In marketing, a lot goes into your branding efforts. From blogging to video reviews, there are dozens of creative ways to get your business to stand out. Branding is what allows your business to develop a voice, identity, and value, but it isn’t as burdensome or costly as you might think. In fact, there are a plethora of options beyond just logo designs and quirky websites that you can consider that will work within your budget. Here’s how you can get the most out of your branding budget with the resources you already have.
How to Brand on a Budget
While you may have to outsource some materials, you can easily get branding with the tools your organization already has. Here’s how to get started.
- Create a buyer persona
To increase sales, you need to increase your following. To reach an audience, you should know exactly who you’re speaking to in the first place. Creating a buyer persona outlines the pain points of potential customers and allows you to determine how you fit into their solution.
You can use free online tools to craft your ideal customer. Consider their professions, how much they might be willing to spend on a certain product or service, their age, and their buying habits.
- Develop a brand voice and identity
How you shape your brand and the way it communicates with audiences will depend on your target audience. If you’re speaking to millennials, you’ll have to appeal to their language. If you’re reaching out to an older audience, you might keep your tone more professional and to-the-point.
Developing your brand voice is similar to crafting buyer personas, only you’re creating your ideal self. Your voice will be present in your copy and blog, so be sure that this is consistent all throughout your platforms.
- Boost your social media presence
Long gone are the days of cold calling to land leads. Nowadays, the easiest way to reach out to potential customers is on social media. This makes it easier for you to resolve customer service requests and deliver information to new customers. For a business to survive, excellent customer service should never be overlooked. This can create a word-of-mouth chain with customers who were satisfied with what you had to offer and can help build working relationships.
Prioritize the platform your audience uses most, but don’t neglect other networks. If your main platform is Facebook, for example, you can use it to perform all your main tasks, such as introducing a new product or publishing a how-to video. However, you can also use Twitter or Instagram to share updates about your business.
- Start a blog
A blog is one of the best methods of providing useful information to your audience and setting yourself apart as an industry expert. It’s a fundamental part of inbound marketing in that you can attract new customers by providing them with topics they’re already looking for.
With a blog, you’re going to have to post content regularly. To maintain consistency, create an editorial calendar, and be sure to use relevant keywords.
- Try co-branding
If you’re struggling with your business growth, partnering up with another brand can help boost your presence and secure you a new working relationship. Consider a brand with relatively the same audience as yours and be sure to communicate how a partnership can benefit both parties. Think about what you have that a potential partner doesn’t and vice versa. Perhaps you have a large millennial following but aren’t making much noise with other professionals. The experience should always be a win-win.
Conclusion
If you’re brand-building on a budget, don’t be too intimidated—it’s definitely possible! Working within your means just means having to take alternative routes and thinking outside of the box.
If you’re looking for affordable logo design, give us a shout at 48hourlogo! We help keep your brand on-point and saying exactly what it needs to say.