5 Things brands need to become successful in Cameroon.

So, I just turned 19.

Here are things I know now about branding that I believe would’ve helped the brands I’ve worked on since I started brand design.

For context, I started brand design in 2023 after figuring out my options in graphic design.

I left graphic design because I wanted total control.

I wanted to fix brands from the ground up rather than using what was already created which wasn’t really helping.

I’ve worked on some high-end brands in Cameroon and, when you start wrong, everything goes down from there.

It may not seem that way in the beginning. Most brands start and wonder what happened when their branding stops working.

So here is what I’ve learned that brands in Cameroon and beyond should take note of when building a brand:

1. Branding is about them

People start brands just because it’s what they think they want to do and they can pull it off.

They have a eureka moment and just start executing. That’s impulsive branding and it doesn’t work.

When you skip the first step, thinking that starting a business/brand is just about creating a social media page and posting, though important, it reduces your chances of success.

Instead of rushing into the process comforting yourself that since you’re beginning you’re not supposed to have it all figured out, zoom out.

Look at things from a broader perspective in the eyes of your ideal customer.

In the beginning, their mindset is “I’m going to just reach out to anyone because my offer is impressive(to me) and give them a sales pitch.”

That doesn't work. A customer doesn’t start off being a customer. Every relationship you build has to start with genuine interest.

If you’re not interested in learning about the other person and you’re eager for a sale, you’ll get abandoned. No replies, no views, nothing.

2. Do your research.

You get an idea and you’re happy about it.

You’re so happy, you totally disregard the market.

The main thing I’d like you to understand is that the market determines your success. If you create an offer at the wrong time and market to the wrong people, you’ll get nothing.

So when you get your idea, vet it. Make sure that it is relevant and you know who it’s relevant to.

As you might know, if you market to everyone(at the beginning), you market to no one.

So sit your ass down and do the Goddamn research.

Read articles. Read about how people have done what you want to do and figure out if it is still relevant today.

3. Do what you love.

Don’t let anybody tell you differently.

If you do what you love, you’ll do it for free. You’ll do it in your spare time. You’ll block out all important things, just to do it(probably a bad idea).

For me, it was design.

I would wake up from sleep to design. I would refuse entertainment to design. I would avoid important work that is necessary for my growth just to design(again, a bad idea).

But that's the reality of it.

If you’re going to do it for years, what’s the point of not loving it?

Find what you love, and learn it.

Be so good, people can’t help but pay you to do it.
Be so good, people can’t ignore you.

To prove this, I added content design(designing content for solopreneurs, founders, and personal brands) to my services.

It wasn’t my intention to do so.
Heck, I didn’t even know what it was.

Until I got a comment on my LinkedIn post recommending I should be a content designer.

I even got an Inbound lead asking me if I offer content design services.

I went from knowing nothing about it to adding it to my services. I love doing it and there’s no harm in getting paid to do what you love.

So figure out that thing, learn it, and become so good they can’t ignore you.

4. Clarity is key.

You gotta understand what you’re doing or you’ll be wasting your time and others.

This goes back to doing your research but beyond that.

Ask yourself, why am I doing this?
What led up to this point?
What’s driving me?

This won’t only help you understand what you’re doing.
But will help you to be consistent.

It will help you to keep going until you’ve reached your goal. Which hopefully helps humanity in some way or the other.

Clarity is your ability to zoom out and understand what lies beyond what you’re doing. It’s both an objective and subjective truth that you must and should come to.

This is important, so don't avoid it.

I’ve managed to waste years of my life because I didn’t search for it with utmost intent.

Those years I imply that were wasted to me aren't, because I’ve learned all this. And, and this is another important thing on your journey. Learning from mistakes.

If you make a mistake once, that’s okay. If you make that same mistake again, that’s okay, though you should’ve been more cautious. If you make the same mistake again, that’s just some form of foolishness.

Harsh, I know.
But you must learn because, without it, you’ll never grow.

Oh how I understand the phrase imprinted on the books I used in primary school.

“Learning never ends.”

Those three words are the foundation of any story with a successful ending. I can’t emphasize the importance of that phrase fully just like I can’t thank God enough for how far he’s brought me.

5. You will mess up.

You will mess up big time.

It might not come to your realization at the time but after it’s been done, you’ll find out you could’ve done things differently.

I read a novel titled, “I Can’t Eat Love.”

It taught me the importance of fixing things while I still can. You live only once.

Luckily the main character in the story had the opportunity of living twice.

She was a girl deeply in love with flashy things. The trendsetter. The daughter of the Duke. Betrothed to the prince.

She was surrounded by people who wanted the worst for her but due to her ignorance and naiveness, she couldn’t see through.

She didn’t understand that her best friend was the prince’s true love.

The prince didn’t give her the time of day, yet there she was, practicing queenship, learning everything it took to make a man love her.

I wouldn’t blame her though, she was only 15 when she was betrothed.

After the engagement fell apart on her 19th birthday, her life turned into a living hell.

The dutchy was taken away from them due to financial difficulties(debts).

They took everything from them.

She died of hunger on the streets as she begged and the people she thought loved her didn’t even turn in her direction.

Surprisingly she got another chance at life.

She woke up on her bed at 15 again with her perfect memory of her past life and she did things differently.

She learned from her mistakes and was now intelligent.

She understood life and did things differently and it led her to live a happy life with someone she actually loves.

So what’s the lesson here?

Learn from your mistakes while you still can.

You don’t get a second chance at life.

You only live once, so make it worth living.

When you mess up and you’ve come to the realization of it, ask yourself; what’s the lesson here?

Lead from there.

Thanks for reading this far. I hope you build an empire for yourself, your family, and humanity.

If you’re a solopreneur or a founder, I design content that drives sales and boosts brand awareness and I design brand identities for impactful brands. If you feel like you need me, reach out to me on LinkedIn here. Let’s chat.

I’d also love to help if you’re confused and need guidance.
P.S. It’s not entirely free.