1. Get a Physical Location

Today, many businesses choose to operate solely online. While this is a great idea, don’t underestimate the value of a physical location as customers will expect one. Your location and the environment you provide can even have a serious effect on the branding or “vibe” of your company. So, it’s worth investing in furniture, signage, and complementary materials that help furnish your space according to your brand’s guidelines. 

Trending places and nearby complementary businesses can also attract consumers with similar interests that may be curious about your brand. This allows you to collaborate with neighboring businesses and increase brand awareness even further, reaching new audiences. Furthermore, physical buildings reinforce the idea that your company is thriving. When a customer enters your business they get a feel for who you are through the appearance of your location or front lobby, your team members, and workspace. So, it is important to align all aspects of your physical location with your branding goals.

Lastly, a physical location cements the feeling of having a secure workplace for your employees. As your team grows, there must be adequate space for new team members to learn and collaborate. So, remember to plan accordingly and make certain your location accommodates your team’s needs. 

 

2. Pick the Right Colors

Color has an enormous impact on customers. It’s mainly used as a tool for communication and setting the mood, but the focus should be on how best to get consumers to remember your name. People will increasingly associate the colors with a business if they are frequently exposed to consistent branding materials. Decide which colors represent your company’s values and use them to encourage action.

Let’s break down a few examples of how different colors can evoke different types of feelings or emotions from your desired demographic:

Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love. Red brings text and images to the foreground. Use it as an accent color to stimulate people to make quick decisions; it is a perfect color for ‘Buy Now’ or ‘Click Here’ buttons on Internet banners and websites.

Green is the color of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility. Green has strong emotional correspondence with safety. Dark green is also commonly associated with money. Use green to indicate safety when advertising drugs and medical products. Green is directly related to nature, so you can use it to promote ‘green’ products. Dull, darker green is commonly associated with money, the financial world, banking, and Wall Street.

Blue is the color of the sky and sea. It is often associated with depth and stability. You can use blue to promote products and services related to cleanliness (water purification filters, cleaning liquids, vodka), air and sky (airlines, airports, air conditioners), water and sea (sea voyages, mineral water). As opposed to emotionally warm colors like red, orange, and yellow; blue is linked to consciousness and intellect. Use blue to suggest precision when promoting high-tech products.

Can’t decide on your colors? This link may help.

 

3. Create an Engaging Logo

For many customers, a logo is their first creative touchpoint. Your logo can determine whether the person will be curious enough to learn about your business at all. Get creative with your design, but stay consistent with the established style across all platforms. If you use a certain type of font, use that same font in other places to establish a similarity between your brand materials. As people become familiar with your brand, they will be more likely to search for it and tell their friends.

Your logo needs to grab attention first and foremost. Attention spans are short these days – especially with consumers. As studies show, companies have about 2 seconds to convince potential customers that their products are worth any consideration just with the logo alone. Your logo is a large part of the foundation of your brand’s identity. Successful branding is about telling a story that will influence customers’ emotions. Pick a logo that is memorable. Think of it like this, your logo leads the horse (your audience) to water (your company). While it’s true that logo design is only a part of a company’s brand, it serves as the foundation for the entire narrative on which the brand is built.

 

4. Leverage Branded Apparel

Whether it’s company t-shirts for your employees or branded apparel for your customers, clothing and other branded items can be a great way to increase brand awareness through word of mouth. Customers will be willing to pay for the privilege of promoting your company, as long as the product is sufficiently appealing. People can become familiar with your brand from simply seeing your logo or other company material on branded apparel. Thus, increasing your reputation in your field. Successfully implemented branded apparel can really ignite interest in your company. Customers or potential customers tend to associate branded apparel with large established companies. That image subconsciously boosts your company’s professionalism and expertise in the eyes of your customers. As a result, they feel confident and secure in making a purchase from you.

 

5. Design Creative Business Cards

Customers want to see that you are prepared at all times. While they can easily search for your information, people have a lot on their minds and forgetfulness is common. Make a lasting impression in person (whenever possible) by holding a conversation and providing them with a physical reminder that you exist. This can also be a great opportunity to provide incentives, such as discounts.

A business card is a physical object that a potential prospect leaves the encounter with; your brand stays with them. With today’s technology, there are so many unique designs to choose from, so every step of the way you can ensure your branding is at the forefront of your customer’s mind. If you hand over a creative business card that makes a great impression, that person is likely to show it to other people, putting you and your brand at the forefront of additional prospects.

So, what information should we include on our business cards? It is important to include a professional headshot to help your customer remember their interaction with you. In addition, include all other necessary contact information that a customer will need to contact and remember you in the future. This can be an easy and inexpensive way to show everyone that you’re serious about what you do. Get creative: creative business cards that stand out and get shared, continuing to market for you. It’s important that your business card uses visual elements to help describe what it is that you do. Take some time to get the opinion of others who are unfamiliar with your business, as an unbiased review can really help you to successfully convey the idea you want to get across.

 

6. Have a Well-Designed Website

For many businesses in today’s economy, the single most important aspect of their operations is their online presence. Your website is the extension of your business online. If your website provides a useful experience for your customers, they will return, increasing your brand awareness online. Without an effective website, countless opportunities are wasted.

There are many free options to create your own website for little to no upfront cost (such as WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix). But you will be limited in terms of style and functionality; unless you want to come out of pocket for themes, plugins, and better hosting. Not to mention, the time it takes to develop a well-designed website yourself if you have no previous experience. You have the option of paying professionals to bear the burden. A professional web design firm can guide you through the process to make certain your website is mobile responsive and engaging to your users. If you are unsure where to begin, check out our “How to Hire a Web Design Agency” post.

Another part of your brand’s online presence is through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin. Social media marketing helps to validate your brand (and is a considerable component of your SEO). A company’s social media presence, when done correctly, tells consumers that their brand is active and focused on thriving communication with consumers. Social media marketing has the power to increase customer loyalty exponentially. Like with content marketing, due to the continuously developing internet marketing industry, there are countless digital media and social networking sites, all of which have a unique characteristic and purpose, so make sure to choose the right platforms that will target the intended demographic audience.

7. Craft An Effective Marketing Strategy

One of the most crucial components of any company is its marketing strategy. Depending on your business, different advertising methods may perform better than others. Think about your audience and what they want to see. It’s common marketing knowledge that your strategy should be focused on your specific audience and serving their needs. In order to do this, you have to identify your target audiences’ interests as well as their pain points. Next, design your promotions with them in mind. Have a clear call to action that entices your customers to learn more. Even if people do not convert initially, they will become more familiar with your brand. Thus, increasing the likeliness they will buy with your business in the future. 

One of the key components of a successful marketing strategy is aligning all departments of your organization with your brand’s goals and strategy. This means that everyone in your business should understand the marketing strategy and how to execute it. That way, no matter who’s in charge of the social media posts for the day, they will all have consistent messaging and format. When everyone is on the same page, your organization will also be able to effectively utilize the skills of all employees and stakeholders. As your traffic grows, so too will your earnings.  

Here at KC Vision Media, we coach businesses to dive even deeper into each of these 7 points, increasing their brand awareness, online presence, and ultimately helping raise the bar for continued growth. Talk to us today to see how we can help your business grow!