Starting up a small business is a stressful and complex process. However, whenever you’re trying to start a small business of your own, there’s a guiding principle which will make your efforts easier and more efficient in many different ways.
Having a brand in mind for your company and building it throughout the inception of your small business, is a great way to attract customers quickly and create a distinct identity for your company right off the bat. Here are a few steps to creating a brand for your small business before its officially off the ground.
- Unify the aesthetics of your company through a great logo
- Every company needs a great website for visibility and familiarity
- Social media is becoming increasingly important to connect with customers
Research Your Logo And Think Aesthetically
Logos are critically important for your brand. They identify your company and allow people to relate to your business on a personal level. Logo recognition is becoming increasingly popular with many demographics and your logo is a great chance to sell the vision and values of your company in a small, condensed package which is nonetheless recognizable and familiar.
There are thousands of great logos to look through for inspiration. A few of the public’s favorites are FedEx, Apple, and Starbucks. These logos are known the world over and convey a strong sense of their companies’ values and what they do for the community and general public.
Many logos are minimalist today, but there are no set rules for what your logo has to be. Many small businesses hire a graphic artist to create their logo from scratch, which makes it unique and distinct compared to other companies. Also remember to register the trademark for your logo when the time comes.
Know The Components Of A Great Website
All businesses should have a website, whether small or large. Websites provide numerous benefits for your company, especially while the coronavirus is still shifting through the world. A website will increase your visibility, and there are many SEO practices you can partake in to further increase this visibility to new and existing customers.
Research keywords and answer questions which people are asking online to attract the largest number of customers possible to your website and increase your sales. Your current customers will also relate to your business more if you give them a website to browse around.
Familiarity is one of the most critical parts of any business today, and a website with a great emphasis on design and user friendliness will become familiar quickly with many users. Finally, customers can use your website to contact your business and look through your current offerings. These are the bread and butter functions of a website and are simple to fit into your navigation of the site.
Choose A Domain Name
A domain name is a component of your URL used to access websites. www. blank .com is the format of most domain names and acts as a way for users to easily find you on the web. There are many factors you should consider when choosing a domain name.
First, the more characters in the name, the cheaper the name will be. Secondly, you want your customers to easily be able to find your website, so it’s best not to go with a long or complex domain. Keep it simple and memorable, much like your logo. www.google.com is short and memorable, but there are many, many names you could choose which would be difficult to remember and type into a search bar.
In addition, your domain name does not have to be the same as your company name. Many companies today are choosing domain names which are rich in keywords, which are already being searched by their potential customers. Whichever name you choose, it should be short, memorable, and simple for customers to find online.
Use Social Media To Your Advantage
Social media is no longer just for friends and family to connect. Businesses have been using social media for years now to reach out and connect with their customers and other businesses within their industry.
There are many social media platforms you can choose from, the most popular being Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. It’s important to remember that each of these platforms caters to different demographics and hosts a diverse array of content.
When you choose one of these platforms to use, you should do substantial and thorough research to determine what your content should look like to appeal to the type of users who are on your chosen platform. Using social media is godsend to small businesses for a number of reasons.
Not only does it amplify your voice and sales methods on the internet, but its another avenue for customers to connect to your website and company. Social media is highly personal, and many users become loyal to the people and brands they follow online.
If you can find a way to tap into this loyalty, even with just the local customers in your area, you’ll be one more step forward toward growing your business and cementing a positive reputation.