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Give Your Company An Identity

Identification is important. Without a valid ID, you cannot drive, rent a car, buy an airline ticket, purchase alcohol or do a number of other things. An ID is proof that you are who you say you are, which is essentially the purpose of corporate branding. A solid brand serves as the ID card of every business, the importance of which cannot be understated.

Target is a great example of successfully implemented corporate branding. Across the store, television ads and catalogs, the bullseye emblem and the color red is used heavily. Workers in the store wear red shirts–even the buggies are red. Now, frequent shoppers only have to see the symbol or someone wearing a red shirt to perhaps be reminded of an item they need to buy or prescription that needs to be filled. Although the store sells items from thousands of different companies and manufacturers, heavy branding has given the store a strong sense of identity.

It can be challenging to market and sell various products and services under the umbrella of one company, but corporate branding allows companies to be both diverse and consistent at the same time. It is important that a company choose branding that is effective and recognizable, otherwise widespread brand recognition will not be possible. Smart businesses are thoughtful with their branding strategy. If you are unsure if your company has the identification needed to compete in your market, it’s time to get help.

4 Homework Questions for Starting a Business

Homework just might be the word with the most negative connotations in the English language. Middle and high schoolers drag their feet at the mere mention of homework sets and assigned readings, while most college students have to spend a myriad of time bent over books and computers during all hours of the day and night. The negative feelings associated with homework might be understandable, but that doesn’t mean entrepreneurs should avoid this important step of the startup process.

When it comes to business, homework is an entirely different ball game. Rather than being assigned a set of problems to bash through, entrepreneurs create their own set of business-related questions and problems that need to be solved. Finding the solution to these problems can help prevent dangerous holes and cracks in the foundation of a business.

Not sure what questions you should be answering? Try these:

1.Do I have what it takes to start and run my own business? Not everyone can tough it out in the business world, but starting the process of examining the legitimacy of a business idea is a good indication that a person has what it takes to succeed.

2.Is this a good, realistic idea? Brilliant ideas and inventions happen more often than most people might think, but the key to success is actually having a target market for a product. Before launching a new business, entrepreneurs need to make sure their product is needed, wanted and useful.

3.Does my business plan cover everything? Before going on the hunt for capital and investors, all startup owners need a business plan. All good business plans should include a summary of the company, its business statement, an overview of products, and financial projections. Additional information that should be covered includes the projected cost to run the business as well as the target market.

4.Are my projected costs as accurate as possible? Setting up a budget is only useful if the expenses portion is actually correct. Although no budget can be 100 percent on target when it comes to expenses, these figures should be more than just an educated guess. Research the exact cost and amount of necessary supplies and services before crafting the budget.

Doing homework after leaving school behind can seem counterintuitive, but there is no mistaking the incredibly valuable place that it has in starting a business.