No matter what type of small business you run, building brand awareness is a key component of a successful marketing strategy. While you may not have a huge budget or the means to enlist the assistance of a marketing agency, there are plenty of ways to get your name out there and build brand awareness of your business. For small businesses, it is all about spreading the word as much as possible and providing exceptional customer service to keep people coming back.
The good news? Plenty of methods exist for doing just that. From being involved in your local community to handing out promotional products like blank t-shirts emblazoned with your logo, check out these tips to increase the brand awareness of your small business.
Distribute Freebies
Everyone loves free stuff. What better way to spread awareness of your brand than by literally putting it in potential customers’ hands? With options appropriate for any budget, promotional items are always a reliable way to spread awareness of your business.
When funds are tight, custom pens, koozies, and tote bags are affordable yet functional items that recipients are likely to use. If you want to make a big impact, though, t-shirts are the way to go. Just about everyone has a promotional shirt or two. When they wear them, they provide free advertising for the business. Plus, bulk t-shirts can be customized with your business’s name, logo, and phone number without breaking the bank – especially if you do it yourself. Hats and hoodies are also great promotional items due to their usefulness and high perceived value.
Be Social
Social media is one of the most powerful tools for building brand awareness. Just setting up profiles on Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms is not enough, however. You need to create interesting content and engage with your audience, too. It is a good idea to give your profiles some personality, too.
You do not need to be a social media mentor to build brand awareness. It is helpful, though, to learn a bit about what types of posts work. Check out the profiles of some of your favorite brands, and you will likely find some great ideas.
Involve Yourself in the Community
Community involvement is highly beneficial for small business owners. In addition to spreading awareness of your brand, it helps people form positive opinions of your business. How you can get involved may vary, depending on the type of business you have. A few options include:
- Setting up a booth at a local vendor fair or festival
- Sponsoring a local sports team
- Donating products or services to organizations in your area
- Making financial contributions to fundraisers in your community
Depending on where you live and what you do, there may be all sorts of other ways to involve your business in the local community. Once you find ways that work for you and your business, community involvement is a great way to spread the word about your brand, and it shows your neighbors that you care. Talk about a win-win!
Create Compelling Content
Creating content has become a key component of building brand awareness. Whether you write articles or blog posts, design eye-catching images or infographics, or produce videos, you can use your content to spread awareness of your brand and educate people about your business and its products or services. Additionally, compelling content drives people to your business website, online store, social media channels, etc.
If the idea of creating content overwhelms you, relax! It is not as hard as it sounds, and about anyone can do it. Check out these suggestions, and you will be well on your way. Keep in mind that you may need to do a bit of experimenting to see what works best. Pay attention to how people respond to the content you put out and focus future creations on the strategies that deliver the best results.
Ask for Reviews
Word of mouth remains one of the most powerful marketing strategies. Asking for reviews is one of the best ways to make it work for your business. Reviews are an integral part of the buying process for most consumers, as well. According to a survey conducted by BrightLocal, nearly 90% of consumers check reviews for local businesses. The survey also found that more than 70% have written reviews for local businesses.
Building up the number of positive reviews you have online increases your business’s reputation and gives your SEO a boost. You can also ask your current customers to provide in-person reviews and recommendations too. When someone is looking for a product or service, recommendations from friends, family members, and neighbors go a long way. Whether your customers are talking about you in person or online, their reviews will help build brand awareness while forming positive impressions in potential customers’ minds.
Deliver Top-Notch Customer Service
Fail to provide exceptional customer service, and your brand marketing efforts will most likely fall flat. Loyal brand enthusiasts are crucial when spreading the word about your brand, and you do not gain those enthusiasts without making the customer experience a priority. Loyal brand enthusiasts are crucial when spreading the word about your brand, and you do not gain those enthusiasts without making the customer experience a priority. If you don’t have enough resources to provide 24/7 customer support, work with BPOs in the Philippines that could handle your customer concerns all day and all night.
Do not treat your customers as you would expect to be treated in a business like yours. Treat them better. Go out of your way to show the utmost respect and solve problems with grace and professionalism. Whether a customer is spending $5 or $5,000, treat them like the most important person to ever walk through your doors. Make your current customers happy, and they will spread awareness of your brand to anyone who will listen.
For small business owners, every interaction is an opportunity to increase brand awareness. Be mindful of this in your day-to-day operations, and you will be well on your way to owning a well-known and, more importantly, well-loved business.
Check out: 5 Cost-Effective Ways to Increase Brand Awareness for SMBs