Ever wonder where to begin when you start branding? What’s the road map? The cool thing about marketing your brand is that there is no right way or only way. It’s about being creative and standing out from the rest of the companies in your field. Coming up with ways to be the disturbance in your industry, the one who shakes things up, could be the differentiation factor you need to succeed.

Ok, still want to know what to start with? Start with relationship building. Attend events and be more interested in the other person than pushing your sales pitch. From Dale Carnegie repeating about how people love to talk to about themselves to Stephen Covey’s Seek to Understand Then to be Understood, remember it’s all about your customer.  Listening to them is key, relationships are key and then you can build a base from which to grow a mutually beneficial relationship. By the end, you will have built a brand evangelist, someone who refers you and your company to their contacts.

Now, after you have initiated relationships, a nice follow up is a great way to remind them of the time shared. Invite them to coffee or visit them and ask to see what they do. Make sure to gain more and new information than the last interaction. No one likes to repeat themselves, right? Within forty-two hours, send them a branded item of yours, pen, notepad, key chain etc. Anything that shows your brand name with a custom note of appreciation for their time. Branded products increase your marketing presence and brand retention continually. 

Lastly, rinse and repeat! This is one key factor to maintain and continue. Even when you reach your goal, there will always be someone to outdo or be more creative than. Luckily, the relationship you built with your customer will keep your business humming for the long haul.

Happy Reading readers!

Brianna Arnold