Creative ways to get your brand noticed:

Guest Post by Lilly Adams

Today’s market is teeming with competition, and businesses both big and small must strive to stand out. Some brands have become so well-known that their names now replace the generic terms that used to denote similar items. Achieving such a pinnacle of brand awareness is a daunting task, but also the goal that is worth all the blood, sweat, and tears.

The road to success most often requires you to go step by step, but those who step up can make leaps and bounds. So, it is time to get your creative juices flowing and capture the imagination of the customers. Get the word out and plug your personality and business identity wherever you can, both in the digital and the physical realm.

Silence is not golden

Your products speak for you and your business, so you need to make sure they possess a golden tongue. Do your best to create a captivating design, and send free samples to influential bloggers and industry influencers for a review. A product sampling campaign is a great way to enhance the online visibility and make your brand recognizable. Word of mouth promotion can get your small business off the ground, but digital realm is only one part of the strategy.

One must not forget about the real world, and make an effort to make products visible in it too. Car wraps are one of those items that can feature a great customized design. They can cover the whole car, and that sure attracts a crazy amount of attention. So, wherever you go, you can take your brand’s visual identity with you. Do not hesitate to wrap your personal vehicle as well and turn it into a four-wheeled moving piece of promotional magic.

Think outside the promotional box

One of the brilliant examples of nailing a creative promotional product involves the legendary toy brand Lego. Kids adore those little building pieces, but they can turn the room into a minefield that causes pain to their parents. That is why Lego launched specially-designed slippers with thick, Lego-proof soles. They also look like one of the coolest pair of slippers I have ever seen, making them a perfect Christmas gift.

Everyone likes free stuff, there is no doubt. But, I think that we are all fed up with boring, generic gifts and want something that is not only functional, but also unique and adorable. Not many people know, for example, that you can make a personalized visa gift card which features your favourite picture, message, brand, logo, etc. Turning mundane objects into charming items customers are going crazy over is an ultimate art of promotional marketing.

Create stir in social media

Social networks are an immense ocean of opportunities for low-cost and effective marketing. You can use them as a megaphone to shout from the rooftops. So, create a contest and ask people to submit their photos or videos, and vote for their favorites. It is likely that many participants will share their content with friends and family to increase their chances of winning. That way you are building brand awareness effortlessly and in a combined effort with other people, which is a win-win scenario. Embrace trends as well, because things like going green can help you steal the show these days.

Now, do not spread yourself too thin on social platforms and choose those that suit your particular needs. Or to put it in other words, be where your audience hangs out. Surprise them with striking how-to videos and multimedia content. Small businesses in the creative industries can also profit greatly from focusing on Instagram or other photo-heavy websites such as Pinterest. You might have to dig into some analytics and see where your referral traffic is coming from.

Convey a story, add humour

The bulk of memorable brands has attained their present position through the craft of top-notch storytelling. This is the greatest tool of communication we humans have been blessed with, so get familiar with its incredible power. The trick is to connect with an audience on a deeper, emotional level and touch their hearts and soul. One of the best ways to do this online is to make good use of blog posts and boost the online organic traffic with fresh content.

Now, this does not mean you need to be dead serious about it. It is always a good idea to inject some humour and lightheartedness into your efforts. Show a fun aspect of your brand identity and introduce a dose of comedy. Take the example of a hilarious Old Spice commercial or Dollar Shave Club. These promotional videos went viral, and were shared across social networks. When that happens, you can expect your sales to go through the roof.

Finally, establishing a lasting connection and building the essential trust of customers is within your reach.

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Lilly J Adams has worked for six years in different marketing agencies across Australia. Her specialities are advertising, digital marketing, marketing for small businesses and consumers behaviour. She loves art, books and watching crime TV dramas. She’s a regular contributor at BizzMarkBlog.