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In order to differentiate your business, its products, or services at a universal level, you need to brand it. You can use an image, design, name or phrase to do so. If you manage to effectively brand your business, people will be able to identify your products by sight alone. Disseminating your brand name on a global level is no easy task though. You may need to hire a branding manager to stay on top of your branding initiatives.
The kind of branding manager you hire can make or break your business – at least as far as your branding attempts are concerned. You therefore need to find someone who meets all your important criteria.
So, what factors should you consider before hiring a branding manager for your business? What criteria should you use?
1. Expertise
A brand manager should be an expert – knowledgeable about consumer psychology and marketing trends.
It takes a certain level of expertise to analyze internet user data like Facebook likes, tweets, and Google Analytics information. It’s not enough to know how many people take certain actions. A brand manager with a high level of expertise in the branding field will be able to determine what those actions mean. Why do people like certain content? When do they actively engage with specific content? What are the thought processes behind those actions?
Be sure to hire an expert branding manager. Otherwise, your brand will go nowhere and your business will end up lagging behind the competition.
2. A passion for marketing
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Branding is a form of marketing that can take place through multiple channels like social media, print ads, and blogs.
Branding managers therefore need to have a passion for marketing – there are no two ways about that.
The professional you hire to manage your business brand should have a personality that suits your business ethos. That person will be the face of the brand. He or she needs to represent your business, hobnob with relevant parties in the society, and engage your fans and followers.
You should therefore be on the lookout for a brand manager with a passion for marketing. Ruthlessly eliminate anyone who is shy and afraid of engaging the public.
3. Visionary
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A good brand manager must be a visionary. He or she should be able to analyze the current consumer trends and determine- with a high level of accuracy – where marketing trends are headed.
A visionary brand manager will ensure that your business is positioned for success. That kind of manager will be able to adapt your branding strategy to change with consumer demands. By being able to anticipate what your customers will want in the future, your brand manager will make your business successful for the long term. In addition, you will always stay ahead of the competition, which is always a good thing.
4. Responsible
Brand managers need to be responsible. After all, they will be in charge of an important aspect of your business. For that reason, they need to take ownership of your business brand and represent you well. You should therefore consider managers who are team players and capable of putting a positive spin on your brand whenever they are called to do so.
Take your time to choose your brand manager. Make sure he or she meets all your criteria to prevent disappointments later on. If you choose wrongly, and your brand manager acts in a way that embarrasses your business, you are likely to lose lots of money because of the resulting shift in customer perception.