Branding is the marketing practice of creating a name, symbol or design that identifies, differentiates or sets apart a product/service or business from others.

There's a saying that no idea is original. If this is something to go by it means that for every business idea you have there are other people or businesses doing the same thing.
What makes you stand out or makes a customer prefer your product/service over others is called Branding.

Most times, consumers buy a product not because of the quality or price but just for the brand.
A typical example: You are in a traffic on a hot afternoon and you are thirsty. A hawker comes along with a basket with different brands of bottle water in it (say Nestle water, and some other unknown brands); all cold, all the same price.
Not minding if the Nestle is 50cl and other brands are 75cl, you are most likely to buy the nestle water. Why? Definately not because you have visited the nestle factory before or can vauge for the quality of their product. You buy it because they have sold you the perception that their brand is the most hygienic you can get out there.
The same way you rejected those other brands of bottle water for Nestle is the same way a lot of people are making decisions about your product or services everyday without your knowledge, therefore as a business owner it is your responsibility to give your customers something good to think about when they think of your product/service.

Brand Identity:
This defines your business identity i.e purpose, mission, look, tone, feel and so on.
How to promote your brand identity:

•Build an identity for your business i.e put together a name, colour, design etc that customers can identify your business with.

• State your business vision and mission and make it very clear to your staffs and customers.

• Help your customers identify the features of your product.

•Identify your unique selling proposition (USP) and point it out to your customers.

It takes deliberate and consistent effort to build the right perception about your product/service in the mind of potential customers.

Here is a quote worth considering:

"If someone is doing something but not doing it 100% right and there is a substantial customer base then it becomes incumbent upon you to really point out the differentiation as to why you are doing it better; even if it is just slightly better, slightly different and slightly smarter".- John Durham

Here are some branding strategies to help you get started:
1. Get a Logo
2. Develop a Tagline
3. Write down your brand message and act on it.
4. Build a virtual identity: Website, Social media presence etc
5. Excellent product presentation/packaging
6. Attractive and informative communication materials e.g Letter head, business card, Flyers etc
7. Define your target market
8. Identify how, when and where you want to communicate your brand message.
9. Be comitted to your brand promise
10. Be consistent in promoting your brand.

Branding is a vast subject in entreprenuership and it requires extensive tutoring to grasp the concept; If you are interested in understanding the concept of branding and implementing it for business growth then grab the opportunity provided by THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACADEMY(TEA) in the month of March.

The Entreprenuership Academy(TEA) is a 2 weeks training with well seasoned entrepreneurs and leaders of industries. Who will teach you how to:
- generate thriving business ideas
- Build a business from scratch
- Increase sales from new and returning customers
- Customer Service and Relations
- The secret of Multi level marketing and how to use it to grow your business
- Prepare an Elevator Pitch and a sales pitch
-Use social media and digital marketing to grow your customer base
- And many other strategies that will enhance your business growth and overall success.
- You also stand a chance to get loans and grants from angel investors, bank of industry and other micro finance houses.

All these and much more are available to you in the 10 days Master Class of THE ENTREPRENUERSHIP ACADEMY(TEA).

The entrepreneurship academy is put together by Dr. Olumide Emmanuel who is a Minister of God, a serial entrepreneur and the author of the best selling book 'The school of money'.
Let me end this presentation with a quote from Jack welch that says;

"An organization's ability to learn and translate that learning into action rapidly is the ultimate competitive advantage".

Bro, you really said enough to convince a snail to stop using its shell but you lost it to me the moment you mentioned the below quoted:

Edaniels9:
The entrepreneurship academy is put together by Dr. Olumide Emmanuel who is a Minister of God

Good luck.