When you think of your small business, do you think about your brand?

Or do you think branding is something meant for big companies, such as Apple or Amazon?

The truth is, every business needs a brand – yes, even a small business.

Especially a small business.

When you start a small business, establishing your brand might be the furthest thing from your mind.

Maybe when you first started, you simply took on a few projects that came up here and there. And then you gradually took on more long-term work and – bam – you became a freelancer.

Somewhere along the line, you started subcontracting work, delegating tasks, investing time and resources into marketing, personal development, business development and – lo and behold – you became a full-fledged small business owner.

At this point, being an entrepreneur took over your entire work life, and you were probably so busy hustling new business and keeping your clients happy, you didn’t have time to think about what your brand was all about.

In fact, having a brand at this stage of the game might have even seemed superfluous.

After all, if you’re already drumming up business and growing your company, why on Earth would you need a brand?

This might come as a surprise, but having a strong brand will actually help you grow your business.

Here are 3 reasons your small business needs a brand…

Your brand acts as your sales team.

As an entrepreneur, how much of your time is devoted to hustling new business?

How much of your time goes into networking, chasing down new leads, writing proposals, following up, designing and producing promotional materials, etc.?

Wouldn’t it be great if you could have a sales team who could just handle all of that for you?

I know what you’re thinking – what small business owner can afford to have a sales team?

Having a solid brand is like having a sales team that works for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for free.

Your brand is your business’s reputation.

Your brand builds rapport and trust with your audience.

A strong brand will be visible and have a clear message. It will attract not only a big audience, but the right audience.

And when you connect with the right people, it’s easy to make their experience with you a great one. These are the people who will become your brand fans and turn into your brand ambassadors.

Brand ambassadors are out there telling other people about you… they become the sales team brought together by your brand.

Your brand leaves a lasting impression.

It’s not enough to get in front of your target audience.

You have to make an impression 7-21 times before someone buys something from you.

That’s a lot of time and energy required to make an impact.

That’s why it’s important to make a great first impression, and to make that first impression a lasting one.

A well-developed brand will help ensure that the impression you leave is accurate and memorable, so that your desired client will recall your name, or even picture your face or logo, when they need your product or service.

And, if your brand follows through on their expectations, they will keep coming back.

Your brand makes you stand out from the crowd.

In all likelihood, your service or product is not completely 100% unique.

There are probably other businesses who are a lot like yours.

Your brand is what sets you apart from the herd.

Your brand will help differentiate you from similar businesses and make you look like an expert in the eyes of your audience.

When they see you in such a positive light, you won’t have to compete on price. They will want you because your brand says you are the best (and people trust your brand).

Your prospects will seek you out and will pay you what you deserve.

By differentiating your brand, you will attract the right people and, more importantly, detract the wrong people.

Every business – even a small business – needs a brand. A strong brand will do the work for you when it comes to growing your business. Your brand will act as your sales team, improving visibility and messaging, all while building trust with the right audience. Your brand will make a great first impression, and that impression will last. And finally, a solid brand will make you and your business stand out from the crowd. With a well thought-out brand, you will no longer have to compete on pricing, because you will attract the right people (and detract the wrong people) who will pay you what you are worth.