5 Free Ways to Build Your Brand

If you own a small business, you may have already given up on the notion of branding yourself. After all, that's something that only big companies with big budgets can afford, right? Not so fast. Here are 5 ways to brand yourself for free, and maybe even make a little bit of money in the process:

1. Develop for Display. If you can create visual brand that stands out from the crowd and looks hip and edgy, you can actually get people to pay you for the privilege of displaying it. Extreme sports companies like surfing, skating, and snowboarding companies have been doing this for years. The challenge is in creating something striking enough that people not only want to buy it, but also want to display it so that others will see it as well. You'll find that people will gladly display something that looks cool, and that others will even pay you a small fee to display your brand for you.

2. Label Everything. Add your logo to the things that your customers already buy from you. If you're a cafe owner and you provide boxes for patrons who want to take food home with them, brand the packaging in which they'll be carrying their items. Include contact information on the brand. Add logos to everything you can think of. People carrying your items will be doing your advertising for you all day long!

3. Wear It! People will pay to wear a T-shirt with a cool logo. Just look at the souvenir stands after any concert and see how much money people are willing to part with just so they can wear their favorite band's logo. But don't be fooled into thinking that you have to charge an arm and a leg for a T-shirt or pair of shorts with your logo. Charge just a little more than cost. The real profit comes from the publicity you get as your loyal customers advertise you on their clothing.

4. Use Everyday Items. Think about the number of reusable shopping bags you see every day. Conscientious consumers are willing to pay a small price to do the right thing, including using a shopping bag that has information about the business that sold them the bag all over it. People feel good about acting responsibly, in this case by cutting down on plastic bags, and they'll pay you for the opportunity to do so.

5. Give Away A Little to Make a Lot. This is the idea of giving away a free sample, although it can also apply to those who are selling services as well as products. If you own a massage studio, offer free five-minute massages in a public, highly-trafficked area. If you own an inflatables company, set up your wares in a place where children will be present and invite them to play for free for several minutes. While you're giving away your "free sample" let potential customers know more about your business and what you can do for them.

It all boils down to two major questions that you need to ask yourself: Can you turn your logo into something that people would be willing display or even be willing to pay you to display? And can you offer a sample of your product or service for a small fee in a high-traffic area? These two questions are the basis of a great brand-building campaign that is not only free for you, but could also be the source of a small profit.

Let's face it, you're not a multinational company with an endless marketing budget, but you do have plenty of opportunities to make yourself known on a local level, and that's really where it counts. And if your business is mostly online, you can focus on your own little niche.

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