7 Key Tips For Branding Your Business on a Limited Budget –

As a small business, whether you’re just starting, or you’ve been around for a while and have minimal capital to work with, your marketing and branding budgets are going to be limited. It means you can’t make some of the sweeping and expensive moves that major organizations do. Still, branding shouldn’t be ignored, especially if you want to grow.

There are plenty of low-budget methods for branding and marketing a business, thankfully. You just need to know where to look.

Also Read – Importance of Brand Recognition for Startups and Entrepreneurs

Check out the 7 key tips for branding your business on a limited budget, including ideas with either low or no upfront costs.

1. Source a Killer Logo –

Logos are not to be taken lightly, especially for smaller, unknown brands. Much like a catchy jingle in a radio or television ad, people tend to remember visual representations, too, like logos, stylized brand names, and more.

Every great business has a killer logo that’s memorable and influential. Just to name a few, there’s McDonald’s’s big yellow “M,” Disney’s mouse silhouette, or Target’s literal and big red target. When you see these logos, even briefly, you associate them with their brands.

If you don’t have the visual design chops to create a logo yourself, don’t fret. There are several places to find some or have them created, on a limited budget. Check out Fiverr, Wix, Canva, and more.

2. Create Your Google Business Account –

Most SMBs serve a local area, and both Google search and Google Business love local brands. So, if you haven’t already, you should create a My Business profile for Google, which requires signing up with a Google business account.

This will have instant benefits after your ownership is verified. One of the major benefits is that your business will not only show up higher in search results but also get its own local business card. Within that card, Google will display important information like business hours, contact information, and the store’s address — which will also be shown in Google Maps.

Plus, it’s free. So why not?

3. Customize Your Packaging –

On nearly every Amazon box, package, or parcel, you see the company’s logo. The logo has always been there — because it’s a subtle yet effective form of branding. You should do the same for your products and items, and it’s more accessible than you might imagine.

Even better, there are many benefits to using custom packaging for your products. It improves product safety, adds a professional touch to the experience, and helps you stand out from the competition.

4. Collaborate –

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of other small businesses around yours. They are also struggling to stay afloat and bring in business, which creates an excellent opportunity for you. Find a way to team up with local brands to market both businesses, bring in new customers, or build hype for your products and services.

Perhaps you could create a local event showcasing some peer brands sponsored by your own business? What about offering a collaborative promotion, where customers who purchase products or services at a nearby business get discounts at yours, or vice versa?

It generates buzz, gets people interested in both or all participating brands, and contributes to your local reputation.

5. Email Marketing –

Total email users grew to 3.9 billion in 2019, and that number is expected to reach 4.3 billion by 2023. Email continues to be one of the most promising and influential methods of communication between a business and its customers. Do not overlook the opportunity.

It’s also an excellent budget-friendly branding solution, and there are many tools out there that you can leverage to create a professional email marketing campaign. Mailchimp, Hubspot, MyEmailFX, Constant Contact, and many other platforms allow you to create beautiful emails and newsletters, many of which start as a simple template.

6. Start a Helpful Blog –

Starting a blog is relatively easy, and it’s a super useful way to get your brand and name out there. That’s precisely why so many companies and professionals invest time in doing so. But there’s a right and a wrong way to do it, and the best way to give back to your customers is to help them solve problems they’re having or answer their questions.

Start a blog, whether on your brand’s website or through a platform like Medium, that offers helpful advice and guidance for a specific niche. A home repair company, for instance, might share DIY guides and tips for various projects. A beauty salon might review or talk about the different products they carry. A local coffee shop might share some delicious pastry and baking tips.

When it’s helpful advice, people will flock to the portal not just to learn but also to see what you’re talking about next. Similar to this is the idea of hosting local classes, seminars, or workshops — Home Depot does this in its local stores.

7. Social Media is a Must –

Because of how popular and active most social media networks are, from Facebook to TikTok, you must have a presence somewhere. Don’t spread yourself thin trying to cover every popular platform. Instead, choose one or two that are perfect for your business and get posting.

Create the page or profile, begin posting new and engaging content, and interact with your customers as much as possible. It’s also a great idea to offer customer support through social media channels, whenever applicable. If you have to hire a social media manager, then do so. It’s worth the cost.

McKinsey and Company report that over 70% of businesses are trying out social customer care as a way to connect with and support their audience. Moreover, they are seeing significant benefits from doing so.

Don’t Delay; You Can Start Building Clout Today

It is possible to generate hype and influence with a limited budget, but only if you invest your time in all the right places. The opposite is true as well. If you wait too long or decide not to focus on branding, it could hurt your business. You need to get out there and start building brand awareness and clout as soon as possible.

These tips are a great place to start, and they’re all budget-friendly, too. Take heed and your success will grow in no time.

Author Bio –

Eleanor Hecks is editor-in-chief at Designerly Magazine. She was the director at a marketing agency before becoming a freelance web designer. Eleanor lives in Philadelphia with her husband and dog, Bear.

 

Also Read – Top 9 Offline Marketing Strategies to Support Your Brand