No matter how dreamy as that might sound to some, every small business owner would like to see their business grow into big ones. And you know what, you are not alone here! Unfortunately, many of you don’t have a clue how to make this rosy dream come true. But the question is, how?
Now tell me something, how can a company or business be recognized? Of course, via brands. Creating your very own inquisitive brand is the stepping stone to make it large. Branding as a concept is something that has been in talks since ages; think of Nike, Adidas, Google, Microsoft, Starbucks, and MacDonald’s, and so forth. It’s been existent for decades, if not centuries. Unfortunately, even today, a large number of businesses don’t realize its true significance and try to create one of their own.
A recognizable and loved brand is one of the most valuable assets a company owns.
According to a Nielson survey, 59% of consumers prefer to buy new products from brands familiar to them. In such a situation, what needs to be done on first come first basis? I am sure you will go through several posts stating how to grow your business but let me warn you on that! It is not a worthy goal many times; it becomes a necessity for your business’s survival. Think upon ways through which you can get your business beyond the bare sustenance level or how can you turn it into the income-generating powerhouse you envision.
Further below, I would like to mention certain hacks that you can heed to make this come true for yourself.
#1. Brand Recognition won’t happen just like that
There is a famous saying, Rome wasn’t built in a day, so how can you expect your business’s brand to be built that quickly either. Doing anything wrong or right or having will definitely take time (a hell of a time). After all, brand building is such a process that occurs in many parts right from top to bottom (working your way up). At the initial level, make sure you are able to identify your mission as well as your target audience. From there, you can either create mental images or use your words that represent what you want your brand to be.
#2 Proper alignment in branding efforts
It’s not only regarding your company brand but even your personal brand. There are ample of reasons why one should take time in building their brand.
First, it helps your business stand out from your competition while growing your customer base
Second, you can offer products at premium costs that small brands simply can’t provide justice
Third, with the company’s logo, you will soon realize the marketing and advertising efforts are gaining support
#3. Flexibility
Expecting that your brand will remain the same as the one you originally set out to build is foolishness. As time flies, things might change! Making small adjustments to captivate your audience’s attention can impact a lot, especially in regards to the response. Ultimately, this will result in in a different way than you’d expected as soon as your brand resonates with your consumers. This is something you should always be aware of and prepared for.
#4. Elicit an emotional connection to your brand
Instead of considering a transaction between you and your customer, for me, a brand is something that triggers a set of memories or emotions that ultimately create a relationship. Now building an emotional connection can be insanely tricky at times. And it’s going to take even longer, especially if you are not familiar with certain effective tactics. But the question is, how?
Tell a story: Small businesses are uniquely positioned to share their story and make sure it’s represented in their brand. But terms and conditions applied; tell your story tactfully. There are times I see small business owners brand their businesses using their personal name. If you think you are going to do so, make sure you are having a good reason to do it. So try going beyond your name because today’s strongest brands do not represent an individual; they represent a community of like-minded people.
Surprise them: Do you really want to get an emotional response from your customers? Probably yes! How about inviting your customers for a cup of coffee or something or give them a few branded giveaways. Another best way to surprise your client is to give them a product or service enhancement that they did not expect (or pay for).
Engage with your Community: Connecting with their local community is one of the most reliable brand building opportunities small business owners have right now. It’s very hard for an Apple or Microsoft to create a localized brand. They’re too big, and usually, out-of-touch with local and relevant events in the community. How to get involved:
- Volunteer and organize culture events
- Attend city and municipal meetings
- Sit on local councils and boards
- Sponsor the local junior sports team
- Get involved with the local chamber of commerce
#5. Use Marketing Tactics
Apart from taking care of everything in the house, it’s very important to look at your customers as this is also a part of your brand. According to several surveys, customer service is the single and most significant opportunity to think upon when it comes to marketing. And since marketing has the potential to affect a brand to a great extent, make sure you offer numerous ways in which they can connect with you; for example- email, toll-free telephone number, social media and so forth.
Final Word
Owing to small business and growing it into a big one can be an insanely tricky task. It’s a continuous process even if you think you have accomplished what you desire for and seen the transformation- you still have a lot of work to do! All it takes is altogether at a different level. Now that you’ve truly committed to your business though, this shouldn’t bother you at all. You’ve shown that the sky truly is the limit for you, so take these tips, apply them, then find some new tips to help spur your growth even further.
About the Author!
Stephanie Donahole is working as a Business Analyst at Tatvasoft.com.au a php web development company in Australia. Her aim is to sharpen her analytical skills, deepening her data understanding and broaden her business knowledge in these years of her career.you can follow her on Twitter.
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