Branding Strategies for Small Businesses
August 9, 2010 by Dr. Letitia Wright
Filed under Featured Articles
One of the most important portions of your business plan as a small business should be your branding strategy if you want to see an increase in sales and revenue. How are people going to recognize you and set you apart from your competitors? It all starts with branding…
1. Don’t obsess over your logo design. You would hardly choose Google over Yahoo simply based on their logo, so don’t spend too much time harping on your logo design. Yes, a professional logo is important, but it will rarely ever dramatically boost your sales. Still, this logo needs to be included on every single piece of your communication so that people can start to tie your logo with your company.
2. Create a blog. In order for customers to start to recognize you online, it is important to have a blog for updates, news, and information about your business. This is true for ANY type of business, and even better, blogs often jump to the top of the search engine results temporarily so that it makes it easier for people to find you online.
3. Make a professional website. You want to make the best first impression when customers enter your website to reflect your company’s image. Web design is a worthwhile investment, so it is important to create an attractive, compelling, and user-friendly website that people will want to come back to.
4. Participate locally. Even though you’re working to create an online presence, it still helps to participate locally, like joining a committee or charity event. This type of volunteer work will elevate your business status and create even more visibility in your area.
5. Stand up for your vision. Many people become attracted to something that they can identify with and appreciate, so you must stand for a specific cause to draw more customers and supporters. This is much more effective than having a vague stance as a business, and you can become an expert in your niche by honing in on one point, skill, or mission for your company.
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