What’s the one thing every company needs – A great marketing plan. When you think of marketing some of the things to come to mind are advertisements, hoardings, radio spots, celebrity brand ambassadors etc. However, when you’re just starting out, these traditional marketing ideas usually don’t fit into the budget. So, what do you need to do – think out of the box! It is a misconception that you need a big budget to make an impact. Here are a few ideas that can make your brand a household name within your budget.
Focus on Engaging more than Selling
It would be amazing to sell ten thousand units with a single advertisement. What would be even better is to have ten thousand people talk about you and your products. In the beginning, your focus should be more on making your brand recognizable rather than merely selling your product. Identify your target clientele and make yourself relevant to them without looking as though you’re simply advertising. Participate in discussions even if they aren’t on issues directly linked to your brand. Support activities by your target group. For example, if you manufacture baby products; congratulate people on their wedding photographs, repost articles by a support group for new mothers etc. This makes your brand recognizable and costs you nothing much.
Make your Customers Part of your Team
Listening to your customer’s needs is a vital part of creating a good marketing plan. But, your customers can play a larger role in your company. Make them a part of your team by giving them a reason to talk about your brand. You could run a contest, you could give people perks for sharing your content online, you could make influencers your brand ambassadors… the idea here is to make your customers feel that they are a part of something bigger.
Partner Up
Marathon runners often run in groups or pairs where each person pulls up and encourages the other during the race. Similarly, when you’re marketing a brand, it’s always better to find a partner for your journey. Don’t limit yourself to partnering with someone in your own field. Your brand may revolve around gourmet food but there’s nothing to stop you from partnering with a local musician to be featured in their videos. What you should keep in mind when finding a partner is to have atleast one thing in common with them.
Be Visible Everywhere
For a brand to be recognizable, it needs to be visible both online and offline. The first step – create a website. Company registration is easy today and adds authenticity to your brand. Next, create social media accounts and activate them. Post regularly across your social media accounts and interact with your target clientele from here. This takes care of your online presence but it isn’t enough. You need to be seen offline as well. Find an event that you can sponsor and present at. Give away bumper stickers, pens, umbrellas, hats, T shirts – anything that carries your brand name and logo. Create unique content and encourage people to share it.
