If you just started your business, or are not ready to quit your full time job yet, chances are that you will need to focus on faking it until you make it. The time will come when you move into your shiny new office and finally get help with running your company. Until then, you will need to make the best impression possible on your potential clients, and focus on the quality of service you are delivering, instead of the size of your operation. First impressions count, and this is why you will need to make the most out of your branding. Find a few tips below to make your small business appear more professional online and offline.
Branding Kits
No matter how small your company is, or if you are running a one-man or one-woman band, you will need to pay attention to branding. Get a logo and branding kit designed online or reach out one of the local freelancers who will be able to help you make the most out of your online and offline visibility. You should use the same font and logo, colors across all your printed and online marketing and branding materials, so you can get people to get to know you and recognize you.
Dedicated Phone Line
You simply should not use your personal phone line to deal with clients. If you have made this mistake, you will know that it is hard to decide whether you are getting a business or personal phone calls, not to mention that you can actually decide not to pick up the business line outside of your working hours. This is going to help you achieve a better work-life balance and help you make the most out of your productivity. You can get a dedicated number for your business that can be redirected to your cell phone, so you don’t have to carry two around.
Professional Website
It is also crucial that your website looks professional and gives out the right messages about your brand. You might want to save money on the design, but online templates will never make your brand appear professional. This is why you should either use a premium WordPress website or a web designer who will be able to showcase your talent and your values that will make you stand out from the crowd. If you would like to look like a legitimate business, you will also have to display your physical address on the site.
Positioning Yourself As an Expert
If you want your potential clients to trust you despite the size of your business, you will need to learn how to communicate your value. This can be done by being helpful on social media, or just posting about things your target market is interested in. You might also want to appear in podcasts and sign up for interviews, so you can reach more people who are interested in what you have to offer.
Networking
It might also be a good idea to engage in networking so you can make your brand more visible in your market. You can join online or offline networking groups, and make the most out of your connections. You should remember that the main purpose of networking should not be to get business immediately, but to get people to remember you, based on your personality, expertise, and your story. One of the best ways of communicating your brand values is through your brand story.
Branding By Association
It might be the case that you are simply too small for some of your clients, but they would consider working with a larger company, If you are a marketing expert or an SEO professional, for example, you might be able to sign up for partner programs with Google and other platforms, so you can raise your professional profile and brand yourself based on your association with stronger players in your market.
Consistent Social Media Posts
If you are trying to manage your social media, you will have to deal with a lot of distraction. It is crucial that you stay consistent and don’t confuse your audience. If you simply cannot find the time to post every day, you might be able to find affordable social media packages for small business owners that will take care of your engagement, brand messages, and tracking.
Branding a small business is always a challenge. There is a huge competition and you have a limited budget. Use the above methods to create some noise around your business.
This is a contributed post.
