11 Branding Strategies with ZERO Cost

If you’ve had it with branding strategies that are draining your budget, read on.

There are many experts sharing branding strategies. Let’s face it, building a brand is on the top of every successful business owners ‘to do’ list. This is because, according to Rob Wengal senior VP of Nielsen Innovation, “Brands can signify quality and inspire confidence,”. In fact, Nielson’s Global New Product Innovation Survey revealed that 59% of consumers prefer to buy new products from brands familiar to them. Yet, paid for advertising is breaking the bank for small businesses. Is there a way to build your brand image for less? Absolutely!

Let’s start with the basics.

What is a brand?

When most think about building strategies they think about brand colors, creative logos, and websites with WOW factor. However, building a brand goes beyond these outer aesthetics.

Simply stated, a brand is a promise of the quality you’ll receive.

Branding expert Seth Godin states, “ A brand is the set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer’s decision to choose one product or service over another. If the consumer (whether it’s a business, a buyer or a voter) doesn’t pay a premium, make a selection or spread the word, then no brand value exists for that consumer.” 

A strong brand is a differentiator.

Your brand identifies your uniqueness. Therefore, it helps you stand apart from your competition and be noticed in the market place. Furthermore, branding is not limited to your physical product or service. It includes your personal image and the quality of individuals that represent you.

Branding is as much about how you do business as what you are selling.

What are you clients saying about you and the customer experience? The book, “The Service Profit Chain”  provides data supporting the case that employee satisfaction and customer service go hand in hand. Great customer service is a powerful tool for building a brand. Therefore, regular performance management training can enhance your brand recognition.

Because the strength of your brand is paramount for the success of your business, we are  sharing 11 powerful branding strategies.  Every business can afford to employ these techniques because they require no financial outlay.

NO COST Branding Strategies

1. Positive Attitude

No one wants to be around a nasty or gloomy person. Clients do not enjoy impatient, arrogant customer service reps. Listen or read motivational material every morning and practice the art of being thankful.

2. Be Energetic

Going to the gym or doing yoga first thing in the morning wakes up your body. (A few cups of coffee is helpful too.) Eat a light lunch and avoid the afternoon siesta.

3. Be on Time

Never make a client wait. Plan on being at least 15 minutes early for every meeting.

4. Return Every Phone Call, Email, or Text promptly!

Clients are not going to wait a few days or even hours to hear from you. They will quickly search the web for other providers.

5. Build Rapport

Become a student of human behavior and communication. People with good interpersonal skills build rapport effectively with others. This empowers them to be able to work well in a team or group, and with other people more generally. Therefore, interpersonal skills are indispensable in all areas of life at work, in education and socially.

6. Under Promise and Over Deliver

Surprise your clients by ‘going the extra mile’. Make it your goal to delight clients.

7. Continue Your Professional Growth

We live in the ‘information age’. There is more free training at our fingertips than ever before. Get a free library card and read books, surf the web for articles, follow industry leaders, listen to pod casts, etc.

8. Be Teachable

Talent and intelligence are crippled without a humble, coachable attitude. Be open to new ideas and suggestions. View criticism as a valuable teaching moment.

9. Admit When You’re Wrong

Apologize. Develop the character to admit mistakes, make amends, and move on.

10. Practice Assertive Communication

Learn how to speak your mind without offending others. Handle objections without creating rejection.

11. Love what you do.

Be passionate about the benefits, results, and solutions you and your company provides. Enjoy your client base. Let your passion show.

Successful branding strategies are the key to beating the competition and creating customer loyalty. It requires quality products and service. However, investing in an expensive website and digital marketing campaign will be like pouring water into the sand if you neglect paying careful attention to how you do business and treat your existing clients.

It’s true that competitors can copy your products. But they are not you or your team. Practice the no cost branding strategies and watch your business grow.