Is there a secret sauce to creating a stronger brand? How do people come up with a successful creative representation of their business? How can you tap into your own artistic energy and really get the most out of your branding efforts? Houston-based barber, yoga instructor, and gallery curator Juan Valentine (aka YogiBarberJuan) has spent years perfecting his own brand identity and has a few tips to get your creative juices flowing for a stronger brand.
Reflect on why you became an entrepreneur and how you want to be remembered.
“I started my barber journey when I was 10 out of necessity— Mom not having enough money to send us to the barbershop,” Juan says. “I wanted to create something that I could eventually pass on to my kids. More specifically, I created YBJ Studios because there wasn’t anything like it, and it was a niche that I felt like I had the skillset and experience to create. Something truly unique and one of a kind.”
Your turn. Create your vision statement now.
Decide the story you want to tell.
“A good haircut isn’t always what it takes to build a good barbershop. A lot of times it’s those real intangible things you have to work on, doing self-discovery work to find out: Who am I? How am I going to present this service and business in a way that’s different from everyone else, but is still authentic to who I am?”
How would you answer those same questions? Conduct a brand audit now.
Think about the impact you want your business to make in your community.
“What’s most important about the identity of my company is that it’s genuine. It’s real. It’s authentic,” Juan says.
Pinpoint the exact words that represent your own identity. They’ll help you develop your brand voice and Create a Brand Personality.
Head to our new milestone, Create Your Brand Identity.
Through this milestone, you’ll learn how to:
- Envision and communicate exactly what your company stands for
- Audit your existing brand to find its existing strengths and weaknesses
- Create the look, feel, and voice of your brand
“Anybody can do this,” Juan says. “I’m not some special person. One of the biggest aha moments I’ve had is that I’ve always had the potential to run the business and create the brand that I wanted to. It starts with just a little seed, and you water it, you nurture it, you spend time with it. And before you know it, you’ve got a little stride going.”
So let’s get started. See you in the Create Your Brand Identity milestone!
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