If you are graduating college with the aim of becoming a newbie entrepreneur, the chances are that you are planning on hitting the ground running come your freedom from full time education. It doesn’t matter whether you want to be a high street retailer, a service provider or an eBay empire builder, you need to get your name out there. Branding and ethos is everything when it comes to attracting a loyal customer base in the twenty first century. The era of the hard sell is long gone as customers care about the business, the ethics and the background of the businesses that they converse with. Take a look at this guide to help you create a buzz about your venture.
Advertise
Advertising is big business. Get it right and the demographic that you are aiming your products or services at are hooked. Get it wrong and you may be preaching to the converted or hitting the wrong market niche. Do your own market research and work out the sort of market, age group and gender that will buy your wares. Then, consider advertising to these niches. Millennial consumers are heavily online. Social media channels, online blogs, and influencers are great avenues to tap to try and show off your brand. This can create an incredible buzz online.
If your market is the older or more discerning age bracket, they may be more inclined to read print media. Old school full page adverts in the local newspaper or community magazine still have their place. If you are on the high street, never forget to make your name stand out in lights. There is a reason why good shop signage is important and that is to capture the footfall walking past your premises.
Social Media
Twitter is an excellent way to get your brand name out there. Millions of users log on every day to shop, to do their research on companies and to look at your Twitter feed. If you don’t update your feed regularly or respond to customer queries, you will appear out of touch and uncaring towards your customers. This will put people off parting with their cash if they are under the impression that you will cut and run without a positive customer experience. You need to hone your customer voice online and cut out the corporate jargon. Be friendly and personable. This is the approach that customers value. If someone tweets about one of your products, respond promptly and offer advice, a discount or an extra means of communication. Going the extra mile will leave your reputation on a good footing.
Community
Many businesses start off local. It’s crucial to forge those community links that will help make a name for you in the local region. Offer up services or goods at local charity auctions, give a talk at the local school, and enjoy getting to know your neighboring shops. Being part of a local network can help create relationships that will benefit your business. Cheaper parts of your supply chain or better links with local consumers will give your business the edge.
Follow this guide and you can create a buzz about your business.
No comments yet.