10 Tips to Build Your Brand

By Mary Brophy


Building your brand can feel overwhelming at times. But, with minimal investment and maximum effort, you can create a brand that consumers identify with and respect. Here are 10 Effective ways to building your brand — with little monetary investment.

  1. Become a Pro: You want to be seen as a leader in your field. From submitting articles to local publications to creating an informative newsletter, writing about hot topics in your industry will drive home the idea that you are truly a leader, instilling a sense of trust and respect in your customers. You might also let local publications know that you are available for \"expert advice\" for any upcoming articles.
  2. Take Advantage of Technology: From Facebook to Twitter, to blogs and more, there are a wealth of opportunitiess for you to push your business online, often for free.
  3. Visit Trade shows: If you can't afford a booth, visit the show anyway, ready to make contacts and give out a few business cards. Consider buying and carrying a stylish bag with your logo which are great handbags for working women as you walk the exhibit floor. The visual impact of your business logo on these stylish bags provides staying power and reflects your savvy business sense.
  4. Consistency: Make sure that all of your promotional material is consistent in style, color, font, and paper. If you are on a budget, be creative: adding stickers to a stamp will do the trick in a pinch.
  5. Maintain Contact: Take your best customer out for lunch; call that new client just to wish her a great weekend. Staying in touch with your customers will keep you on the top of their minds next time they are seeking your service.
  6. Volunteer: Whether you sponsor a local team, partake in a local job fair, or volunteer your services, volunteering will remind potential clients of your company. You may seek volunteer opportunities that reflect the values of your business — for example, a boutique owner might help organize a beneficiary fashion show.
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  1. Make Your Website Functional: Your website should offer something to your customers, other than just information about your company. This will encourage them to visit you time and again, recommend your website, and develop a loyalty to your brand. An example would be, if you own a florist shop, you might feature seasonal gardening tips on your website, printable planting guides, and e-cards featuring flowers.
  2. Teach Your Trade: Be creative! Own a computer shop? Offer a free computer workshop once a month. Are you a dentist? Offer to visit a local school to talk about the importance of dental hygiene – and don't forget the free toothbrushes with your name on them.
  3. Train Your Employees: Your employees are often the face of your company. Make sure they are aware of the image you are trying to promote, and that they are supporting it on a daily basis. If you have a focus on excellent customer service, show them specific things they can do each day to keep this focus in check, such as greeting customers with a smile.
  4. Keep It Real: Maintaining a look is one thing, but ensuring that your company continues to focus on what you have pinpointed is your values can be difficult. Be sure that you are practicing what you preach, and if you are promoting your company as a friendly neighborhood dealership, you really are just that.
  5. BONUS TIP: When you are creating promotional materials, opt for items with "staying power" that have a function besides advertising your company. This could include pens, golf balls, magnets, and rulers. Be creative! These items often cost the same amount to produce as fliers or promotional brochures, but consumers tend to keep them for much longer.
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