Want to build a powerful brand for your business, but think it might be too expensive? Think again. Here are 6 steps that will help build your brand and save you money.
- Define your Target Market
Before spending time and money on branding your company, make sure you have taken the time to define your clients. To do this, first look at your existing clients and find common characteristics. This will help you develop a customer profile. If you are a small business, you can still compete with large companies by targeting a niche market. When defining your target market, it is important to choose your target demographics. Keep the following factors in mind:
• Age
• Location
• Gender
• Income Level
• Education Level
• Marital or Family Status
• Occupation
• Ethnic Background
Targeting a specific market is an affordable and effective way to generate business and maximize growth.
- Establish Your Identity
Here is a checklist to help create your band identity:
√ Vision Statement – What you want your company to become.
√ Mission Statement – What the purpose of your company is.
√ Essence – The heart, soul, and spirit of your company. This is best described with one word. A great example of this is Volvo; when you think of Volvo, you think “safe.”
√ Personality – The human characteristics you want your business to embody. Ask yourself if your company is fun, down-to-earth, playful, or serious?
√ Position – What makes your product or service unique and how will customers benefit from it. .
- Social Presence
What better way to save money and get exposure for your business than using social media? It’s free and it allows you to interact with your customers, while building brand awareness. Knowing your target market will allow you to distinguish the best social media platforms to use for your business. Some of the major platforms include: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest. Make sure you are actively using your social media and engaging your audience, or potential customers might lose interest.
- Educate Your Audience
When your customers feel that their priorities are your priorities, they feel important and appreciated. This leads to word-of-mouth, which is earned media. Earned media opens the door to existing and potential customers.
- Brand Consistency
The final and most important step to follow is consistency. Once you know what your brand is, make sure you are always using it. The more you change things, the less people will remember you.
Establishing your brand early on will keep you from spending an arm and a leg on rebranding over and over as your business evolves. Feel free to send us a message and we'll be happy to share more resources. Don't forget to check out our website or contact us directly at info@pulsemarketingteam.com.
