What does it take to create a brand with staying power? Obviously, you have to appeal to your customers, but who are they? Most likely, your target audience is a diverse group — a mix of younger and older people, from various backgrounds, and of many colors. You want your brand to reflect your customer base and promote diversity and inclusion.
Unfortunately, many business owners miss the mark, forgetting that not everyone looks like them or has had the same set of experiences. They may struggle to find the right messages and images that welcome all clients. AZ Media Maven can help improve your brand’s inclusion and diversity so your business is a beacon for all. Here are a few ways we suggest creating brand diversity:
Be Content Critical
Your brand identity is strongly associated with content you choose to showcase. We take a critical look at the content you post and help you see it from other perspectives. Does the content reflect the diversity of your customers? Do the photos include people of different backgrounds, or are they generic and homogenous? The best way to promote inclusivity and diversity is to ensure that your content appeals to a wide mix of people, and the content experts at AZ Media Maven can be trusted with this.
Be Aware of Biases
Overcoming personal biases, whether you’re aware of them or not, can be a hurdle to promoting diversity and inclusion. For instance, go to your favorite stock photo website such as Pixabay or Unsplash and search for a photo of a “happy family.” Which image first drew your attention?
Many people gravitate toward what’s most comfortable, and that’s often people who look like them. But that’s the opposite of what we need to do as responsible brands promoting inclusivity. When you make decisions for your website, whether it’s a graphic, a stock photo, or accessible design for those with disabilities, we will help you consider whether you’re reaching out to a broad range of customers.
Create a Diverse Team
To help us move beyond our own experiences when brand building, collaboration with a diverse team is essential. The best way to create a brand that appeals to a wide audience is to make sure you have a diverse team. Promote inclusivity from within and collaborate with your team to make sure all voices are heard.
Making the effort to create an inclusive and diverse brand takes thoughtfulness, but the payoff is always worth it.
AZ Media Maven is based in Laveen, AZ, a suburban village in the greater Phoenix area. Owner Rose Tring has more than 30 years of journalism experience as an editor and writer, many of those years in business news. AZ Media Maven was created in 2012 to serve other business owners in learning how to best use social media and to provide affordable public relation services. Reach AZ Media Maven by emailing azmediamaven@azmediamaven.com, or calling (602) 373-8371.