4 Branding Tips for Your Small Business in 2020
Think a brand is just for big businesses? Think again. Branding is critical for businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Many small business owners underestimate the power of personal branding. They have the notion that branding should be reserved for big companies like Safaricom amongst others.
Why bother? Your brand is what the outside world thinks of you. How do you want people to perceive you?
Don’t you want your business to stand out?
Here are 4 ways you can cultivate that personal brand:
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Define your personal brand
A personal brand “is what people say about you when you are not in the room.” What do you want them to think about when they think of you? Do you want to be known for any specific skill or expertise?
Highlight words or phrases that speak positively about you, especially those related to your business, industry and skills.
You could also include credentials, goals and values. For example; a leading HR firm, recruitment experts or team leader.
This will help you present yourself to your target audience
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Create a platform
Create your own website under your own domain name e.g. (www.nameofyourbusiness.co.ke) so that when people search your name, it will be the first result.
You want people to connect with you and get to know you better.
Social media is also a great channel to promote your content and grow your audience. In this digital age, social media platforms give you a chance to keep up with trends in the business world and easily network with potential clients and investors.
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Tell your story
Storytelling has become one popular way of ensuring that clients never forget you.
People are always interested in knowing the story behind your journey. What brought you here? What challenges did you face on the way? What did you learn? What do you believe in?
A good example of storytelling is using testimonials.
You can showcase videos of clients talking about their experience after using your products or services. What did they like about it? How did it impact their lives? Would they recommend it to others?
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Be Consistent
If you want people to trust that you can deliver, you need to look the part.
Think about what you stand for and communicate that to your customers in everything you do, from the colors you choose to the words you use.
Provide a consistent experience to everyone, no matter how you interact with them (via social media, email, office, networking events, phone, etc.). When they repeatedly come across the same personality, it will become easier for them to recognize and recall you.
Kindly note that it takes time and effort to build a personal brand, the trick is to be useful and consistent but above all stay true to yourself.
