Four signs of a heartfelt brand.

What does it mean to have a heartfelt brand? What are the qualities, the personality, the drive behind a heartfelt brand? How do you create one? 

When I started Third Ginger Studio, I knew that I wanted it to be somewhere inclusive, community-based and connection focused. Before I started anything, I wrote down our values and our mission. I knew the feelings that I wanted to invoke and create for people, and I had to get them down on paper so they could be the driving force behind the brand. 

So, what are the key signs of a heartfelt brand? Across different industries, different business sizes, across personalities, there is an endless array of ways that a brand can be heartfelt. It’s about finding exactly what works for your business. Third Ginger Studio exhibits these signs to share our nature: 

Honesty 

A core value for us is honesty. It’s about being open, communicative and upfront about everything from the beginning. It’s about having enough respect for the other person and yourself, to share how you’re feeling, your thoughts and feedback. It’s about an honest process that produces honest results and ultimately creates a better outcome for all. An honest brand means transparency, realness and willingness to build lasting connections with its ideal audience. 

Passion 

Don’t do anything unless you do it with passion. “I would rather die of passion than of boredom” quote by [insert here]. Passion means that your love for it, trumps all other things. When you talk about something your passionate about, it shows. And that is your driving force. This is why people connect with you, this is why people will want to buy from or listen to you. It’s that little sparkle in your eyes that hooks people in. When the person behind the brand is passionate, the brand seems passionate, it carries through. That spark doesn’t just fade into the background. 

Authenticity 

This word has become really overused recently, but clichés are there for a reason. Being authentic, being real is you showing up consistently, but imperfectly, to put the hard yards in and make it work. Authenticity is about showing up as you, no one else. You shouldn’t hide your weaknesses, it’s what makes you unique and is often times your point of difference. All the quirks and nuances is what shines through and forges a connection. People can relate and people want to relate. Authenticity in a brand inspires and builds lasting relationships with your ideal audience, with the possibility of being loyal customers and brand ambassador. 

Connection 

Connection is key. Connection is what makes us human. Connection is what keeps us together. All of the signs of a heartfelt brand ultimately lead to this point. Without it, you’ve got a brand that is closed off and unapproachable. Connecting with someone on any level, is key to a successful brand. We pride ourselves on the connections we make with our community, client or not. It’s how we know that we’re doing a great job and that we’re of value to our community. 

Having a heartfelt brand isn’t just about scribbling it down on a piece of paper and hoping it’ll stick. It’s about putting in the hard work, showing up for your community, sharing and creating real connections with likeminded people and being honest and open. 

Do you have a heartfelt brand? What are your brand values? Let us know in the comments!