8 Ways to Boost Your Brand’s Visibility

Often, the best way to win over people who haven’t previously patronized your business is to speak to them in person. That way, you can answer any questions immediately, while offering suggestions for problems your services could solve. For example, maybe someone mentions their 80-year-old mother needs help keeping her abode tidy, and you happen to own a house-cleaning service.

Research to see if your area has any organizations that offer networking events for entrepreneurs, and focus your energy there first. If it doesn’t, look for other non-business-centric groups where you could naturally mention your brand. For example, if there’s a monthly tech enthusiasts meeting, you might join it and bring up your tech company during conversations.

Charitable sponsorships are also excellent ways to spread the word about your business. Taking this approach gives the impression that your company cares about giving back and supporting the community. Such events typically feature various mentions of sponsors through online and offline means, too. Ask about the advertising or promotional opportunities for your business before signing a sponsorship agreement.

For example, if you sponsor a golf event, there may be signage displaying sponsors around the venue grounds, and a printed program that lists all the participants and sponsors. Announcements made throughout the event would provide further visibility. Plus, since most charities have websites and social media pages, you can expect online coverage.

Think of social media profiles as direct links to your brand’s online reputation. When people search for your brand via the internet, many will come across your social media pages before your website. Fortunately, you can do several things to make your social profiles engaging, updated and memorable.

Know your audience, and understand the types of content they want to see. When people take the time to comment on posts, respond to them to show that you monitor and maintain your pages. Check that any details about what you offer, your location and how people can get in touch are correct. You can also consider running contests through social media. Those get people involved and can help show off your brand’s personality.

The internet presents fantastic opportunities for you to create more brand awareness, even among people who do not live where your business operates. For example, maybe you run a web design firm in Virginia. If someone attends your online seminar about website mistakes to avoid and feels impressed by the expertise you demonstrate, they may hire you to create a site, despite living in Ohio.

Online events can also boost awareness if you foster a sense of togetherness. Imagine you’re a yoga instructor and hold a free introductory class. People may love your teaching style and the chance to practice with others from around the country or world so much that they decide to enroll in the next two-month fundamental course you offer.

Planning to increase brand awareness is often easier with a customized business map. Even if you’re making one for the first time, it’s a snap to add features that help you extract more value from the visualization. For example, heat maps use numeric values in imported data to display a specific location’s intensity. For example, the areas where most of your customers are may appear red, while the parts where fewer people know your brand are blue.

You may have assumptions about which areas to focus on for brand awareness, but a map will clarify details and give you concrete knowledge to build on. You can then use that information to decide how to move forward. A map can also reveal other specifics, such as which neighborhoods have the highest percentage of people over 70. That knowledge will help you choose the best ways to reach your market.

Many people hesitate to do business with new brands. They feel it’s too big a risk, and prefer to stick with the companies they know, even if that means paying more or dealing with minor inconveniences. That’s why it could work well to create a campaign specifically for new customers that lets them try your brand without major commitments.

Perhaps you sell homemade bath gels or baked goods. A banner or chalkboard outside your shop could entice people to come in and enjoy a free sample — even if they don’t buy anything that day. Similarly, if you specialize in a service, provide a code new customers can verbally mention in person or enter into a field online to claim a free month of what you offer.

Business owners often have difficulties attracting new customers. If you do too, you’re not alone. However, providing personalized and fantastic customer service can help immensely. Numerous studies confirm that outstanding customer service is a vital factor in encouraging people to keep doing business with a brand – and urge their friends to follow suit.

You can even gently request that people spread the word about your brand. If someone says they love how the employees at your jewelry company took time to help them find the perfect going-away gift for a friend, you could say something like, “We do whatever we can to make our customers happy. We’d appreciate it if you’d recommend us to anyone you know who’s also looking for one-of-a-kind accessories.”

Co-branding lets companies associate with similar enterprises and reap the rewards of mutual brand recognition. If you take this approach, prioritize the opportunities that make the most sense. Maybe you offer a line of reusable water bottles and could start a partnership with an outdoor goods store in your town.

Think about how to benefit everyone involved, too. In the above example, your company might give a 25% off coupon for the outdoor outlet with every water bottle order, while the store features an eye-catching display of your products. The goal is for both parties to see how the partnership provides mutual benefits.

Increased Brand Recognition Matters

These eight ideas can help spark more interest in your brand among your target audience. They can also grow your reputation as a business leader in your community and beyond.

Failing to devote enough time and attention to brand visibility could lead to preventable struggles that hinder your company’s growth. However, you can anticipate meaningful results, even if you’re starting small and ramping up as your schedule and budget allow. These tips will get you off to a good start, and you can adapt them to meet your company’s most pressing brand-related needs.