Raising brand awareness is more important than ever. Studies suggest that consumers are increasingly eager to buy from brands that align with their values and businesses they engage with on social media. If you run a company, and you’re looking to introduce your brand to new customers or create stronger relationships with clients, this guide contains brilliant ways to raise brand awareness.
Focus on the social aspect of social media
Social media started life as a network that promoted contact between friends and family members. Today, it is an incredibly effective platform for businesses and brands looking to sell products and services. Social apps can help brands to make sales, but crucially, they also offer amazing opportunities to engage with customers and followers. If you are on a mission to improve brand awareness, focus on the social aspect of social media. Avoid posting with the sole intention of persuading people to buy. Use social media to form relationships, get to know your followers, showcase the human side of the company and share your values, culture and philosophy.
Use videos, stories and images to tell your story and let existing customers and prospective clients know what the brand is all about and what it stands for. Interact with followers, respond to comments and use social platforms to gather valuable information. Online polls, analytics and feedback can help you to determine which types of posts are most effective and get ideas and suggestions to make your service better. Encourage engagement and invite followers to share opinions and reviews. Over 90% of people buy from brands they follow on social media but more than 60% are put off by too many promotional posts.
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Attend events and shows
Attending events, such as exhibitions, trade shows, festivals and fairs, is an excellent way to introduce your brand to new customers and strengthen ties with existing clients. Events offer opportunities to meet people in person, show off your products and services and tell people about your business.
One of the most important considerations for any exhibitor or vendor is how to attract customers and buyers to your stand or stall. You want your booth to stand out from the crowd and prospective customers to gravitate towards you. There are many ways to turn heads and persuade visitors and guests to visit your stand. Make your display visually appealing, try to be creative and original and engage with customers. Interactive displays are great for getting people talking and it’s also beneficial to offer samples or freebies to lure customers in. It’s also a fantastic idea to offer demos and to run a competition or offer chances to win prizes using a spin wheel for trade shows. If there are games running, or people can win a prize, enter a giveaway or try out a product, this will help you build a crowd. Crowds trigger intrigue and make others want to see what the fuss is all about.
If you’re presenting a product or talking to customers about your brand with a view to making sales, always ensure that you have facts and figures to hand. Rehearse as a team beforehand, make sure there is a clear pricing policy and ensure demos are slick. Hand out branded freebies and follow up leads after the event.
Partnerships
Partnerships are an effective way to leverage the success of other businesses to help you broaden your client base. Look for reputable brands that have shared values and customer bases. Get to know representatives and figure out how you can work together to increase exposure for both companies. You may decide to feature on a business owner’s podcast and then invite them to appear on yours, for example, or you may run a marketing campaign together on Instagram or team up to sell products at a fair or market. There are multiple ways you can join forces with other businesses to attract new customers and make more people aware of your brand. Focus on strategies and techniques that are relevant to your brands, the products and services you sell and your target audience.
Create a strong, distinctive identity
Customers today have a huge range of choices whether they’re shopping for food and drinks, clothing, electrical appliances or beauty products, or they’re looking for a hotel, gym, restaurant or bar. It can be challenging for brands to set themselves apart and convince a prospective customer to choose them over their competitors. Creating a strong, distinctive brand is essential. You don’t want your brand to blend in. From your website design, logo and brand name to the way you converse with customers on social media and the packaging you use, it’s important to celebrate your uniqueness and ensure that your branding catches the eye. Use market research and testing to help you make decisions and attract target customers. Ensure that your messaging is clear and consistent.
Storytelling
Over 70% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that align with their values. Storytelling is a powerful marketing method, which helps businesses to connect with customers and gain a competitive advantage. The aim is to engage on a deeper level and build long-lasting relationships. Tell your story and let people know how your company came about. Talk about your products and why they’re special and unique and put faces to names. People want to meet the team or find out more about the brand founder and how brands came to be. You can use all kinds of content types to communicate, including emails, blogs, videos and social media clips and stories.
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Raising brand awareness is all about introducing people to your brand and giving them an insight into what makes you tick. If you’re eager to boost sales, expand your client base or strengthen relationships, there are several ways you can improve visibility and engagement. Use social media to form connections and show the human side of your brand, attend events and team up with other businesses. Tell your story, create a strong, distinctive identity and use market research, analytics and client feedback to get to know customers and make improvements.