5 Cost-Effective Ideas for Building Brand Awareness

Branding not only helps grab customer attention but also creates trust and boosts employee morale—no wonder businesses spend several years and millions of dollars cultivating a brand identity which helps their products become proprietary eponyms. Small businesses can also boost awareness about their brand with simple, cost-effective strategies. Here are five of our top picks:

• Think Long-Term:

Trust is a fickle friend, especially in the business world: it is the best thing to have, takes years to earn, and is very easy to lose. Trust is lost when businesses make false promises. It doesn’t matter how much you spend on advertising or marketing, without trust your business will not succeed. In your enthusiasm to dress up your product or service, don’t end up making commitments you can’t keep. Build your brand by being honest about who you are and what you can deliver. Not all broken promises are intentional; rather, they’re made with good intentions. The problem is that overzealous marketers often raise expectations; when these are not met people get frustrated and disappointed.

• Educate People:

Our minds are geared to turn away from blatantly promotional content. That is why we close pop-ups and mobile ads as soon as possible; it is also why we flip through channels during commercial breaks. These ads are impersonal, irritating, and expensive too (on the business end). Spend money on things that provide real value to customers. Educate them about your products. Quora is a good platform to begin on: look for questions related to your product or service and make your answers better than the rest. Create how-to videos on YouTube. All of this helps add value.

• Use Referral Programs:

Nearly 85 percent of small businesses in North America rely on word-of-mouth referrals*. A good referral program isn’t enough though—focus on creating a memorable experience for every customer. Happy clients will be inclined to recommend your service to friends and family; the referral discount becomes an added bonus! However, trust is a key factor that drives referral programs. Business transactions are done among people who trust each other and people referred by those they trust. When customers believe you, they’ll not only happily consume what you have to offer but also recommend you to others without a second thought.

• Use Promotional Products:

Using promotional products is a terrific, low-cost marketing method that’s very effective for gaining customers. There are hundreds of promotional products (lanyards, pens, USB drives, bags, etc.) More info about ‘lanyards’ visit here: dynamicgift.ca/lanyards. That can be purchased at low prices and customized with your logo or brand name. Around 85 percent of customers claim to do business with advertisers that offer a promotional item. A PPAI study claims that more than 94 percent of people remember where they received a promotional product.*

• Support a Charity:

Recent studies found that millennials are more open to do business with brands that support charities. Support a charity that’s relevant to your business. You could also commit to a cause that’s affecting the local community. Customers like to do business with companies that are making an effort to improve the community.Also tax savings are a direct benefit. By aligning yourself with various charities, you can easily gain a positive public image. Doing so as well helps to lend a sense of authenticity to your branding.

These cost-effective strategies can help you increase brand awareness and deliver great experiences. You can try them out and see how they work for you!

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