3 Unbreakable Rules in Branding for Startup Tech Companies

These branding rules are practically unbreakable for startup tech companies looking to build a following.

Branding is one of the most important first steps a startup tech company needs in order to establish a presence and begin building a following. Even knowing this, some entrepreneurs opt to skip over the due diligence in creating a brand in favor of finishing the branding phase faster or saving a little bit of money.

While I’m in strong favor of the “lean” startup, startups that cut costs wherever possible and run with a focus on efficiency, branding is not the cost area to cut. Your branding is responsible for new customers’ first impressions and old customers’ habits of coming back to you instead of your competition. With brand loyalty gradually diminishing as a cultural concept, it’s more important now than ever to have a brand that is truly unique.

If you’re just getting started, it’s hard to tell what constitutes a “good” brand versus a “bad” or “incomplete” brand, but these four unbreakable rules should point you in the right direction:

Your brand must be original. It cannot be a knockoff, and it cannot be based on a template. Feel free to look at your competition as a means of inspiration or to research what others have done before you, but only use that as knowledge that you can then use to help distinguish yourself.
Your brand must be consistent. It often goes without saying, but an inconsistent brand might as well be nonexistent. From the earliest stages of your company’s operation, you need to take measures to ensure that your brand is consistent in style and messaging, across all communication mediums you use.
Focus on a brand, not on a logo. Don’t get caught up in your company’s logo or color scheme. A brand is much more than that. You need to be consistent in your style, your tone, your voice, your user experience—everything you have publicly visible should be aligned under one branding umbrella.

Keep these rules top of mind when developing or refining your startup tech company’s brand. Do not underestimate the impact your branding or lack thereof can have on the eventual success of your company.

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About the Author

Jose Vasquez is a serial entrepreneur and tech specialist dedicated to helping startup tech companies grow and succeed. As the founder of Build. Brand. Blast., Jose has worked with dozens of enterprises to find direction, gain momentum, and achieve results.