When we speak of branding most of the time people try to relate it to big business house, however, the fact is that every business needs to establish their brand in order to survive the competition. This is nothing new; experts and management gurus had been preaching the same sermon for years now but what they have not told is why you need to brand your small business? How is branding going to help you to establish your business? How can you establish your brand without spending a fortune on it?
You might be having a very small business but would you like your client to perceive your business as a small time entrepreneurial effort? Definitely not, and your business cards, letterheads and other marketing collaterals does just that. They create an impression to your clients that you are an established business house of considerable strength and not just a mom-n-pop shop.
While you have read till this much, you might have started to plan to get a few home printed business cards or visit the website where you saw the preformatted business cards being sold for peanuts. Beware! The quality of your business card is an indication of the status of your business and your clients are intelligent enough to understand the difference between a standard designed perforated business card and a professionally designed business card printed on good quality card stock.
Most of us, including you, would prefer to consider the stability of a company before making a purchase decision. Once you have established your brand with a professionally designed logo, business card and other marketing efforts it becomes much easier for you to build your credibility among the customers.
Getting a professionally designed custom logo is one of the very important elements of branding a business. A logo is not just a symbol or a piece of graphics; it is actually your corporate identity. A properly designed logo can leave long lasting impression on your clients and will never let your business slip out of their minds. It also makes your business easily recognizable. Just think, wherever you see the Golden M of McDonald's do you really need to think twice, what company is that referring to? A good logo should ideally exude the nature and attitude of the business.
Once you have got a logo for yourself it becomes easier for you to establish your brand. You can use that logo in your business cards, letterheads and other accessories. Don't you think it is going to make a difference if the pack that you use to deliver your products to your customer has the logo of your company on it? And if you are using a reusable pack, your customer might just use the same pack to pass on some other goods to one of his friends- what happens then? Yes! Your logo gets noticed by one other person, you add one more name to the list of your potential customers. You are on your way to establish your own brand.
Similarly with business cards, as they get passed on from one person to the other, more and more people knows about your business and the potential customer base increases.
Having a business card or professionally designed logo also shows your commitment towards your business.
A short, easy to remember punch line is another useful tool for branding. Getting a tag line printed on your business cards or your business stationery makes it easier for people to understand the nature of your business. Ideally, your tag line should not only say about what you do but also speak about your USP.
Having said all that, the ultimate question that most of the small business people would have is, how much does it cost to get all these things done? I'd say, "not much". Money is always a problem for most of the small businesses (that's why they are small, otherwise most of us would like to open a Microsoft and be as rich as Bill Gates) but if you know where to look for, you really don't need to spend a fortune to get a professionally designed logo or a business card. There are loads of websites that offer them really cheap and some even allow you to decide the price that you want to pay. (Check out this twin sites, http://www.mycorporatelogo.com and http://www.mycorporateidentity.com ).
So, if you think you are tired of being a "small business" and its time to grow up, take the first step; establish your brand!
Ray Smith is a marketing expert with years of experience in different industries and specialized knowledge on branding and internet marketing. http://www.mycorporatelogo.com
webmaster@mycorporatelogo.com
There is a rather famous true story called "Acres of... Read More
The Federal Trade Commission is upgrading the franchise law and... Read More
If you are looking for a way to own your... Read More
Financial Consultants are one of the fastest growing industries today.... Read More
Why are Chambers a good launching pad?Chambers provide you with... Read More
Who is responsible for maintaining the business relationship?Nurturing a business... Read More
My 16 year-old daughter said, "Gee Dad! You look just... Read More
Unfortunately for all buyers, each selling organization and their individual... Read More
While I was hard at work last week, an everyday... Read More
Whether it has been thrust upon you by external market... Read More
Time. As a small business owner, it's the commodity you... Read More
If you're starting your own business or currently work for... Read More
Here are seven ways for owners of small businesses to... Read More
To wash an airplane there are many items you will... Read More
As the owner or an employee of a small-to medium-sized... Read More
Don't let your customer satisfaction research initiative collect dust on... Read More
If you have a busy private practice, chances are you... Read More
$37.4 million funded from venture capital today. $86.4 million funded... Read More
(Although this article is geared towards small business owners, the... Read More
What will your business look like a year from today?If... Read More
So there I was ? sitting in the audience of... Read More
Every company has a value proposition. That is a statement... Read More
Purchasing a franchise has become one of the most popular... Read More
Every business plan book tells you how the Executive Summary... Read More
Sacred cows take a long time to die. We get... Read More
Every business starts with an idea or a dream. To... Read More
If an organization lacks a mission statement, it is worthwhile... Read More
Pity parties are nothing new. In fact, we do it... Read More
Let me get right to the point. The single most... Read More
When do annoyances in a relationship become too much to... Read More
While there are few career paths that some would call... Read More
$37.4 million funded from venture capital today. $86.4 million funded... Read More
A suggestion box is a really good idea for your... Read More
An observation while returning home from a seminar: Getting away... Read More
No matter your age or station in life, we all... Read More
The start of a new year is a time for... Read More
Q: I really want to start my own business, but... Read More
Starting a business? For many people, the bravery to venture... Read More
Administrative and clerical tasks are the bane of every industry.... Read More
Do you like animals? Would you like to work for... Read More
Security Professionals provide the products and services necessary to create... Read More
By outsourcing to skilled professionals you'll be able to grow... Read More
Back when I owned an inventory-based business, one of my... Read More
If you've been considering incorporating your small business, you've probably... Read More
1. Leadership Is Learned ? While many people appear to... Read More
Nothing can drive a business down faster than customers who... Read More
Q: I have outgrown my home office and need to... Read More
There is a continual trend we are seeing which I... Read More
How do you find the best business partners?Finding a good... Read More
First you have to start with knowing your budget and... Read More
|