A central role for CEOs of new businesses is raising finance. But when it comes to investing in brand, these same businesses find themselves in a chicken and egg situation. Do we seek maximum funding to invest in our brand, or use our clear brand vision to help us secure maximum funding?

Branding is a creative process that establishes your corporate image and influences how the outside world views your business.

It comprises visuals elements, like your logo and other assets, as well as other vital components, like your mission statement, voice, and style.

Professional branding enables your target customer to recognise and remember your business in a crowded marketplace, as well as significantly increasing customer loyalty, boosting your authority in your industry, and enhancing your ability to attract and retain top talent to your company.

Ironically, these are all things funders want to be persuaded of before investing in your business.

Here are five reasons to consider investing in your brand before entering a full funding round.

1.         Visualisation is key

Pitching for funding is an exercise in selling the dream. And if potential investors can't visualise it, they're unlikely to buy into it.

Strong branding at a funding pitch is a powerful way to bring investors into your vision.

2.         Pitch confidence

Walking into a room of investors can be a daunting experience. Any insecurities you have over rushed logos or DIY graphics will reflect in your performance, increasing your chance of disappointment.

Projecting an established and ambitious image through professional branding is a guaranteed way to instil you with confidence that will radiate through your pitch.

3.         Branding is more than aesthetic

Your branding is more than aesthetics, it's about how others perceive your business, and first-round investment is all about perception.

By investing in branding before seeking fuller investment, you make an authoritative statement about what you stand for, how your vision aligns with your values and what you represent as a business for potential investors.

4.         You invest in growth, so why not funding?

Every savvy CEO understands the importance of investment to fuel growth, whether that's in the form of creating a viable product, gaining visibility, or generating sales.

Therefore, why wouldn't you take the same approach to raising investment? If you fail to get the investment you need to get off the ground, you definitely won't see the growth you want.

5.         Visions develop

Of course, raising investment isn't just for startups. If you're an established business seeking funding to support the development of a new product or service, is your branding strong enough to support your new pitch, or is there a disconnect between your existing business and your new vision?

Strong branding aligns all of your verticals and ensures your business is memorable and recognisable across all product lines, making your proposition more attractive to investors.

For more information on how to develop your brand to help you secure funding and achieve long-term growth email laura@studiolwd.co.uk,  or visit Studio LWD