loyalty and advocacy. Conversely, effective marketing can help to build and reinforce a brand's identity and message, reach new audiences, and drive awareness and engagement.

Branding and marketing are both critical components of a successful business strategy, and they work together to create a strong, differentiated, and memorable brand that resonates with customers and drives growth and success over time.

Branding is what people think about you and your business. It creates intentional perceptions in the mind of your ideal customers, and to evoke a distinct emotional response. Marketing is getting that brand in front of a lot of people, and persuading them to give you a try. Branding is the rocket - the form and how your business looks, and Marketing is the rocket fuel that will launch your creation into the world.

Because branding and marketing are so closely intertwined when it comes to business success, it can be hard to know which area to focus your current time and money on to create the most rapid growth in your business. This becomes a chicken and the egg scenario for many companies, and it can be tough to know which one to focus on to maximize your ROI quickly. So how do you know which one you need the most right now? By identifying which problem you find yourself having! Here are some ways to know it is time to put some time, energy and investment into branding...

1. If you are stuck undercharging, and you’re having to constantly verbally defend why you’re different than your competitors - then you have a branding problem. If you LOOK the same as everyone else, it is really hard to tell people why you’re NOT the same as everyone else and why you shouldn't cost exactly the same (or less) as everyone else. 2. If you are getting in front of people that you KNOW will benefit massively from your service, but you aren’t closing those sales at the percentage or rate that you would like to be, then you may have a branding problem (very likely, your messaging isn't clear, or how you show up in the world (via your website or social media posts) isn't communicating your value.

3. If you feel embarrassment when you go to send people to your sales pages or website - then you have a branding problem, and it is one that causes a confidence problem! Confidence in who you are - And then confidence that other people are able to perceive that about you = you becoming the self promoter that you need to be. 4. If people aren’t experiencing your uniqueness through your brand touchpoints, then you have a branding problem. Experience trumps explanation any day when it comes to building an audience of raving fans.

Or maybe none of that is what ails you, and if that is the case, then right now it might need to apply your current resources and energy into Marketing! Do these seem more true right now for your business?

5. If you have a freaking amazing website, and you feel like your messaging and visuals represent you in every way they should, but your website is only getting 2 visitors a day, then you have a Marketing problem.

6. If you just don't have the time or willpower to post content about yourself and your business on social media every day, you have a Marketing problem. (Or just a healthy respect for your life and your time. lol)

In short, branding and marketing are both important for creating a successful business. Branding gives your business a unique personality and identity that people can connect with, while marketing helps you get the word out and attract customers. Just make sure you keep your branding and marketing in sync, so your customers know what to expect when they do business with you!

At Design by Jo, we use our years of experience and a hearty dose of magic to solve your branding problems! While some of what we offer does trickle into the marketing space a bit, we know that our clients come to us when they need an expert in the branding space! We can do a LOT (our list of services would make a CVS receipt look short), but we don't do everything under the sun - we draw the line at being a jack of all trades and master of none!

So, if you asked yourself the above questions, and you have a branding problem, we can help! If you answered them and it was a marketing problem, then we're going to refer you to an amazing trusted partner instead. And if you still don't know what will move the needle the most for you in your business, then book a free consult and we will help you get to the answer you need!