7 Unique Approaches to Branding
Is there a magic solution to branding?
It involves a lot of trial and error and what works for one brand may not work for you. It all boils down to understanding what works for your audience and serving it to them on an easy to notice silver platter.
Smaller organizations may not have the budget of a larger organization, and in turn, may not have a lot to invest in their marketing efforts. However, that should never be a hindrance. Sometimes the most successful ideas are the most creative and simplest ideas, and these may not always cost you an arm and a leg.
Simply get your community involved, allow them to feel as if they matter, and take off!
1. Viral Videos
Of course, this may not be the easiest task to undertake, but one viral video can create an incredible opportunity for you and your brand. Remember to make your brand name and/or logo clearly visible and you have the opportunity to take on the world.
Although it may be tempting to go the way of kittens, puppies, or other overdone ideas, try to be original. Create a video that answers a question for your audience. You can be funny, sad, serious, or entertaining to make the video your own, but appeal to your target audience.
2. Partner with a Complementary Business (Cross Promotion)
Event planners do this with caterers, florists, or other vendors, and you can do it with a business that complements yours. It is a great way to support other business owners in your community while you grow your brand.
A partnership can also be beneficial business wise, if you both offer very similar services. Allowing another business owner to understand the work that you do can be a great way to bring in new clients.
3. Sponsorships
Being a sponsor can entail more than just sponsoring local events. For example, Citi Bike (a New York City-based bike sharing company) and Citibank have partnered together in a fun and catchy way. Not only is their brand all over the bikes, but they are listed on their website, offering them a larger audience.
Consider contacting other larger organizations and learning about sponsorship opportunities. A great way to make a difference in your community while you grow is to consider sponsoring non-profits. You can feel great about the difference you are making, while growing your brand.
4. Contests
Contests are a great way to get your community involved while expanding your reach because they usually involve sharing. One thing to consider is that there is no point in putting your energy into launching a contest on a large scale if the prize is not worth it.
Platforms like Instagram make photo contests easy to launch and share. There are also Video, Caption, Sweepstakes and even submit your vote contests.
Take the time to plan a great contest, offer a great prize, and share as much as possible within your community. You can even partner up with bloggers or other organizations to expand your reach and offer multiple prizes.
5. Write a Book
If you can write a book about it, you have to be an expert, right? That is what you are telling everybody else.
A book is also great advertising for you, and is now an affordable way to market yourself. Creating a small ebook with great tips and solutions is a great way to share your expertise. You can offer the book free to your community with the option to share on social media, or charge a small fee.
6. Start a Blog
A blog is the best way to create content on a regular basis and to grow your community and brand online. Allow your audience to find you online and remain informed, thanks to the insights you can provide to them on a daily or weekly basis. Remember to make the content informative, easy to understand, and even unique, by including videos, infographics, charts, and graphs.
7. Write for Larger Publications
The benefits that come with writing for larger publications can be astronomical, if you understand how to do so effectively. If you are a contributor on a larger platform, submit content regularly, and submit relevant content. Remember to leave a link back to your website, and if you have a blog, leave a link to similar posts on your blog.
There are many ways to build your brand -- and not all of them require spending a great deal of money. Utilize these unique branding opportunities to build your brand organically without breaking the budget.
