If you’ve ever attempted to build a brand, you already know it’s rather like trying to teach a goldfish to play the violin. A noble pursuit, yes, but one that involves a great deal of flapping, splashing, and “good heavens, what now?” moments.
Nevertheless, for the brave of heart and stout of spreadsheet, the journey can be divided neatly — or as neatly as anything ever is in this business — into Seven Stages.
1. The “Aha!” Stage (a.k.a The Big Brainwave)
This is where you believe you’ve had a revelation so profound the universe should really pause to applaud.
You bolt upright at 3 a.m. whispering, “Yes! Edible yoga mats!”
Or, “Self-watering jeans!”
You’re convinced it’s genius.
Your friends are convinced you need rest.
But fear not — every brand begins as a mildly unhinged idea.
2. The Product–Market Fit Stage
Ah yes, the classic dance between what you want to sell and what the public is willing to tolerate.
You present your creation to the world, chest puffed.
The world, in return, says, “Hmm… but why?”
Here you learn the sacred truth:
The customer is always right, except when they’re dreadfully wrong — but still inexplicably in charge.
Product–market fit is essentially finding a group of people who think your madness is marvellous.
3. The Positioning Stage
This is when you attempt to explain your brand in a way that does not cause polite coughing or raised eyebrows.
Are you premium? Affordable? Eco-friendly?
Do you stand for joy? Rebellion? Discounts?
Do people wear your product to weddings, gym sessions, or court appearances?
A brand without clear positioning is like a gentleman without trousers — shocking, confusing, and unlikely to be invited anywhere again.
4. The Identity Stage (Colours, Fonts & Emotional Trauma)
Here you select your brand colours — usually after 87 rounds of arguments, three breakdowns, and one designer fleeing to the Himalayas.
You choose fonts that say,
“Yes, we are respectable,”
without accidentally saying,
“Yes, we sell funeral insurance.”
Your logo must be simple, elegant, memorable… and not suspiciously similar to a certain global tech company’s fruit-shaped icon.
5. The Product–Channel Fit Stage
This is where you match your product with the right channel.
Do you sell artisanal goat-milk toner? Instagram loves you.
Do you sell industrial-grade staplers? LinkedIn awaits.
Do you sell both? Seek help.
A channel is the runway on which your brand struts. Choose wisely, lest your luxury perfume ends up advertised between videos of aggressive power-washing.
6. The Multiplier Stage (The Hype Machine)
Once your brand is neatly positioned and reasonably clothed, it’s time to multiply your audience.
Influencers, ads, collaborations, PR stunts, social media drama — throw it all in.
You become a sort of enthusiastic magician, pulling rabbits, hashtags, and discount codes out of every conceivable hat.
The goal?
Momentum!
The glorious moment when people buy your product not because they need it, but because everyone else is buying it.
7. The Moat Stage (Building Your Castle Wall)
Finally, you must defend your brand from imitators, rivals, and that one competitor who copies you so blatantly you suspect they’ve bugged your office plants.
A moat could be:
a proprietary formula a cult-like community patented tech or simply customer love so strong they’d defend you in street fights
This is when your brand evolves from “fun little project” to “actual empire,” preferably without any dragons.
🥂 In Conclusion
Building a brand is part science, part art, part sorcery, and entirely chaos.
But if you navigate these seven stages with wit, wisdom, and the occasional strong beverage, you’ll emerge victorious — monocle intact, brand roaring, and competitors weeping softly into their mood boards.
Honest Reviews 