Everything starts small. No matter how big business is today, fact remains that it started small. All the big business of today would have followed the principles and practices of branding required for growth of business.
On the other hand smaller businesses of today seem to have gathered all the basic hygiene factors of running business quite well, save for one - ‘branding’. Most of them assume that branding is required only for running big companies. On the contrary, branding is more important for smaller businesses.
Once an Organization grows big then, people will inevitably come to know about it but smaller business must try and gather an audience on their own. So even if you own a business as small as a grocery store, good branding will enable you to get that edge over other such stores in your vicinity.
Few branding tips for small businesses:
# How is your company identified? Is it about a particular person, family or place? What is it that people relate to when they think about your industry type? These criteria will help you work on the search engine optimization front, which I might add is a huge opportunity and challenge today.
# A protocol or standard operating procedure document. This will contain- how you do business and what is it that you do in certain situations that sets you apart.
# Deal with identity issues. Many times small business owners don’t find it necessary to create standard logos for their trade. This is a mistake because an attractive logo at the business premises or elsewhere may make the potential customer consider the product or service offered.
# Slogans or themes on how do you want people to perceive your product or service. A good slogan or theme can sometimes act as a cupid’s arrow and attract your potential customers. You must however ensure to pitch the uniqueness of your brand and not something that is general.
# Evidence. If you are promoting something, your customers would always like to know if you have substantial backing behind your commitment.
# Websites. An easy to load and interactive website can always help your branding cause.
# Keep promises. Doing what you promised is perhaps the oldest way of promoting your brand.
Apart from this, a periodic evaluation of your branding strategies will never hurt.
ShimBi Labs is the developer of Budo and ShimBi Invoice like innovative, simple, powerful yet affordable products for small and medium size businesses.