Despite that, everyone knows that brand is important. Too many times have you must’ve heard the old mantra “no one ever got fired for buying IBM,” !!! This implies that picking a known brand gets the decision-maker off the hook if the chosen solution doesn’t work out. Buying the leading brand is always the “SAFE” decision.
Whether you are selling a product or marketing a service, the key differentiator that makes your offering an ‘IBM’or an ‘Intel’ equivalent and not just any other IT product is what matters most. BUT, can we actually put a tangible to this “X factor” that the product needs.
Think about it. This is nothing but a positive Brand Image translating to a very very promising Brand Image.
In slow economic times like these, it might be hard to justify branding and its spend because every rupee needs to directly generate leads and sales.
So how can you brand if you’re not yet the leader and times are slow? Here are three
low-cost ways to support brand building while you are filling your sales pipeline.
Develop a impactful Brand Identity and a Positioning Statement
If prospects see your logo and there is always a strong positioning statement with it, you will be building recognition of what your company does and/or how it differs from its competition. Between the company name, the logo and the positioning line, you will be establishing your brand and cutting clutter.
Maintain Consistency in Look and Message
Establish and follow guidelines for your brand. This can be easily done through a basic brand manual that defines templates for your “Go to Market” communication tools like Website, emails, direct mails, brochures, adverts and all communication commonly used for in your marketing initiatives. Whenever a prospect sees anything about you, they carry a consistent image and impression.
Establish and support active PR through new age means like social media marketing and networking —
Use innovative PR and marketing like Twitter, LinkedIn, Fcaebook, etc to keep your brand visible in the market scenario. Use social media for exposure and interaction with your industry and potential customers. Participate in industry specific events and exhibitions for effective one to one interaction with customers and other industry players.
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