Top strategies for boosting brand awareness
Solid branding is the crux of any successful business, and building brand awareness is an absolute must. Whether you are a young startup or a long-established company, getting your brand out there should be a priority – but it may require a little creativity.
Once you’ve covered the basics, such as joining social media and placing both online and offline adverts, it’s time to think outside the box. Here are some fun, high-impact strategies for creating a buzz and winning your brand some positive attention.
- Freebie giveaways
Everyone loves a freebie, and if there’s room in your budget, a branded giveaway is an excellent way to earn some brownie points. Be it edible treats with your logo on the wrapper or a useful keepsake like a mug or water bottle, you can treat your target audience whilst promoting your brand – win-win! Try to come up with something that relates to your target group; free t-shirts if you are a fashion brand, for example, or customised mouse mats if you are targeting business professionals. Whatever you decide to go with, be sure to include your company visual branding and, of course, web address.
- Brand ambassadors
Major brands have long been working with celebrities to promote their products – and influencer marketing can be just as effective for small businesses too. With the growing influence of social media, the blogosphere and channels like YouTube, practically anyone with a big enough following can be considered an influencer. When it comes to finding authentic brand ambassadors, it is essential to ensure a good fit for your brand; not only should they have a substantial following, but they should also be relevant to your particular target group. If done right, influencer marketing can propel your brand to a wider audience in practically no time at all.
- Good causes & social responsibility
Another way to get your brand out there is to get involved with a good cause. Be it a sponsored run to raise money for charity, a dedicated volunteering day per month or a local cake sale – you can give something back as a business whilst promoting your brand. Raising brand awareness is simple: post about your activities on social media, carry them out wearing branded t-shirts or merchandise, and always have some business cards on hand. Of course, there are plenty more reasons why social responsibility is important for companies, but why not boost your brand in the process?
- Competitions & contests
Finally, when it comes to spreading the word about your brand, simply having a social media account is not enough. The more creatively you use Twitter, Facebook and co., the more your brand will benefit, so don’t limit yourself to the standard posts and status updates. An extremely clever tactic is to run campaigns and competitions; if your brand is food-related, you could ask your followers to come up with their own flavour or recipe, with a prize for the one with the most votes. Naturally, users will share their submissions to get more votes – spreading your brand in the process. For more inspiration, here are some real-life social media contest success stories.
