Building Brand Awareness in the Classroom

Are you running out of ideas when it comes to getting your brand recognized? AnnMarie Edwards of Aria Training has some ideas to get your creative juices flowing, especially if you're willing to reach out to academic institutions, which might be an untapped branding resource for your company. Edwards says, "Customers who are familiar with a certain brand are more likely to remain loyal regardless of inflation. By demonstrating your corporate social responsibility and promoting worthwhile educational programs that bring the needs of educators together with your business needs, you can easily distinguish your product from other brands."

Here are some tips from Edwards for using the classroom to your advantage:

1. Distribute product literature and/or give free product samples to learning institutions. Learning institutions are usually open to learn about business products that would enhance and add value to what is being taught in the classroom.

2. Establish information/demonstration booths in the classroom. The classroom information/demonstration booth will allow students to interact with your company's product and provide ongoing information to potential customers as they develop their own buying power. Your conversion rates will be much higher due to the education that is available to the students.

3. Give free training on the use and benefits of the product. This is a perfect opportunity to give students hands-on training, and teach them about your product's value.

4. Encourage educators to include information about your product or services in a curriculum guide. This one tip has the potential to multiply your market base nationwide.

5. Offer a contest that empowers students to buy and use your product. Sponsor a writing contest or a Future Business Leader of America competition, and make one of the rewards a gift certificate. It's a proven fact that most consumers spend more than the value of the gift card.

6. Distribute logos to learning institutions. Instructors can use logos in the classroom to help students learn about branding and how companies use this concept to communicate their identity and market their products.

7. Offer information on production of the goods and how profit is made. Students who are inclined to develop their own products or become business managers will find this of great value.