Cheap Ways to Build Your Brand

Every business or cause has the need to build a reputable, successful brand to promote whatever is being sold/pitched. Here are some cheap ways to build a brand.

Blogging

Blog posts are distributed to many aggregators via feeds. They are also submitted to search engines within minutes of posting. The audience for a blog may be tremendous and create interest or drive business.

Printed Labels

Everything your customer/clients sees should have your logo and image on it. Every email, brochure, and communication should have consistent branding. One way to ensure phisical items are branded is to order printed labels and place them on everything.

Email Newsletter

Your contacts should receive regular and frequent contacts from you. A newsletter is a way to remain fresh in their mind while adding some value to their operations. Consider placing something of value like tips, articles, etc.

Thank You Notes

Always send a thank you note to your clients and others with whom you do business. It is key that they feel appreciated for their business.

Affiliate Channels

Allow others to promote and sell your products and services. Establish an affiliate channel and make it worth the while of affiliates to drive your business.

Driving a brand does not have to be difficult. It takes consistent activities to create an image and set expectations with your clients.

Branding 101

Creating a brand is about creating a memorable image, mark, or symbol that potential customers will remember at the time of a purchase decision. It is much more than simply throwing a logo on something and pushing the product. A brand's value begins at its inception and grows or shrinks with each subsequent target interaction.

When building a brand, consider who your target is. Consider the reasons your target will decide to purchase.

• Is the product hip? or is it a need? or does it have some special value?
• What images and brands is your target already accustomed to?
• What message will draw your target's interest?

Building a brand takes time, money, and a lot of effort. It takes dozens of impressions before your targets begin to recognize that a brand is here to stay and can be trusted. It takes being noticed when the target is ready to make a decision.

There are also various media types to consider when selecting a branding method. Some targets are internet savvy. Others, read the newspaper. Yet others receive their information on their mobile devices. We'll get into this in another post.

Branding is part art and part science. A couple of additional questions are important as homework until the next post:

• What do you do to track your successes?
• Are your prepared to make changes to your brand if your existing one isn't working?

Professional Marketing Introduction

This blog is dedicated to principles of marketing. It'll consist of the basics concepts, advanced concepts, analytical theories, resources, and will cover a broad spectrum of media.