I know a lot about bookkeeping and creating efficient business solutions for my clients. In fact, many of my business clients come to see me as their “right arm” for how they run their internal operations.
But I didn’t realize how powerful a brand could be for the growth of my business. For any small business owner out there who’s considering getting a new brand or a re-brand, here are six tips I’d like to pass on.
1. Don’t try to do it on your own.
When I started thinking about creating my brand, I thought I could do it by myself. But I realized I was going about it the wrong way. Branding is the one thing that you absolutely need an outside perspective on. I knew I couldn’t afford an agency. I deal with a lot of creative agencies – and they’re not cheap. But today there are so many more options out there for getting branding help, whether it’s online or through a friend or a neighbor with experience in branding and design.
2. Know what you stand for.
Branding is really a foundation for how you present yourself to the outside world. I found out about Brand Genie and they helped me create a brand that had the look and feel I wanted. Their branding process helped me think about color schemes, what photos to use, and how to keep everything consistent. The process even helped me understand my brand voice, which makes it much easier to write my marketing pieces. Brand Genie gave me a whole brand system, which is such a fantastic starting point.
3. Stay at home – and conquer the world.
I’ve worked at a lot of really large companies, but now I work out of my home. I needed a brand to vastly expand my reach. I knew I needed a brand to help me get recognized in the marketplace and to establish a professional presence in the business community. I also knew I needed a website to send potential clients to.
4. Build your referrals through your brand.
My new brand has launched me into the business community. People are starting to recognize my brand and they’re referring people to me because of the information I’m able to offer through my website. My new brand definitely helps me build the credibility I need to stand out. It helps me build word of mouth and my referral network. It’s already helped me get more clients and I know it will continue to help me grow business through referrals from brand recognition.
5. Make sure your website works as hard as you do.
My website is the workhorse of how I build my business now. I love how easy it is to take care of things on my own without having to call someone. I can easily update content and add new photos. My clients and potential clients appreciate the amount of information they can learn through my site. My website has established an important niche for me over other bookkeeping firms.
6. Keep it simple.
I think branding is key for any small business, especially if you work out of your home. You need a brand “look” and a website to get recognition and to build your word of mouth and networking. I’ve discovered that branding doesn’t have to be complex or expensive. But it is a critical building block that will ensure long-term success in a competitive environment.
1. Don’t try to do it on your own.
When I started thinking about creating my brand, I thought I could do it by myself. But I realized I was going about it the wrong way. Branding is the one thing that you absolutely need an outside perspective on. I knew I couldn’t afford an agency. I deal with a lot of creative agencies – and they’re not cheap. But today there are so many more options out there for getting branding help, whether it’s online or through a friend or a neighbor with experience in branding and design.
2. Know what you stand for.
Branding is really a foundation for how you present yourself to the outside world. I found out about Brand Genie and they helped me create a brand that had the look and feel I wanted. Their branding process helped me think about color schemes, what photos to use, and how to keep everything consistent. The process even helped me understand my brand voice, which makes it much easier to write my marketing pieces. Brand Genie gave me a whole brand system, which is such a fantastic starting point.
3. Stay at home – and conquer the world.
I’ve worked at a lot of really large companies, but now I work out of my home. I needed a brand to vastly expand my reach. I knew I needed a brand to help me get recognized in the marketplace and to establish a professional presence in the business community. I also knew I needed a website to send potential clients to.
4. Build your referrals through your brand.
My new brand has launched me into the business community. People are starting to recognize my brand and they’re referring people to me because of the information I’m able to offer through my website. My new brand definitely helps me build the credibility I need to stand out. It helps me build word of mouth and my referral network. It’s already helped me get more clients and I know it will continue to help me grow business through referrals from brand recognition.
5. Make sure your website works as hard as you do.
My website is the workhorse of how I build my business now. I love how easy it is to take care of things on my own without having to call someone. I can easily update content and add new photos. My clients and potential clients appreciate the amount of information they can learn through my site. My website has established an important niche for me over other bookkeeping firms.
6. Keep it simple.
I think branding is key for any small business, especially if you work out of your home. You need a brand “look” and a website to get recognition and to build your word of mouth and networking. I’ve discovered that branding doesn’t have to be complex or expensive. But it is a critical building block that will ensure long-term success in a competitive environment.
Darlene Macy Darlene owns a bookkeeping company that focuses on financial and workflow solutions for long-term business success. She started Encompass4U.com with Weebly
