Branding is important. Your brand is what helps people to remember that your company exists. When you get your branding right, yours is one of the firms a potential client will think of the next time, they need a product or service that you sell.
An awful lot of small business owners do not fully appreciate the importance of branding. Even those that do recognise its importance often believe that building a strong brand is an expense that they cannot afford. In reality, as you will see, you do not necessarily have to spend a lot of money or time on branding. Here are a couple of simple ways to get your brand out there.
Give out branded gifts
This first suggestion sounds a bit old-fashioned, which it is. But virtually every large firm still does it for the simple reason that it is a highly effective way of raising brand awareness. For more than a hundred years, firms have been giving their customers gifts that feature their logo and business names. You can do the same. But try to make those gifts useful items that people will use. For example, branded UK face masks are not expensive to buy and there is a strong possibility that they will be worn. That is great because it gets your brand out there more. It also casts your company in a positive light. The fact that you are giving away face masks is a strong indication that you care about your community.
Advertise in different places
Advertising is important for any business. The more you do it, the stronger your brand will be. You should focus your advertising on those mediums that you know your potential clients will see. For example, if your service is aimed at busy mums, you could advertise in the cafes that you know they frequent. The owner may let you leave some discount leaflets on the counter. Or, perhaps, for a fee, add your advert to their menu.
This is great, but it is also always worth advertising in other places too, especially if you can place your ad for free. Placing an ad in the classifieds is a good example.
Most free papers do not charge for small ads, nor do many online classified ads platforms or social media groups. Whilst the busy mums who are your potential clients may not see those particular ads, there is a good chance that their parents will. It is another way for your target audience to learn about you.
Use this list of 40 free ways to get free advertising to identify the best opportunities for your business. Then read this short article to learn how to write an effective classified advert.
If you do decide to put either of these ideas into action just remember to be consistent and professional. Stick to the same logo and colours. Make sure that you only give out good quality products and that your advertising copy reads well and looks professional.