It's Not You, It's Your Story: Why Branding Matters Branding is one of the major pain points for entrepreneurs. On the outside it seems simple, but its core is complex.
By Amy Cosper •
This story appears in the April 2015 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »
How can I become a great brand? How can I make this brand sustainable? What will bring value to my brand? Just what is my story, and how do I tell it? And, my favorite question and the most important by far: What the hell is branding?
Branding is more than a logo. It's more than a website. It's more than a business card. It's more than the colors and typefaces you choose to represent your company. Your brand is your voice in the marketplace, and it is your proposition for disruption. It is your opportunity to create something with lasting impact. It is how you tell your story, and it is absolutely key to your success and your survival.
Most entrepreneurs go to market not with a brand, but with an idea—an idea that can be so soulful and personal that it can be challenging to present and explain to others. You think everyone should intrinsically understand it, as you do—but they don't. And that's why you need to develop effective brand messaging.
