Where Branding Meets The Road: The Power Of The Brand
Branding is a big deal these days with Instagram and other social networks giving businesses and individuals a larger audience than ever before. In a way, branding is our business; every Tire Sticker installed – custom or otherwise – is a way for our customers to reflect themselves, their personalities, and their brand.
Why is branding such a powerful word though? How do you supercharge your own? It can’t just be the number of likes and followers that’re causing big businesses to invest real money in something like an Instagram profile, right?
Here’s a rundown on the powers of the brand. Let’s call it Tire Stickers 2017 Business School 101.
Pulling Back The Curtain
Some people use social media to create a fake version of their world and others use it to get a real behind-the-scenes look. Fortunately for the real deal, people are great at sniffing out bullshit and they much prefer authenticity.
Whether you’re running a business, working on a project, or just being yourself, an online brand is significantly strengthened by genuinely putting yourself out there. It can still be your best self, but it better be you.
Letting people get a glimpse behind-the-scenes will strengthen their bond with your brand on a personal level and attract people who truly fit with what you’re doing or saying.
Let’s be real though, that can backfire. Don’t forget that what goes on the internet, stays on the internet. When it works though, it can create something really powerful.
Creating A Real Community
We’re proud of our social media presence because it reflects our community so well. We give our customers a place to show off the custom rides they’re so proud of, interact with other auto junkies, and communicate with us directly. None of that was possible without going to your local auto club before the internet came around.
No one actively follows a profile they’re not interested in. You can get all the fake followers you want, but it won’t lead to real engagement. It can be impressive to see a page with hundreds of thousands of followers, but if they’re not really engaging with your brand it’s a hollow victory and won’t lead to much actual progress.
You’re only a powerful brand if you can create and engage with a passionate community in a way that’s real to both of you.
Navigating Market Forces
It’s no secret that advertisers have made their way onto social platforms that were originally made for individuals. They’re on the lookout for brands that have a lot of (real) followers and match with their own ideals. Partnerships can be a great thing for everyone involved.
You don’t have to sell out to leverage your successful brand into actual business if you stick to your guns. There’s nothing wrong with actually benefitting from your brand as long as you don’t exploit your passionate following. Remember what we said about bullshit? Turn on your community, and they’ll turn on you even faster.
Tire Stickers are kind of a niche product, but we get a lot of exposure through our online presence and word-of-mouth. Turns out there are a lot of people just like us which has allowed us to team up with everyone from Michelin to Disney. We love seeing the products and community that we’re all passionate about making headway into the mainstream.
In the end, the power of an online brand is being seen. No matter what your brand is about.
