Having a business people recognize keeps you a step ahead of your competition.
But how do you develop brand recognition in the first place? There are many elements involved in becoming a trusted and recognized company in consumers' eyes.
In their 2020 B2B Content Marketing Report, the Content Marketing Institute surveyed North American content marketers. About 84 percent of the most successful marketing campaigns built loyalty with customers. The focus on building brand recognition, authenticity, and loyalty was a powerful combination for most companies.
Making your name more recognizable isn't a one-step process. Superb brand recognition requires ongoing effort and multiple advertising channels. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do today to start.
Your name and logo are two things that go with you wherever you have a presence. They are the first things people see when they visit your website.
When people talk to friends and family about your business, they use your name. If you don't have a name and logo catchy enough to remember but simple enough to spell, you're missing out on a significant portion of your branding efforts.
Crate & Barrel is an easy-to-recognize name in the home goods industry. The words signal the style of the decor you'll find there. They use a word logo to define their brand further and make the name more familiar.
Look for uncommon ways to brand your company and make an impression on potential customers.
For example, customize your 404 page so that customers know what else your business offers. Look for ways to reinforce your name recognition, such as using your brand name when interacting on social media or sending out a letter to current customers.
Use the same image style anywhere you list your products. Customers should instantly recognize the image as belonging to your business.
Develop a style guide to establish aspects like the size and angle of photos. Hire a professional photographer to ensure high-quality pictures. Create a set of rules about where they appear, plus the shape and placement of visuals.
Banko Garage Doors uses images of their many beautiful options in overhead doors. Note how each image is roughly the same size and format. The website layout is on a grid system, which allows for similar white spacing around each picture.
The most famous companies have a compelling story. Perhaps they were inspired by tragedy to start their business. Maybe they are passionate about a specific cause. Whatever the reason, they know how to share their background and engage others who care about the same issues.
Figure out what your story is and how it makes you different from your competitors. Share this narrative on your website's about page, in your videos, and even on social media.
Think about what your unique value proposition (UVP) is. What do you offer that no one else in the industry does?
Start by studying your competitors. What are their UVPs? You should match those and then look for something they don't offer so you stand out as the best of the best.
Your angle can be anything from quality guarantees to the best service, but you must state your UVP and then ensure it is true. If you fail to deliver on your stated benefits, correct things as quickly as possible. More than your business claiming that it's good at something, you also want customers to tell others how amazing you are.
Tire Rack features a protected installation pledge to help them uphold social distancing measures. They've discovered an area where they can excel, and they highlight it. Your UVP can undoubtedly change. In this example, you see how they had to evolve theirs to match the post-pandemic environment.
If you want people to remember you, you must reach them on a personal level. Look for ways to interact with your customers, such as talking to them on social media or hosting local events where you meet people.
Create fun games they can participate in and hand out prizes to those who share your business the most on social media or guess game answers correctly.
Find complementary businesses and team up with them to promote each other. You'll both gain access to each other's customer lists.
Pay careful attention to the other company's reputation, though. The last thing you want is to align yourself with a company with conflicting values to your own or participate in negative discussions about another business.
Become an expert in your field and share your knowledge. Give talks at local organizations, attend trade shows and conferences as a speaker, or start a podcast.
Share what you know, so people will see you as an authority in your field. When they need the products or services you offer, your name and brand should come to mind.
When you first start building a name for your brand, take every decent opportunity to get the word out. Go on radio talk shows, run ads, and attend networking events.
Once you've established a name for your company, you can be more selective and choose only the best appearances. While in growth mode, however, you need every mention you can get — both advertised and organic.