Most of us enjoy watching the futuristic fantasies displayed in movies like The Minority Report and Wall-E…worlds filled with personalized advertisements on huge pop-up screens that shout at people as they walk by, capturing the attention of everyone within 100 yards. But automated, holographic advertising isn’t exactly how marketing and branding work in today’s world, is it? To capture the attention of your target audience you need a strong business identity, stronger marketing strategies, and most importantly, creative ways to stand apart from your competition.
This is where knowing how to brand your business in the wild can really pay off. With business handshakes and physical exchanges at an all-time low, now is the perfect time to up your creativity and capture the eyes of potential customers using innovative marketing strategies. From inventive business card techniques to honing in on the perfect digital marketing plan, we have the ideas and resources you need to move your business beyond everyday branding challenges.
Business Cards in the Community
Before the pandemic, 7 billion+ business cards were printed annually. Vistaprint saw business card sales plummet 70% between mid-March and April of 2020; they’ve recovered some, but not to pre-pandemic levels. Apparently, the thought of physically exchanging little pieces of paper during a global health crisis doesn’t appeal to potential customers. That’s why the name of today’s branding game is creativity and adaptability during times of change.
One way to use up all those business cards you purchased in 2019 is by popping a few up on community boards at grocery stores, libraries, and community centers. You can add a personalized note on the back or discount code if you’d like to entice customers even further. Find a jar at your favorite local java hut asking customers to jot down their info for a chance to win free coffee? Skip the scribbled-contact-info-scramble and put your business card in the jar instead. Find one of those little free library stands throughout your town? Leave a book with your business card included as the perfect bookmark.
Another technique is to lose the paper business card altogether. Did you know they have apps you can use to create your own digital business card? That’s right! You can make your own QR code or pass your info along contact-free to anyone with a smartphone using hover-and-send technology. This is a perfect way to connect when you don’t have a ton of time and want to respect social distancing. Plus, it looks really cool to just wave your phone around and – BAM – there’s your headshot and business contact info. Talk about executive-level communication!
Unique Opportunities
We’ve established that physical distribution of marketing materials really isn’t jiving with today’s social climate…but our eyes and ears are still up for grabs! Capitalize on unique visual and auditory branding opportunities by sharing your logo and elevator pitch whenever possible. Do you drive a car? Consider investing in a custom car decal with your logo and IG handle. Add some flair to your wardrobe by wearing shirts, hoodies, and hats with your logo, business color scheme, and a catchy phrase like, “Ask me why I’m wearing green.” Put a logo sticker on your laptop or notebook. The best part about merchandising your brand? You can sell branded products to your loyal customers and increase your brand visibility by infinity.
Don’t underestimate the power of your voice, either! Most community resources and publications are constantly looking for new content in the form of guest spots on local television, radio, podcast, and e-news publications. Have your elevator pitch ready, your branded shirt clean and pressed, and your social media handles ready to share.
Strong Digital Presence
Powerful online branding is more important today than ever before. Over 93% of American adults are online, either working, shopping, networking with friends, or doing all three at the same time. From social media profile pictures and website landing pages to Google results and e-newsletters, the internet provides endless opportunities to get eyes on your brand and business.
Social media is a great place to start. One of the most effective ways to share your brand is with a strong, consistent social media presence. Your social media profiles need to be clean, concise, relatable, and attractive. Your profile images should fit with your brand and be the same across all platforms. You need to post consistently while being aware of peak visibility times, target phrases, and the “take my money!” triggers living within your target customers’ minds.
Let’s say you’ve worked hard, maybe partnered with an amazing digital marketing agency to narrow down and resolve your profile pitfalls, and your social media is looking great. What’s next? Where do your followers go to actually exchange likes for dollars and support your business through monetary purchases? A professional business website is vital for a strong digital presence. Website management is so much more than a free template and a few nice images. A good business website needs to be accessible, comprehensive, polished, and truly representative of your business culture. It also needs to be easily found, which means you need a good plan for Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Does this all sound a little overwhelming? Don’t worry. At GreenCup Digital, we specialize in taking your business ideas and transforming them into profitable branding strategies. From website graphics and logos to branded social media content and Gooogle MyBuisiness page updates, GreenCup Digital has your online branding needs covered. Our team partners alongside you to elevate your brand recognition and take your audience reach to the next level. Are you ready to join forces with the best branding-in-the-wilderness guide in the industry? Click here to connect with GreenCup Digital today.
