Expanding Your Brand: One Step at a Time
You know you have a message. An offer that can help someone. A brand that has created impact, whether it was online with just a few clients, or in person with clients who you know and care about.
But you also know you have more. More to offer and give, more people who need to know about your services. You’re ready to grow and scale. You’re ready to reach new audiences.
This short post is all about expansion. It’s time to expand your brand and reach. To get higher ticket sales. To grow your online presence.
If this sounds like you, read on to learn how you can gain more brand awareness, reach a larger audience and become professionally recognized at a new level.
Brand expansion & Brand Awareness
Brand expansion is all about making the decision to take your brand, company, ministry, or non-profit to a higher level. Brand expansion uses specific strategies to reach more leads and successfully grow your business. If you want to generate more sales and customer retention, you must expand your brand and boost your brand’s awareness. Brand awareness is all about getting your brand out there to people. You want people to be familiar with what your brand is and what you offer. How can you get your brand’s content, products and values out into the world for people to notice? There are many different factors and steps one can take to expand their brand. Let’s start with the free space that everyone is on at some level: Social media.
Step 1: Social Media
No matter how many followers you have. Social media is free and therefore “everyone” is on it. Your core audience may lean to Facebook over Instagram or YouTube over Pinterest. But no matter which platform your key audience uses, to expand your brand and get new leads, social media will continue to be a presence for your brand on that platform.
Social media gives you the power to voice your brand’s message and share deeper information about what you’re working on with your customers. Social media can continue to be a place where you promote your brand values and enhance your brand’s visual identity for your followers. This will be how you can engage a free audience and keep up with consistent communication… which people appreciate.
Step 2: Logo, Website and Voice
As you build your brand up, your logo, website and voice will continue to develop. These three details are all very important in forming a representation of your whole brand. Your brand logo is the face of your brand. You may need to consider, does your current logo catch your brand story and vision the best way possible? If it’s recognizable as is, then great! But could a logo upgrade be in store to communicate your brand story more effectively?
Customers and leads want to be able to easily navigate your website. Your brand’s website should be a clear and professional description of your brand story and values.Anyone can have a well priced service, but the mission, vision , and values of your brand may be what takes the lead in someone’s eye for going with your offer over another business, non-profit, etc. Along with the visuals of your brand, developing a brand voice is crucial. This is a key part of your brand’s personality that people get to know and feel comfortable with. How dialed in is your brand voice?
If you need help developing any parts of your brand identity, personality or even upgrading your website so that it’s fresh, use this contact form. We’re here to help!
Step 3: Creating Merchandise
Designing a line of merchandise is a great way to advertise and expand your brand! I mean… who doesn’t love swag? Whether it’s a piece of clothing, an accessory, a pen/pencil, a mug, a water bottle or maybe a bag, people appreciate branded swag… and it will catch their eye. A great thing about selling merch is that it can lead to lot’s of exposure.
Simple giveaways as a reminder of meeting you and coming across your brand can go a long way. Branding is all about influence. Merch lines can lead to brand expansion through the positive influence of your brand in someone’s life. As you develop teams, simple things like matching shirts can up level your professionalism at events that you might attend together.
Creating a branded store with goods that leads and customers can buy from, is an excellent way to expand your brand. For example, if you’re in the fitness space, how awesome would it be to sell yoga mats and gym bags with your brand style and logo directly from your own store? It’s easy and possible to create this type of brand expansion, without needing to deal with inventory.
Check out our recent posts on starting an easy, drop shipping store tailored for your brand here.
Step 4: Be Interactive
Connecting and being interactive with your customers, no matter the occasion, both online and offline, truly is a great way to expand your brand. You can get information from the customers’ point of view, offer new services or change your processes to meet their needs. Every interaction is an opportunity to gain your audience’s trust and loyalty to your brand. Whether it be a one on one dialogue with a customer or a social media interaction, make it a positive engagement and make sure that your customer is satisfied. If a customer likes your brand, they are more likely to engage and even buy what you’re selling!
To Wrap Up
There are a lot of factors that can go into expanding your brand. Starting with just one step at a time, each of the following can add long time value to your brand:
- Be present on social media. Share the latest and greatest with your audience. This social media connection could open many doors for your brand.
- Freshen up your logo, website or brand voice if need be! Make sure it is exactly how you want it to be and attractive to your audience.
- Think about designing a line of merchandise. Make it appealing to people, and it will be a great expansion to your brand.
- Always be interactive. Engage with leads and customers online through your social media platforms or one on one. Make them feel good!
If you want help unpacking any questions that may have come up for you about expanding your brand, then use our contact form here or go ahead and schedule a FREE 20-min brand breakthrough strategy call where our experts can help.
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