Brand awareness; the level or extent to which customers recognize a brand and associate with its products and services, is substantially beneficial to businesses in many ways. From brand recognition, credibility, customer loyalty to attracting new customers, brand awareness strategies can significantly accelerate your company's growth and development.
And of course, every savvy business owner or marketer wants their brand to reach eponym status like at Google's level. Well, it might be a tough nut to crack, but the sky should be the limit, as they say. In this article, we'll take a look at 11 effective brand awareness strategies.
One of the most lucrative ways to build brand awareness currently is by making the most out of the rich social networks. Besides utilizing other brand awareness strategies, social media has become a must-have for most companies today. With more than half of the world's population active on social networks, you can't afford to ignore it but reach out to millions of social users.
And if you want to get the most out of social media, consider conducting contests or quizzes for your fan base, and you'll incredibly expand your brand reach when individuals share the links with their loved ones and friends to collect maximum votes.
Another technique to consider is to create your company-branded hashtags on platforms such as Instagram and Twitter. Remember to have an active presence by posting valuable content regularly.
One of the best ways to connect with today's internet users is perhaps through content marketing. Every company wants to see its website rank higher on Google and other search engines since it's a reliable way to get brand names out there. You need to not only create valuable content but also ensure that it aligns with your prospects' needs and problems (it should meet the searcher's intent).
Besides producing quality content, you can conduct in-depth keyword research to better target and improve your SEO. You can also consider combining that with top-quality and shareable infographics as well as video content.
Similar to content creation, guest blogging can also drive you a significant amount of site traffic. Producing high-quality blog posts and sharing them on other blogs/websites is a guaranteed way of acquiring brand mention and getting your brand known in your industry. It would be best only to produce guest blog posts or sponsored content for websites with significant amounts of organic traffic.
One common brand awareness strategy is to maintain consistency and regularity with your brand. That includes having a consistent and unique brand image throughout the entire market. It's a one-of-a-kind strategy that also helps to set you apart from the busy competition.
So, in as much as a decisive rebranding is accepted, you shouldn't be doing it too frequently. As humans (aka your customers) tend to respond differently to change. And let's agree; well-known brands like Coca-Cola barely change their brand image, voice, or logo, which explains their eminence in their industries. Staying consistent will surely go a long way in boosting your brand awareness.
Another effective brand awareness strategy is to start producing podcasts. Podcasts are increasingly becoming popular today, as 37 percent of the US population alone listen or watch a podcast at least once every month. And like any other content, podcasts educate, entertain, and inform your target audience; hence, it's an efficient strategy to build brand awareness.
One surefire way to get your brand in front of large audiences faster is through influencer marketing. This marketing strategy will not only get you sales but also expand your brand reach. Influencers such as celebrities are always regarded as trustworthy and have a large following base. Hence, you can be assured of getting your brand in the limelight.
Freemium technique is one in which you offer a free version or rather a free option, so users get a taste of your products and services before purchasing with you. And it's without any doubt that people love free stuff; they would hardly turn down freebies or giveaways. This strategy can immensely boost your brand awareness—when people use your trademarked or branded free products, your brand also gets exposed to the masses.
Local festivals, concerts, sports, or industry-related trade events are some of the best places to increase your brand's reach. When you sponsor these events, your name and logo will appear almost everywhere; from flyers to water bottles. It is a surefire way to get your brand in the presence of a multitude of people. This strategy can allow you to build brand awareness both offline and online, but one thing's for sure, it needs a sizeable budget.
Another effective brand awareness strategy, especially for local businesses, is partnering with other brands. You cannot underestimate what you can do collectively with other brands. For instance, you could jointly host an event like a trade fair and get to market your products while also increasing your brand awareness. Together, you could also sponsor events and share the high funding costs.
Most people trust recommendations from family and friends, and that explains why referral programs are significant for your brand awareness. With referral programs, you'll not have to offer entirely free stuff or freebies, but instead, you will only offer exclusive discounts, gifts, and other incentives to make your deals irresistible.
When your customers refer your products or services to their friends and loved ones, most people get to participate, and in the long run, increase your brand awareness considerably. You can also consider retargeting (also referred to as remarketing) as it'll not only improve your conversion rates but also spread your brand awareness.
Another effective but questionable brand awareness approach is using the controversy strategy. While we wouldn't highly recommend it, becoming controversial is one sure way to get your brand noticed by the public.
Building and nurturing brand awareness is a continuous process that you shouldn't stop doing. Even big and well-known businesses still use some of these strategies to keep and maintain their brand awareness.
If you want to get out there and put your brand in the glare of the public, then schedule a free consultation with our brand growth strategist to learn more.
