Building a brand might seem like a huge undertaking, especially when resources are limited. There are plenty of economical ways to do it.
Starting a business involves raising substantial capital and branding cost is seldom a part of the start-up funding. New entrepreneurs, thinking that they should first focus on growing the business before engaging in branding efforts, often delay related activities until a later stage. This is a common but grave mistake – marketing and branding should always progress form the start-up stage onwards. Your initial funding may not include allocation for branding, but fortunately, there are some inexpensive ways to capture the market and stand out amid strong competition.
COLLABORATE
Start with joining entrepreneurial groups or attending events and see how you can work together with your peers. You might chance upon a fellow start-up that is not a competitor and is also looking to expand its audience. Together, you may be able to work on projects to you mutual benefit.
ACE CUSTOMER SERVICE
Put your customer first - they always remember the attentive staff who sorted out their concern with a smile on his/her face. So, as a budding brand, it’s certainly to your advantage to have your client talk about the awesome customer service they received and if they mention you on Facebook or Twitter, even better!
BE RESOURCEFUL
With an abundance of tools available online, you can be off to a good start to kick off your new business. First, launce you company website on a free blog platform and then, to create a brand presence, utilise a host of social media options like Facebook, Instagram, You tube, twitter and Linkedin. Remember, your topmost priority is to keep you page updated with new content.
SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ
You can also maximise social media to build you brand image by organising online activities like contests. Get you audience to send in your brand related photo or video on Facebook or Twitter, or run a voting competition for the win. This will encourage participants to share the link of your contest with family and friends, consequently generating brand awareness.
It doesn’t have to be costly, it just needs to be done right.