A smart brand strategy is critical for any organization—large or small. This presentation shows how to best leverage every customer experience to boost your brand.
Check out the accompanying webcast at http://www.brighttalk.com/webcasts/4866/play where you can hear Briana Marrah, Principal of Parker LePla, talk about best practices in branding and why it’s important for your small business. You’ll walk away with actionable tips to boost your brand and effectively connect with your audience.
Markets are driven by people, not companies. People have access to a lot of choices and information—no longer a one-way conversation from company to mass market In fact, there is no longer a mass market—just lots of individuals…and they have a lot more control The internet, proliferation of media, and proliferation of products and services means a company can no longer control the conversation with the customer in the same way
So what is this group of individuals asking for from companies? Alignment of values, transparency and a conversation. They want to be spoken to as peers, they want to feel like the company has similar values, and they want both head and heart connections.
So what is this group of individuals asking for from companies? Alignment of values, transparency and a conversation. They want to be spoken to as peers, they want to feel like the company has similar values, and they want both head and heart connections.
Do something that makes you stand out This takes courage, but when Doubletree Inn hands me my warm cookie, I remember, and associate good feelings with the hotel chain. When a Southwest Airlines employee cracks a joke, I remember to relax and enjoy the flight. When Ikea names its children’s desk “Fartful”, which of course, means speedy in Swedish, I feel like I connect with the company.
Do something that makes you stand out This takes courage, but when Doubletree Inn hands me my warm cookie, I remember, and associate good feelings with the hotel chain. When a Southwest Airlines employee cracks a joke, I remember to relax and enjoy the flight. When Ikea names its children’s desk “Fartful”, which of course, means speedy in Swedish, I feel like I connect with the company.
So how do you Be? By following the seven laws of strong brands. This is the recipe for long-term connections with customers that turn into marketshare and profits.
Be true to yourself, find out who are you and don’t try to be someone else There’s nothing sadder than a conservative company trying to be hip. There’s nothing more confusing to a customer than being bombarded with company messages, all with different personalities. Figure out who you are, and then be more of that. It’s one reason your current customers are with you: be more of who you are and you’ll attract more customers like the ones you have. The rule is, if you’re all things to everybody, you’re nothing to anyone, so be somebody.
Be true to yourself, find out who are you and don’t try to be someone else There’s nothing sadder than a conservative company trying to be hip. There’s nothing more confusing to a customer than being bombarded with company messages, all with different personalities. Figure out who you are, and then be more of that. It’s one reason your current customers are with you: be more of who you are and you’ll attract more customers like the ones you have. The rule is, if you’re all things to everybody, you’re nothing to anyone, so be somebody.
Interest comes from being both different and relevant. Have some personality, a unique focus, stand out. But most of all, be relevant. This means both relevant and differentiated. This means that you have a role you play in the market that no one else plays as well as you. That you have flavor and personality. That you don’t harp on expected attributes like quality or integrity, but assume those and play up your unique aspects. Be the character you are.
Interest comes from being both different and relevant. Have some personality, a unique focus, stand out. But most of all, be relevant. This means both relevant and differentiated. This means that you have a role you play in the market that no one else plays as well as you. That you have flavor and personality. That you don’t harp on expected attributes like quality or integrity, but assume those and play up your unique aspects. Be the character you are.
Walk the talk Walking the talk is just as important as talking the talk. You can’t solve a company problem with a marketing solution (except in the short term). So figure out how to align your organization with your primary promise and make sure you’re keeping it all the way through, from how you hire and train, to how you bill, to how you answer the phone. If you’re the friendliest company, make sure you have a friendly atmosphere inside; if you’re all about speed, then your website better load quickly. You get the point. There once was a bank that did an ad campaign around helping you use credit wisely. But brand managers were compensated based upon loan volume. Talk about setting up cognitive dissonance!
Walk the talk Walking the talk is just as important as talking the talk. You can’t solve a company problem with a marketing solution (except in the short term). So figure out how to align your organization with your primary promise and make sure you’re keeping it all the way through, from how you hire and train, to how you bill, to how you answer the phone. If you’re the friendliest company, make sure you have a friendly atmosphere inside; if you’re all about speed, then your website better load quickly. You get the point. There once was a bank that did an ad campaign around helping you use credit wisely. But brand managers were compensated based upon loan volume. Talk about setting up cognitive dissonance!