Six Ways to Improve Your Brand Awareness Today

Every business owner should be on the constant lookout for ways to improve their brand awareness and successfully target their preferred audience. As more and more businesses focus on establishing brand awareness online, fewer and fewer dedicate their resources to traditional print media advertising and brand establishment (which can actually be substantially cheaper than many online campaigns). While your competitors are paying a kid with a computer to fix their website, you can be generating leads and real sales with traditional marketing strategies. It starts with creative logo design – you need a logo that represents what your business does and what you stand for, as well as what your customers stand for and how you can benefit them. Deploy your creative logo design on all of the following to help brand your business:

1. Business cards

An old favorite and a classic business practice, everyone has a business card – don't let yourself be caught without one. If you're discussing business with a potential client, there's a good chance they'll ask you for your business card. Nothing looks worse than fumbling and admitting that, in fact, you don't have one. This is the pinnacle of amateur hour, because in just about any business meeting (or chance meeting) it's expected you have a business card. Always remember to keep a few of these in your pocket or wallet, and whenever your stock is low, reorder early!

2. Direct mail

Direct mail is quite possibly the single best way to brand your company. Repetition is the key to success when it comes to direct mail (or any marketing medium, for that matter), and postcards are cost-effective ways to keep a steady stream of your company in front of your target audience's eyes.

3. Flyers

Flyers are the traditional guerrilla marketing of all marketing campaigns. Consider the locations your target audience visits most often and make sure that your presence is known in the area. A great tactic is the pull-off tab with your phone number – but improve on the model and include your business name as well, or make each tab a coupon. Aim to grab your viewer's attention and provide them with an incentive to come to your business as a thank you for taking the time to read your flyer.

4. Brochures and booklets

For any occasion you need to give your customers or clients more information than can be contained on postcards or flyers, the best way to go about it is with a colorful, informative brochure or booklet. Be sure to include more pertinent details such as membership benefits or the details of special sales you might be running.

5. Greeting cards

Greeting cards differ from postcards in the sense that its purpose is to “greet” or welcome the reader to your business. Take the opportunity to tell them you appreciate having them as a new client, and remind them of any activities you'd like them to partake in such as upcoming sales or events. Most businesses will not take the time to do this, and you can stand out from the crowd by taking just a few moments to welcome new customers to your customer base.

6. Thank-you cards

Perhaps a nearly-lost art, this act of kindness is still highly effective. Have you recently made a sale or provided a client with a service? Let them know you appreciate their business. You can take the time to upsell as well, but the primary focus of a great thank-you card is just that – to say thank you. This genuine appreciation will stick with your customer. Go the extra mile and personalize the card with a note to the recipient.