Branding is always a hot topic for my small business clients and for many ‘Communicate Confidently!‘ readers. Recently, one asked how a small business can effectively brand itself. Here’s a summary of my comments:
Everything a small business does brands itself. Everything we say or do brands us as worthy resources … or not. But, the marketplace really determines our brand. It’s what they really think of us. It’s why they buy from us rather than the competition. It’s their reaction to what we communicate as our value proposition.
So, to effectively brand your small business:
- Accurately describe your Value Proposition – what you do through the lens of who benefits from what you do. You don’t ‘fix computers’, you ‘solve technology problems for small businesses.’ You may need help with the specific details from colleagues, or even better, from customers.
- Be specific. Many small businesses provide lots of different products or services. Identify what you do best, sell the most and produces the most revenue … and profit. This narrowing of scope doesn’t limit your appeal, it makes it much easier for the marketplace to remember what you can do for them.
- If your company name no longer communicates that value proposition – or never did – time to consider re-branding. What makes more sense – ‘The Andrew Peters Group, Inc.’ or ‘Tech Solutions, Inc.’?
- Then, make sure everything customers and prospects see and hear reinforces that brand promise and value proposition. This includes your visual branding – logo, business cards, web site graphics … even your voice mail greeting. Add a branding line to it – ‘Thanks for calling ‘Tech Solutions’ – your resource for small business technology installation, training and repair’.
- Commit the necessary time and dollars to create effective, efficient and engaging MarCom strategies and techniques. Hire one or more small business branding/marketing experts to help you.
- And take full advantage of all marketing and branding-related learning activities COSE, your chamber or professional group provides. Attend workshops or webinars. Read blog posts. Discuss the topic when networking at events.
Now, the next steps are up to you. Search for experts who are ideally positioned to provide you cost-effective support. Commit to attending several professional development events this year. Make learning about these topics high on your list of objectives whenever you network at a business event … and Brand Your Way to Success!