Starting a new venture is exciting, to say the least. It also involves a long list of to-do’s. From the logistical to the financial to the creative, there’s much to think about.

But one thing is certain – From the very beginning of a business, branding is fundamental. Establishing a clear brand identity helps a funded startup enter an industry with confidence and authority.

How a business is perceived is crucial to its success, and when it comes to forming that perception, there’s no time to waste.

Here’s a list of items that funded startups need in order to launch.

Brand Positioning

Before a startup can develop a brand, it first needs to understand its audience. Identify your target audience(s) and appropriate messaging first so you can build a brand identity and marketing strategy from that informed place.

Naming

We wrote an entire blog post about the importance of naming in establishing a clear brand identity. The takeaway: It’s important.

Naming a company sets the stage for that company’s overall image. Often, your very first impression of a business is from its name.

Choose a name that’s unique, clear and representative of the message you want to convey through your brand.

Brand Identity and Visual Identity

Your brand identity is a concept and a feeling. It’s the overarching way your business is perceived and understood in the world.

Establishing a brand identity is less about the components (logo, fonts) and more about the overall message.

Once you have a clear concept of how you want to present your business to the public, craft a visual identity that conveys that presentation. This is accomplished through your logo, color palette, typography, etc.

Purchase Domain and Registration

Your website will need a place to live. Purchase a domain that’s easy to remember and obviously associated with your brand and company name.

Coming Soon Page

Before your site goes live, publish a Coming Soon page so visitors know there’s something in the works.

Launch Website

Your website is essential to establishing and growing your funded startup. Keeping user experience top of mind, your website should feel on-brand, clean and always up-to-date.

Social Media Presence

Your customers will expect to find you on social media. Choose a few platforms to start with, and use your social media account to establish your brand and convey your message.

Business Cards

Old school as they might be, business cards are still an essential marketing and branding tools. When you make connections in person, you’ll want to have something on-hand that strengthens your brand identity and relays key information about your business.

As a startup, your budget is limited, and knowing how to spend it effectively is key. Use this list of essentials to guide your decisions around how to spend a limited budget on elements that will move your business forward.

If you’re launching a startup company and need help with marketing, branding and web design, we’d love to chat.

Schedule a free 30 minute rebranding strategy session with us and let’s get started.