6 Ways To Strengthen Your Brand On A Budget
Brand Building is a crucial part of developing your business, especially as a small business or start-up.
So how do companies with “shallow pockets'” develop trustworthy, memorable and well-rounded brands that are capable of competing with larger, more popular brands in the market?
Keep reading to find out, or watch the video if you're short on time.
1. Master Story Telling
To be a memorable brand, you need to tell an extraordinary story. Find ways to communicate your passion and value proposition in a way that is compelling and emotionally moving.
When it comes to marketing, people don’t care about cute logos and fancy websites; they care about other people; they look up to and buy from other people. Use your story and personality to connect with your audience, and make it hard for them to forget your name.
2. Be Resourceful
Failure is often due, not to a lack of resources, but a lack of resourcefulness.
Resourcefulness calls for quick thinking and bright ideas to solve problems and reach goals. Take inventory of the resources you have access to - this could include any and everything – and come up with ways they can be used to boost your business. Your parent’s cars, your well-connected sister, and your creative employees are all resources, so don’t be afraid to use them to your advantage.
3. Maintain Social Media Presence
Social media platforms provide the perfect channels for connecting with your audience since it’s practically free, and they are conveniently equipped with sophisticated analytical tools to monitor and measure results.
Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, provide options for paid advertising where you can gain substantial results on a small budget. Figure out where your target audience spends most of their time and focus on those networks to increase awareness and build a community using consistent and creative content.
4. Get Controversial
All press is good press. We must warn you though; this strategy is not for everyone since it is quite easy to rub your audience the wrong way and have your strategy backfire.
Spark conversations that increase awareness grab interest build desire and influence action. Get on Twitter and take an unpopular stance on a hot topic in your industry, and wait for the onslaught to begin. Whether it’s good or lousy, attention depends on the subject matter and your approach.
5. Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing has become very popular for start-up companies because it provides a cost-effective way to get exposed to established networks.
Influencers can be industry leaders in your community or normal individuals with a sizable social media following. Offer free products or services in exchange for branded content, or be featured as a guest a blogger.
6. Take advantage of Google’s AdSense auto ads.
Paid ads are a great way to grab the attention of the target audience, but pinpointing your audience and tailoring your pitch to meet their needs can be a bit tricky.
Google recently announced its new AdSense Auto ads, which helps publishers create and optimise ads.
Through machine learning technology, Auto Ads are automatically positioned on websites that compliment your brand, where they effectively reach your target audience and give you a higher return on investment.