Branding your business You need to stand out from the herd when it comes to business. You need to be better, stronger and more adaptable than your competitors. You need to be eye-catching, fresh and hard to pass by. And if you have a brand you have an immediate advantage because you have a backbone, or a frame work, on which to hang your products.
A branded business carries with it an ideology. If people know the brand they know the company and what it stands for.
But what is a brand? A brand is the set of values, ideals, strengths and weaknesses that become tied to your business. A brand carries with it the power to inspire and influence your customers; it creates a set of subconscious associations in their minds and sets you apart from the herd.
What do you think of when you think of a top brand?
- Quality
- Reliability
- Customer service
Or do you think of their advertising campaigns?- Their Logos
- Their Slogans
- Their Promises
It’s amazing how much advertising promotion we absorb every day. Logos, slogans and associated advertising methods (particularly background music) stick like mud. “The car in front is a (?)”…”I’m loving it”… “Think different”… “Welcome to our Network”…Just a few, but I’m certain you can name the brands.
Brand promotion strategies You need to think big. You need to think out of the box. You need to dispel any notions of what is ‘usual’ or ‘expected.’ You need to grab your audience and you need to keep them until they are fully aware that you exist and that you mean business.
Look to your business mission statement and ask what it is that you want to promote. Of course you need to sell your product, you need to make money, but you also need to survive, and in order to do that you need to form an impression on your market.
Don’t copy your competitors, be original instead look to companies that inspire you for inspiration.
Word of mouth is by far the most effective form of advertising. People ignore Pop-up windows, but they’ll listen to their best friend. If you provide a quality service people will recommend you.
Customers want quality. If you can provide quality at a decent price they will come back, inspiring customer loyalty is part of a strong brand identity.
You may want to hire a professional to help shape your business model, or to improve your advertising scheme.
Remember Don’t limit yourself; putting blinkers on is a way of staying focussed; but it also leads to missed opportunities.
