CREATING A

DISTINCTIVE BRAND
IDENTITY
Mark Joseph Uy
When you’re launching a
business, the key to success is
standing out. Building a
distinctive brand identity is a
sure-fire way to break through
the clutter, grab your audience’s
attention, and make an impact
Start with a vision, not a
product.
Customers want to invest in a
culture rather than simply buy a
product.
“Focus on your attitude, not just
your products.”
Interact with your customers.
Constantly.
Two-way interaction is a must with
customers, however many, is the
key to building a brand quickly.
“People want to engage, and
there is real value in actually
listening to them. They’ll tell you
how and where they use the
product, what they care about,
and why they buy it,”
Find your own voice and
tribe.
You cannot appeal to everyone.
The company must stay true to
offering healthier options. This
stake in the ground keeps the
company focused.
Find partners with shared
values.
When just starting out,
proactively seek out brands
through social media or directly
reach out to those who embrace
similar values or audiences --
and know that partnership
creation never stops.
Stay true to your core and
focus on the long term.
Every decision you make early
on impacts the future.
You’ll have tough
' times. It’s not
easy. But there are times when
you can and should say 'No.'
Stay true to your core and
focus on the long term.
This includes a very tough
decision you made to turn down
a mass-market
' retailer, because
you would not merchandise the
brand the right way. The windfall
would have hurt the long-term
strategy.