How to Build a Brand on a Budget
Large companies use specialized agencies for brand development services. Marketers study the market, designers create an identity, and analysts work with key data. We understand that this is not within the reach of a start-up. The following recommendations can be implemented independently and without high costs.
1. Create an image that your audience understands
The success of a brand is the result of successful market research. Simply put, you need to understand who you are and who you work for. Imagine that you have to send a wedding present to a friend. If you know them and what they like, you will buy them something useful. If you choose randomly, your gift will be useless in most cases.
Perform the analyses, determine the profile of your client, and understand their needs and how you can satisfy them. From there, you can create your brand image. Think about the emotions it will be associated with (formal, edgy, relaxed, classic, chic, expensive, accessible, for men, for women, etc.).
2. Be unique
The uniqueness of a brand is achieved by emphasizing its core value. If you have a unique product, focus on it. Any special type of service (for example, a manager personally contacting the customer) should be highlighted in the image. Brand image is like the face and voice of a person. It should be used periodically in all communication channels.
For example, if your business has great support, highlight it in your customer communications, social media posts, and website. Provide your contact information and guarantee quality answers.
3. Create a website
Gone are the days when the costs of developing a website were equivalent to your total investment in the company. Developer prices haven’t necessarily come down, but there are easy to use tools like WordPress or PrestaShop that allow you to create a site or online store without technical knowledge.
Many companies need to have their own website. This will be the main or additional source of customer calls, and proof of the strength of the company.
4. Create a logo
The logo is the main element of a brand’s identity. You should hire experts to design logo. As you can see there are lot’s of option and the best one we are showing to contact in this list of favorite logo designers on Fiverr.
5. Customize brand colors and fonts
You’ll need a unique color palette for your logo, print products, site, and social media. Later, the public will associate it with your brand.
6. Use social media wisely
Social networks are the most practical tool for companies. There, you have an audience of several hundred million people, opportunities to demonstrate the benefits your company offers, and to contact customers directly.
On the other hand, working with social networks can take a lot of time. If you don’t have time:
- Choose platforms whose content is indexed by search engines: mainly YouTube and Pinterest. Thus, your content will have a lasting reach, unlike Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.
- Limit yourself to one or two platforms at most, depending on your audience and goals.
- Prepare and schedule your posts once a week.
7. Create quality content
Information is a long-term investment. By creating content now, you will achieve advantageous search engine positions in the future, build a loyal audience and make your brand more famous.
Your content can consist of:
- Company blog posts;
- Expert articles from a representative of the brand in the media;
- Guest articles on social networks and blogs;
- Training videos on YouTube, etc.
One of the conditions is that the content is of high quality, unique and decisive for the needs of your audience. Try to take time to create it. You may not need a professional copywriter. Who knows the company and the product best? The one who created and developed it!
8. Use email marketing tools
Create a newsletter from the very beginning of your business website. Share quality content or gifts when they subscribe. Mail campaigns are the cheapest and most effective way to inform hundreds of customers about a new product, a promotion, a discount or significant changes in the company.
To organize your campaigns, from developing a template to sending and statistics, use a service like Infomaniak’s Newsletter tool.
Check Out Our Blog: Why Digital Marketing Is a Good Investment