9 Tips for Branding your Small Business
Branding your small business is one of the most important aspects of starting out.
Approached correctly, professionally branding your small business will help define a business as a credible entity in its target market and associate the business with its products or services.
Read our 9 Top Tips for successfully branding your small business.
1. KEEP THINGS SIMPLE
A good slogan is a powerful tool, but it should be kept short in order to make the biggest impact. The best way to do this is to identify what puts you ahead of your competition and define it clearly to your target market. This way, you’ll avoid confusing potential customers and possibly putting them off.
2. BE CONSISTENT
Stay consistent in all aspects of your marketing message and graphics. It’s tempting, especially when sales are low, to try testing your results against the latest market trends. Unfortunately, this can quickly result in losing any previous market leverage and confuse your business partners and customers.
3. TRACK PROGRESS
Without keeping close records on how your revenue responds to your actions, it will be impossible to know what is working and what’s pointless or even harmful. When you can look back at your records and identify what needs changing, you’ll be better prepared to make any necessary changes, whether they are small or huge.
4. UTILISE SOCIAL MEDIA
Social networking sites have emerged as invaluable marketing resources for small business. Find out where your potential customers are on these sites and market to them using targeted ads and personal contacts.
5. BRAND EVERYTHING
In every communication with clients, affiliates or suppliers, be sure to maintain your brand by including your logo or slogan. This will reinforce your company’s position in the eyes of present and potential customers.
6. INVEST IN A GOOD LOGO
While it may be tempting to create your own logo and branding, it’s much better to hire a professional such as BlueFlameDesign to create a graphical representation of your business. Your logo allows you to put a ‘face’ on your business, and this face is one that you want to be easily recognisable, as well as easily remembered. Your logo acts as a calling card, of sorts, in that it is typically one of the first things a customer sees when entering your business, and possibly the last thing they see as they exit. Even if you do not have a brick and mortar establishment, a logo on your website serves the same purpose; gaining the visitor’s attention by putting a public face on your company, as well as maintaining their attention, even after their transaction is done.
7. IDENTIFY YOUR COMPANY’S PERSONALITY
When you know what kind of voice is portrayed by your company’s advertisements and dealings with the public, you will have an easier time getting in touch with the right clients. For example, a local fresh food grocer might find it most effective to use a simple, neighbourly approach, while a law office might need a more serious approach to branding. Overall it is best to research what
8. MAINTAIN A QUALITY WEBSITE
As the primary online representation of your business, your website should be totally professional. Keep your design and data updated consistently, because virtually all modern customers will look for your company online.
9. ESTABLISH YOUR BUSINESS AS AN AUTHORITY
Building trust and credibility is an essential part of growing any small business; customers and business partners are more likely to engage with you if they view your business as a leader in your field. A strategy to build trust and credibility in your field is by establishing your business as an expert and as an authority. Some ways to achieve this is by releasing valuable content through press releases, blogs and other written medium; and forming partnerships with local media to speak on issues relevant to your industry.
No matter how you approach branding, it will soon develop a life of its own. Be prepared for this by starting out right and managing it carefully to maintain buyer confidence. Good branding efforts will pay dividends in exposure and customer recognition. It’s a promising sign that your company will deliver, and clients will appreciate and remember that. As you maintain your branding campaigns over the long run, your customer base will begin to reinforce itself, resulting in greater profits and expansion for your business.
Feel free to contact BlueFlameDesign should you need our assistance in designing and establishing a professional brand for your small business.