As a small business owner, you probably rely on an array of methods to help get the word out about what you do.
Whether you have enlisted the help of a high-powered ad agency or you are more of a one man (or woman) show, one of the most effective ways of spreading the word about your product or service is simply getting your target market to recognize your brand. Here is why.
BRANDING 101: THE BASICS
Growing a recognizable brand takes time, but it is well worth the effort.
Here is a look at how effective branding leads to increased consumerism and overall brand awareness. Effective branding helps with the following, and more:
- It enables products or services to differentiate themselves from those that are similar in regards to reliability, quality and efficacy
- Also it simplifies consumer choice by enhancing trust and emotion
- It helps establish a loyal connection and consumer/product relationship
- It enables you to charge more for goods/services that may otherwise not be distinguished from generic competitors by combining trust, emotions and values
MAKE SURE BRANDING IS EVIDENT IN EVERYTHING YOU DO
One of the most critical aspects of a successful branding campaign is making sure to take advantage of every possible opportunity to display your logo or establish a connection between customers and your business.
Sometimes, all it takes is a visual reminder to keep your company at the forefront of a potential consumer’s mind.
Consider adding your logo and branding to the following to help get the word out about what you do:
- T-shirts
- Stationary
- Mouse pads
- Posters
- Pens
- Mints
- Calendars
CREATING A BRAND TO LAST
Virtually anything can be turned into a marketing tool for your business, if done well.
The key to coming up with a product that will genuinely help build your brand is finding one that people use on a regular basis.
Just as repeating a particular act or behavior (swimming, playing chess, etc.) will make you better at it, repetition in marketing will improve your chances of being considered before the competition.
Remember, doing business without advertising/branding is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know you’re doing it… but no one else does! So start building your brand now.
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James Hill is a veteran of the music industry. He first worked at Warner Reprise Records then later joined Interscope/ Geffen Records where he managed producers and songwriters and got his first platinum record for Keyshia Cole’s The Way It Is. He is now helping indie artists with branding and manufacturing through his company Unified Manufacturing, a CD/DVD, custom vinyl records and merch company in LA.
