We don't have to explain that branding is important. But we would like to show you how to build a recognizable brand using a number of examples. A huge marketing budget is useful, but not essential: just do it!

1. Unique a unified visual appearance

A unique and unified visual appearance ensures long-term recognition. To start with, an example close to home. TOTO was a gray brand not so long ago, until they decided to change course and created their own kingdom. King TOTO has now become indispensable in the Netherlands.

When people even dress up as King TOTO during carnival, you know that your brand's recognizability is in order. The crown, the corporate identity, the green cloak, they are fixed visual patterns in every statement and advertisement of the gambling company. Patterns that have become so recognizable that everyone associates them with TOTO.

❗️| Breaking: a message from apparently the one, true King TOTO ? pic.twitter.com/rwoKJJYqMW

— TOTO (@TOTO_NL) April 1, 2021

Speaking of visual recognition; can you imagine rolling out an advertising campaign without using your logo? It sounds almost impossible, yet McDonald's does it regularly. The colors and arcs of the world-famous yellow M are so recognizable that when we see part of the logo or just seeing the colors, we immediately make the link to the hamburger chain.

For example, they advertise with large billboards next to the road on which only a small piece of the M can be seen. This is to indicate the direction you need to go to get to your Big Mac. The name of the company is not mentioned anywhere nor is the logo seen, yet everyone knows it is McDonald's.

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2. Slogan that fits your brand

A recognizable slogan can be hugely important to your brand. There are countless examples of good slogans that have been linked to certain brands for years. One of the best known is undoubtedly “Just Do It. In this regard, we don't even really need to say which brand it is. In fact, Nike has been using the slogan since the 1980s.

But how do you come up with such a rock-solid slogan? One way to do that is to keep it short and sweet, focus on the essence of your brand and use words and phrases that people readily adopt. The phrase Nike has been advertising with for more than 30 years meets those characteristics, but it has a lurid origin. Gary Gilmore, a criminal sentenced to death, was in fact the sports brand's inspiration. His last words before his execution were, “Let's do it!

Those words inspired the ad agency that did the campaigns for Nike and thus the world-famous slogan was born. By the way, in the fight against racism in America, Nike used this slogan in a very powerful way. So powerful that even competitor Adidas shared the video. 'For Once, Don't Do It.'

Let’s all be part of the change.#UntilWeAllWin pic.twitter.com/guhAG48Wbp

— Nike (@Nike) May 29, 2020

In the Netherlands, of course, there are also examples of good slogans. “It will be all right baby,” is a phrase inextricably linked to Roosvicee. They have managed to convert a phrase used daily by a great many people into their slogan. Now when you utter those encouraging words you consciously or unconsciously think of Roosvicee. So super powerful and super recognizable.

3. Give your brand a face

Giving your brand a face is always a good idea. Just think of Frank Lammers. The actor of Undercover, among others, is enormously popular in the Netherlands and also the face of Jumbo. Every day he gets “Hello Jumbo” thrown at his head about a hundred times, as he recently admitted on Rooijakkers over de vloer on RTL4. It shows how much people associate Lammers with the supermarket.

What Frank Lammers currently is for Jumbo, Harry Piekema was for Albert Heijn for about ten years. He appeared in every commercial and became the face of the AH. You still think of the Albert Heijn the moment you see Piekema pass by. As soon as the bbq season starts and a hamburger goes on the grill there is always someone singing “hamburgers at a discount”. Recognizable right?

Telfort also knows how good it can be to put a face to your brand. The name Patrick Stoof may not immediately ring a bell, but when you say: 'Who would have thought it; from golf course to side job', everyone immediately knows who you mean, and a Telfort bell rings. The recognizable statements from the advertisements are still used daily by everyone.

4. Own tone-of-voice

A unique and distinct tone-of-voice is also very important for your brand. Do you address your followers very formally, informally or with a lot of humor? Make sure the style suits your brand and that you apply it consistently, and you will automatically become recognizable.

A good example is soccer club Telstar. A small club, but big in their unique communication. They use a lot of humor and self-mockery. It is typical Telstar. Other clubs have tried it too, but they are soon told, “You are trying to imitate Telstar. That shows how recognizable their tone of voice is. Copying this style immediately feels 'fake' and unnatural. Because with this tone-of-voice t, you immediately think of the small club from Velsen-Zuid. That recognizability is what you want.

Wisdom comes with age. We are ready for your arrival! @rafvdvaart @HeldenMagazine pic.twitter.com/MOnNilO6OA

— Witte Leeuwen (@telstar1963nv) December 1, 2016

Travel company Eliza was Here also has a very recognizable and distinctive tone of voice. When you look at the communication of that organization you have the feeling that you are always dealing with Eliza. She constantly speaks from the first-person point of view which makes you feel for her and look at the trips they offer from her eyes. You forget for a moment that there is a large organization (TUI Group) behind it. And that is what makes this personal tone-of-voice so powerful.

Branding of vital importance

The above points and related examples can get you started in building a recognizable brand. Branding is extremely important. You can have such a good product, without a good brand strategy, it will be a lot harder to get your product to market. Therefore, take branding seriously and give it time and attention. Don't panic if you don't have a world-famous brand in place within a month, Rome wasn't built in a day.