How to build a strong brand identity
Building a strong brand identity is crucial for business success in today’s competitive market. This comprehensive guide offers valuable insights from industry experts on creating a memorable and impactful brand presence. From developing a meaningful visual identity to fostering a dynamic learning community, discover the key strategies that will set your brand apart and resonate with your target audience.
- Create a Meaningful Visual Identity
- Personalize the E-commerce Experience
- Demonstrate Operational Authenticity
- Map Pain Points to Brand Solutions
- Craft a Relaxing Brand Voice
- Focus on Consistent First Impressions
- Align Brand Tone with Learner Emotions
- Prioritize Education and Client Empowerment
- Deliver Powerful Eco-Friendly Solutions
- Emphasize Family-First Super Service
- Build Community Through Print Pro Academy
- Showcase Real Local SEO Results
- Share Client Transformations on Social Media
- Foster a Dynamic Learning Community
- Blend Visibility with Emotional Resonance
- Align Communication with Brand Values
- Commit to High-Touch Customer Communication
- Embrace Unexpected Brand Elements
Create a Meaningful Visual Identity
One of the most effective methods I’ve used to build a strong brand identity is creating a visual identity that reflects my core values of transformation and empowerment. I believe that the aesthetic choices I make, whether it’s the color scheme, logo design, or overall look and feel, should clearly communicate what I stand for. For me, those values are rooted in the idea of personal transformation and the empowerment of individuals to create lasting change in their lives. I chose colors and designs that evoke strength, growth, and renewal because these are the principles I want to pass on to others. Each visual element serves as a symbol for the journey of overcoming challenges, personal growth, and finding hope.
By focusing on these values, I’ve made sure that the visual identity is not just a superficial layer, but something meaningful that resonates with people right away. The design of the brand helps make it immediately clear who I am, what I do, and what my vision is. When people interact with my brand, whether through a website, social media, or materials, they instantly understand that it’s about more than just the service; it’s about personal change and empowerment.
Having a consistent, meaningful visual identity allows me to connect with people in a genuine way, setting the tone for how I engage with others. It helps me build trust, show authenticity, and stand out in a world where many others are simply offering services without a deeper sense of purpose or intention. This visual consistency fosters a stronger relationship with those I serve, allowing them to feel both understood and motivated to begin their own journey of recovery and transformation.
Tyler Bowman
Founder & CEO, Brooks Healing Center
Personalize the E-commerce Experience
One strategy I’ve found incredibly effective for building a strong brand identity is creating an “in-person” experience within the e-commerce space. As someone who spent years in hospitality before founding Rattan Imports, I noticed many online furniture retailers were missing the personal touch that older generations value. We implemented a proactive outreach system where we contact customers directly when they’re browsing our site, creating that “showroom experience” digitally.
I’m particularly proud of our customer service model where each team member owns the entire customer journey from initial inquiry to post-purchase follow-up. This has created remarkable loyalty – customers now specifically request their previous representative by name and send friends and family directly to them. This approach generated a referral network that’s now responsible for about 30% of our new business.
The key insight was recognizing that our baby boomer demographic often feels intimidated navigating e-commerce. By blending Italian hospitality principles with digital commerce, we’ve built a brand that stands out in a crowded market. We don’t just sell furniture; we create spaces for those meaningful moments with family around the patio that are so central to Italian culture.
For businesses looking to differentiate, I recommend examining where your target audience feels underserved in your industry. For us, it was the lack of personalized guidance in online shopping. By addressing this specific pain point, we’ve developed a brand that resonates deeply with customers seeking both beautiful products and a supportive buying experience.
Nino Russo Alesi
Acting CEO, Rattan Imports
Demonstrate Operational Authenticity
When I built Scale Lite, I found that the most powerful brand strategy is “operational authenticity” – letting our actual work processes become our marketing. For blue-collar business owners, they’re overwhelmed by agencies promising results without understanding their unique challenges. So we built our brand by documenting real changes, not theoretical promises.
One specific element I’m proud of is our “AI Readiness Scorecard.” Unlike typical lead magnets, it’s a genuine diagnostic tool built from patterns we’ve seen across dozens of service businesses. It helps potential clients self-assess before they even speak with us, establishing our brand as consultative rather than transactional. This single asset generates qualified leads who already trust our expertise.
The data proves this approach works. With Bone Dry Services, we didn’t just run typical marketing campaigns – we integrated their operations with their marketing to generate $500K in new business opportunities in just three months. Their success story became a cornerstone of our brand narrative, showing we understand the unique challenges of blue-collar businesses transitioning from referral-dependence to predictable growth.
My advice? Find the intersection of what you genuinely solve better than anyone else and what your audience struggles with most. For us, it’s helping service business owners escape operational chaos and owner-dependency. This focus resonates because it’s authentic to both our capabilities and their deepest pain points.
Keaton Kay
Founder & CEO, Scale Lite
Map Pain Points to Brand Solutions
One strategy I’ve consistently used to build strong brand identity is what I call “pain point mapping” – deeply understanding audience challenges and demonstrating how your solution solves them. At Perfect Afternoon, we refine clients’ brand identities by first conducting thorough audience research that goes beyond demographics to uncover behavioral patterns and emotional triggers.
I’m particularly proud of our HubSpot implementation framework. As a HubSpot solutions partner, we’ve developed a methodology that transforms a CRM from just a contact database into a comprehensive brand identity engine. This “three-in-one” approach integrates contact management, communication channels, and marketing tools in a cohesive system that consistently delivers the brand promise.
The element I’m most proud of is our brand messaging architecture process. We help clients establish unique value propositions that differentiate them from competitors. For example, with one Michigan-based client, we identified their “passion” as a fifth P beyond the traditional marketing mix, creating messaging that highlighted their personal investment in client success. This approach increased their lead conversion by 26%.
For brands just starting out, I recommend the exercise of articulating what makes your business special against competitors in exactly seven words. This constraint forces clarity and becomes the foundation of resonant messaging. It’s my hobby, my job, and my passion to help businesses find this clarity.
Dwight Zahringer
Founder, Perfect Afternoon
Craft a Relaxing Brand Voice
I employ one particularly reliable tactic for creating brand identity: sound less like a supplement label and more like someone you’d trust your sleeping schedule with. Early on, I established an iron-clad rule—if a sentence reads like it belongs on the back of a bodybuilder’s protein can, it has no business being included in Thirdzy’s branding.
One particular aspect I’m especially proud of is our bedtime tone. We write all of it—emails, labels, product descriptions—as if it were written while wearing fuzzy socks and drinking something lavender-flavored. It relaxes people before they even open the bottle. Someone once told me that our checkout confirmation email made them yawn in the best possible way. I count that as a victory.
Sleep is personal, not pharmaceutical. That’s why our voice wears pajamas, not a lab coat.
Justine Luchini
Founder & Operator, Thirdzy
Focus on Consistent First Impressions
One tactic that we’ve really leaned into is paying attention to the first five minutes of interaction – that’s a confirmation email, a phone call with our dispatch team, or the moment a chauffeur arrives at the airport or pulls up to your door. That’s why we train our crew to slow it all down in those first few minutes: use the guest’s name, anticipate their needs, and carry themselves in a way that seems calm and attentive. For frazzled travelers or those who have just stepped off a long flight, that initial impression makes all the difference. It’s not about being spectacular – it’s about being steady and deliberate.
One aspect of our brand I’m particularly proud of is our voice – online and off. Whether you’re texting us, calling in, or tracking your ride status, the tone is always the same: professional, warm, and never robotic. Consistency like that has bolstered our reputation among high-profile clients who depend on us time and time again. And that’s how we’ve evolved over time from being “just a car service” to a real partner in their travel experience.
Arsen Misakyan
CEO and Founder, LAXcar
Align Brand Tone with Learner Emotions
Brand identity isn’t just visual–it’s behavioral. One strategy that has been foundational is aligning the brand’s tone with the emotional state of the learner. Professionals coming to Invensis Learning are often in transition: aiming for a promotion, switching industries, or trying to stay relevant in a rapidly changing market. Instead of overwhelming them with jargon or hype, the brand leans into calm clarity–offering structure in the chaos. That choice has shaped everything from how content is designed to how support is delivered.
What stands out most is the brand’s ability to earn trust without demanding attention. The focus has always been on being quietly authoritative–present, helpful, and respectful of time. It’s a subtle but powerful differentiator in a noisy space, and it has helped build a following that values depth over flash. That’s the kind of connection that lasts.
Arvind Rongala
CEO, Invensis Learning
Prioritize Education and Client Empowerment
One strategy I use to build a strong brand identity is putting service and education at the center of everything we do. When I started The Justin Landis Group, I knew I didn’t want us to be just another real estate team chasing transactions. I wanted us to be the team people trusted to guide them through one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions of their lives. That meant creating a process that gives our clients confidence and clarity every step of the way.
One element of our brand I’m especially proud of is how deeply we invest in making sure our clients feel informed and empowered. Whether it’s through our consultations, personalized strategies, or just being incredibly responsive, we want people to feel like they had a true partner in the process.
I think that’s what’s resonated most with our audience over the years. The market can be overwhelming, especially in a place as competitive as Metro Atlanta, but we’ve built a brand that makes people feel like they’re in good hands. That trust has been the foundation of our growth and the reason so many of our clients send their friends and family our way.
Justin Landis
Founder, Justin Landis Group
Deliver Powerful Eco-Friendly Solutions
One strategy I use to build a strong brand identity is staying laser-focused on solving real, everyday problems for our customers. When we started Good Laundry, we knew people wanted more than just another detergent. They wanted products that actually made their lives easier, were safe for sensitive skin, and made a real environmental impact. Everything we create stems from those needs.
A specific element I am really proud of is how we’ve made eco-friendly feel powerful and effective. Too often, “green” products can feel like a compromise, but we refused to settle for that. Our formulas are tough on stains without relying on harsh chemicals, and that’s something our customers tell us they love. It has helped us build trust quickly because people see that we are delivering on our promises.
We are not just throwing around buzzwords. We are backing them up with results they can feel good about. That authenticity has really shaped how people connect with our brand. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being real, showing up for our customers, and proving that small choices like what detergent you use can actually add up to a much bigger difference.
Dan Steiner
Co-Founder, Good Laundry
Emphasize Family-First Super Service
One strategy I’ve used to build our strong brand identity is centering our entire company around a single word from our name: “Super.” We don’t just fix roofs – we deliver super service, super solutions, and super satisfaction. This simplicity creates instant recall with homeowners in Fort Mill and Charlotte who need roofing help.
I’m particularly proud of our family-first core value. As a family-owned business, we deliberately extend that feeling to customers during the stressful process of roof replacement. This resonates deeply with homeowners who face unexpected storm damage, as they’re often anxious about the insurance claims process.
We’ve reinforced this identity through consistent communication. Every customer interaction, from initial inspection to final walkthrough, emphasizes our HAAG certification and storm damage expertise. Our reviews show this approach works – customers like Sowmyan specifically mention how we explained complex roofing issues “in full detail” without being condescending.
The effectiveness of this approach is evident in our expansion throughout the Carolinas. When people hear “Super Roofing,” they immediately understand what we stand for, which has allowed us to grow from Fort Mill into Waxhaw, Ballantyne, Indian Land and beyond without losing our identity.
Brian G
Owner, Super Roofing Company
Build Community Through Print Pro Academy
Drawing from my sports background, I’ve built Heat Print Hub’s brand around the same values that made me successful as an athlete – reliability, excellence, and genuine teamwork. We demonstrate these values in everything we do, from our hands-on equipment demonstrations to our after-hours support calls where we help customers troubleshoot their printing challenges. One brand element I’m particularly proud of is our ‘Print Pro Academy,’ where we share weekly tips and tutorials. It started as a simple YouTube series but has grown into an amazing community of over 5,000 printing entrepreneurs supporting each other.
Reginald Youngblood
Owner, Heat Print Hub
Showcase Real Local SEO Results
I’ve found that showing real, measurable results from our local SEO work, such as sharing actual Google ranking improvements and traffic growth numbers, builds more trust than any fancy marketing speak ever could. One thing I’m particularly proud of is our monthly client success spotlight, where we break down exactly how we helped a specific business improve their visibility. This approach shows potential clients exactly what we can do, not just what we say we can do.
Justin Herring
Founder and CEO, YEAH! Local
Share Client Transformations on Social Media
Generally speaking, I focus on creating consistent, relatable social media content that shows the human side of our agency, including behind-the-scenes glimpses of our team brainstorming sessions and client success celebrations. One element I’m particularly proud of is our weekly #MarketingWins series on Instagram, where we share real client transformations with actual metrics, which has helped build trust and credibility with our prospects.
Ryan Young
Owner, Revive Marketing Services
Foster a Dynamic Learning Community
One strategy we use at HRDQ to build a strong brand identity is staying deeply connected with our audience’s needs. We know that adult learning and development are dynamic fields, so we focus on offering solutions that are practical, relevant, and immediately applicable. Our approach is all about providing resources that help people grow both professionally and personally, and we ensure that everything we produce reflects this.
A specific element I’m particularly proud of is HRDQ-U, our online community. It’s not just a platform; it’s a space where learning professionals come together to share insights, ask questions, and learn from one another. This community helps us stay at the forefront of trends in learning and development, ensuring we stay in tune with what professionals in the field are looking for. By offering a mix of webinars, workshops, and podcasts, we create a space for ongoing conversation, ensuring our brand remains valuable, relevant, and genuinely helpful to those we serve. It’s this focus on connection and real-world impact that makes our brand resonate with our audience.
Bradford Glaser
President & CEO, HRDQ
Blend Visibility with Emotional Resonance
One of the most powerful strategies in building a strong brand identity is consistency—with intentional depth. As a Google-verified public figure with multiple media features and a searchable online presence, I’ve learned that the most impactful brands are those that blend visibility with emotional resonance. In an age of overexposure, what connects isn’t more content, but more meaning behind it.
I believe the brands that truly stick are the ones that feel like they were lived into, not just designed. Identity, when done well, doesn’t have to shout. It can be subtle, layered, and even mysterious—because great brands don’t always explain everything upfront. They invite you in slowly, over time.
One element I’m most proud of is how my audience recognizes my brand without needing a logo or tagline. It’s in the tone, the rhythm, the emotional undercurrent. Across platforms, the throughline is clear—but never overexplained.
In 2025, brand identity isn’t just about being seen—it’s about being remembered. That means creating moments of resonance that search engines can index, sure—but more importantly, that people can feel.
The strongest strategy? Let people sense who you are… and leave them curious enough to come closer.
Susye Weng-Reeder
CEO | Google Verified Public Figure | Author | Creator, Susye Weng-Reeder, LLC
Align Communication with Brand Values
A strong strategy for creating a powerful brand identity is to ensure your communication and imagery are aligned with your values. When your audience sees consistency between your messaging and your visual identity, they gain trust and recognition.
One specific element you may want to build is your brand voice, which accounts for how you speak (tone, language, style) across all platforms. Done effectively, this creates familiarity and emotional ties.
Whether your voice is bold, open, informative, or humorous, identifying your brand voice and remaining consistent allows your brand to stand apart and remain top of mind.
Sudeepthi Garlapati
Founder & CEO at Naarg Data Media Services, Naarg Data Media Services
Commit to High-Touch Customer Communication
There is no alternative to getting more business and keeping clients other than communicating effectively. When you combine high-touch communication with good performance, strong brand values, and a genuine interest in the success of your customers, you can keep customers for life.
We’re really proud of our commitment to integrity and transparency, and that brand value starts with communicating frequently and honestly.
Matthew Regenie
CEO & Founder, Prospect Future
Embrace Unexpected Brand Elements
One of the most unexpected brand wins we’ve had wasn’t born in a strategy session; it came from a flippant joke. We printed a few bright, quirky t-shirts with a line that made us laugh at the time, thinking we might wear them once or twice. But those shirts? They became “the thing”. People recognize them before they recognize us. They’ll say “Hey, you’re the folks with that shirt, Marco Polo right?” before they remember our names, or even what we do.
What I’ve learned from that is this: your brand doesn’t have to scream professionalism to be memorable. In fact, in a sea of black tees and polished logos, standing out sometimes means leaning into what’s real and relatable. That shirt told people: we’re not here to blend in. We’re not afraid to be human. And in our space, where too often things feel clinical or overly serious, that little flash of humor and color has become a symbol of something bigger: connection, personality, and unapologetic authenticity.
Aaron Cotton
Co-Founder, Marco Polo Portal