Feedback Form

Business Branding

Business Branding

Most people think that the best way to go about business branding is to spend a lot of money on big, flashy ads that are sure to get a lot of attention. But, while that may work for some, not all of us want to go that route. And, not all of us might have the dollars to do it either. So what is the alternative? How can small business owners build up their brand without breaking their budgets?

First of all, focus on creating a product that can speak for itself. How many products have you, as a consumer bought because you saw an ad for it versus just because you loved how it looked? I know I never saw a single ad for iPods before buying mine. But when I walked into the store and saw its sleek white design, I knew I had to have it. A great product will convince the consumer to buy it even without an ad. Create a product that is visually appealing and unique and watch it speak for itself.

Another cheap way to build up your brand is to focus on sending out press releases and news stories on a regular basis. But don’t just send out ads that the media are not likely to pick up. Journalists are always hungry for good news stories; if you give them one, they will only be too happy to write about it. Give them some good sound bytes and you’ll have them eating out of your hands.

A key part of business branding is also your company’s website. While keeping your messaging consistent, focus on creating a page that is simple yet professional. Don’t fall into the trap of overloading your page with fancy graphics and animations in the belief that it will wow your visitors. It won’t. They will get annoyed and leave before they even find out what your page is all about.

You should also take advantage of word of mouth. It’s free and it’s a million times more effective than any kind of advertising you will ever buy. Network wherever you can and get people talking about your product. Give out free samples. Encourage high quality customer service. Get in touch with other business or trades people where there could be mutual benefit. Plant the seed and watch it grow.

Finally, remember that for as much as you engage in business branding, if you don’t take care of your own personal branding, it might all be for naught. Remember that first impressions make all the difference in the world. Take care of your own personal hygiene and make sure you have a brief one line statement to summarize what it is exactly that you do. Have a business card on hand so that even once you leave a conversation, you never fully leave that person’s mind. You only have a few minutes to make a lasting impression, so you want to make sure that you’re using them to their fullest potential.





Business Branding - To learn more about this author, visit Joanna Stewart's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Related Forum Posts Article Feedback
Article Feedback No article feedback found.
Leave Your Feedback

Related Articles Related Articles
The definition of branding
  One of my readers pointed out that they really appreciated the definition of marketing that I use throughout Duct Tape Marketing. Marketing is getting someone who has a need to know, like and trust you. Most small b...
Building A Better Brand in the New Year
  The new year is well underway and many of us have been using the start of the new year to review, refine and/or restart various things in our businesses. For this article I want to concentrate on writing to encourag...
Personal Branding Tip
  Personal Branding Tip: We have moved from a selling world to a buying world. People want to do their homework and then make a decision. That’s where branding comes in. Branding is More Important than Sales. Sales is...
Home Based Business Branding To Identify Your Opportunity
  Home based business branding is one of the ways you can get your business opportunity easily recognized. Usually the brand is a visual or an auditory cue. The goal is to have people recognize your brand with a glanc...
Strategic Branding Questions
  There’s a heightened interest in branding these days. For small businesses, it can be one of the most important marketing programs of all. As you launch (or relaunch) a branding campaign, take a look through these...

Related Forum Posts Related Forum Posts
New Small Business Topic New Small Business Topic
Del Castienne - International Business and Project Brokers Del Castienne - International Business and Project Brokers
My entry My entry
Re: Congrats Shri! Re: Congrats Shri!
Re: Mompreneur Magazine - good read Re: Mompreneur Magazine - good read
Re: Direct Mail Postcards Re: Direct Mail Postcards
Re: Direct Mail Postcards Re: Direct Mail Postcards
Exclusive: Interview with Results Exclusive: Interview with Results

Related Forum Posts Related Businesses - Evan Elite Authors
David Barr
David Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website

Jeff Foster
WebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website

Anne Barr
Anne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website

Casey Gollan
Casey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website

Kim Castle
With nearly two decades in the advertising and design business, with clients like Domino's Pizza, General Motors, Direct TV, Pedigree, Wolfgang Puck, Higher Octave Music, Hollywood Celebrity Products, Disney, and Paramount, as well as thousands of entrepreneurs around the world define, structure, communicate, and position their business for greater profits, BrandU(R) co-creators Kim Castle and W. Vito Montone discovered that entrepreneurs could experience the same power that big brands command for a fraction of the cost with the world's only process-based results-drive Integral approach to business creation. BrandU(R) is helping entrepreneurs grow with the power of extreme clarity from idea...to brand...to market(TM) and helping one million entrepreneurs become successful and whole so that they can make a difference in the world. Are you one of them? If you want to experience clarity all the way to the bank(TM), get started now at http://www.brandu.com. - Visit Kim Castle's Website

Bernard Reber
Back in late 1992, MS Access hit the streets. About that time the company I managed needed new software to handle their growing client base and I decided to try this new product. I had little difficulty writing and adapting a database to suit us and discovered a hidden talent for programming. A business was born. With business studies and 25 years of management experience in three different countries under my belt, I could offer a unique combination of skills and my customers agreed. From these humble beginnings my software 'invoiceit' emerged in 1999 and has since been taken to 49 states (hello Wyoming, won't you join us?), all across Canada and more than 70 other countries. From the very beginning the program included cashbook accounting, the simplest form of keeping financial business records. The Dictionary.com defines 'cashbook' as "A 'book' in which to record money received and paid out". For 'book' substitute 'simple software' and that's what I'm about. Now I have published Simple Accounting, an inexpensive spreadsheet solution which even you can master. For just $14.95 it costs less than a takeout meal! More at http://www.scrambled-card.com/simple_accounting_main.htm - Visit Bernard Reber's Website

Dr. John Oda
John Oda Ph.D NLP is a business peak performance expert, an author, and speaker frequently called upon to provide corporate training, workshops and seminars for many companies in the United States. He is an expert in coaching sales and business professionals in overcoming the behaviors and obstacles that may impede their sales results and affect their bottom line. Since 1995, John has created a speaking bureau such topics, which include: time management, sales training, human diversity, leadership programs and etc. He provides companies with a strategic plan to increase their bottom line by over 25 percent yearly. - Visit Dr. John Oda's Website

Leanne Hoagland-Smith
Are your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website


To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

About The Author


Joanna Stewart
(Visit Joanna's Website)
About The Author

View Author Blog
View Author Blog

View Author Video
View Author Video

Free Downloads


Joanna Stewart's

Complete
List Of
Branding
Articles

First Name
Last Name
Email
Is the night Dark or Bright?
 
If you enjoyed this article, get Joanna Stewart's Complete List of Branding Articles For FREE!

More Joanna Stewart
Global Branding
Branding Research
Business Branding
Corporate Branding
Online Branding
Product Branding
Strategic Branding
Internet Branding
Branding Agencies
Branding Strategy
Become An Author


 
 
 



Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

Featured Ebook


ebook Famous Entrepreneurs - Modern Empire Builders


Featured Ebook

More Evan Carmichael
Have A Suggestion?


Sales Lessons From Starbucks And Dell