FREEBIE: Defining Your Brand + 9 Free Business Printables!

So you want to start a business? The first thing you need to do is define your brand. It’s important to brain storm and really figure out what your brand is about and how you are going to present it. It’s much easier to get this figured out now and stick with it than to change it down the road. You want to be consistent for your customers.

Things to figure out include:

• Your niche/business
  • What is your business about? What are you selling?
  • This you probably already know if you’ve landed on this page. Even so, I do recommend that you take some time and really define it. Write it down!
• Presentation
  • Where will you be displaying your business? Are you starting a business with a store-front or an online-based business? Will you have your own website or will you be selling on an established platform such as Etsy, etc.?
  • If you are starting a business with a store-front, you’ll need to start thinking of the best location for your business. Where do your ideal clients visit?
  • If you are looking at creating your own website, I recommend BLUEHOST as it’s easy to use and plans start at just $3.95! You can’t beat that to get your business off the ground!
• Client-base
  • Who is your ideal client? Are you looking to sell your brand to locals or to everyone online? What is your ideal client’s age range and gender?
  • This is important because it will help you to determine your best way to present and advertise your business. If you’re planning to have a store-front and sell jewelry locally, it doesn’t make sense to work really hard on establishing an online presence unless you plan to ship your items. Likewise, if you are creating an online-based business selling to everyone around the world, it makes a lot more sense to focus on establishing an online presence and online marketing techniques instead of advertising locally.
• Business Owners
  • Are you starting this business solo or will you be going into business with a partner? This is important because it will need to be decided before you can figure out the best business structure. If you are going to have a partner, it’s important to bring them in on the planning stage too.
• Business Structure
  • How will you be structuring your business? This is important to figure out now. It’s best to talk to a business tax professional to see what’s right for your situation.
• Business Name
  • What will you call yourself?
  • It needs to be relevant to your niche. This is a big decision as there’s no going back on your business name once the business is well established as that would just create confusion for your customers. Once you pick a name, you’ll need to check to see if this name is free or already taken with your state’s business licensing agency. You should also check to make sure that the name isn’t copyrighted or trademarked (I recommend seeking a professional to check this for you).
• Business Slogan
  • Do you have a catchphrase in mind? While this is optional, many brands decide to incorporate a slogan. Once you think of one, make sure you check to make sure it isn’t a copyrighted phrase (I recommend seeking a professional to check this for you).
• Business Logo
  • Now for the fun part! It’s important to decide now if you want to make your own logo or if you want to hire someone to make it for you. If you are a graphic designer or have knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, making your own logo might make sense.
  • If you have no design experience or knowledge, it’s probably best to leave it up to the professionals. There are a couple of options if you want to hire out. Many designers sell customizable pre-made logos on Etsy (Including myself- check mine out HERE). During checkout, you just fill in your business info that is asked. The shop will then design your logo and send it to you to proof. This is a great option because you don’t have to have anything specific in mind, you just have to find one you like on Etsy. It’s also a great option as many Etsy sellers offer different packages, from 1-4+ matching logos that are slightly different giving you a more sophisticated brand (think main logo, alternative logo and watermark logo).
  • If you already have something in mind and want to have more creative control or a completely unique logo, you’ll need to figure out your brand colors and what fonts you want to use then find a professional who can create it for you. One of the places you can check out for this is FIVERR. This is where creative individuals market their talents and sell their design services starting at $5.
  • If you will be making the logo yourself or hiring someone to make a unique one for you, you’ll also need to figure out your brand colors and fonts as well as design.
    • Brand Colors
      • What colors are you interested in? Look on Pinterest at color palettes to get some ideas. You’ll need to save the HEX #’s once you figure out which ones you like.
    • Business Fonts
      • If you are making the logo yourself, you’ll also need to figure out what font(s) you want to use. Just make sure they are listed for commercial purposes. You may need to purchase a commercial license for this. If you are hiring someone to make it for you, you can also ask them if they have any fonts available to them that they recommend.
• Social Media Platforms
  • What social media platforms are relevant to your business model and client base? Not all businesses need multiple social media platforms. Many local businesses tend to have a Facebook page and that’s it. And that’s okay! It all depends on what your needs are. If you are an online-based business, you’ll likely have more of an online presence with more social media accounts.
• Advertising
  • How do you plan on advertising once you get your business set up? If you’re a local shop, will you be using billboards, word of mouth, coupon offers, mailers, etc? If you are an online-based business, will you be focusing on strictly organic SEO or will you be advertising on Facebook, Pinterest, your selling platform, etc.

Make a plan and write it all out! Believe it or not, you might forget some of these key points as your mind wonders. You will probably revisit a few of these topics as you go. When I was setting up my business, I revisited the drawing board quite a few times to really nail things down. That’s totally okay but it’s best to start with a solid plan and mold it as needed early on in the process. To help get you started, I’ve included a 9 page business info printable set below. This is the first part of my ten part business planner printable set. You can check them out in my Etsy shop HERE. Just print it off and start filling it in. Remember, building a business from the ground up is hard work. However, with some perseverance and determination, you can make it a successful business. You just have to stick with it!