subject: First steps to getting your business recognised [print this page] First steps to getting your business recognised
Getting your business out there is vital in the post-recession period. By marketing your company correctly, you will open yourself up to new clients; boost your reputation and your profits. So how do you get your business recognised?
The foremost task to address is that of your website. A website is the door to your business, where you can influence customers into buying a product or taking up a service. As such, your website must be accessible, informative, engaging and innovative. Fulfilling all these criteria, as well as encompassing your brand is a challenging task and should be undertaken by a web designer or creative design agency. When choosing an agency, remember to look at their previous portfolio of work and ensure that they have designed websites in your business area. This will give them an idea of what tone and content to use when formulating your site.
Branding your business effectively is one of the most important tools in getting your business recognised by a large audience. If you don't have a company logo, hire a branding expert, who with the help of a graphic designer can create a logo that reflects your business. Likewise, if your logo is doing nothing for your reputation, revamping or recreating a logo can help portray your real corporate identity. Once a logo has been carefully designed, ensure that it is visible on all correspondence, stationary, signage, the website and on staff uniforms if necessary.
Once you have an eye catching website and logo, it's time to start the real marketing. Most industry sectors have trade shows and events, so get your business out to these events, networking with contacts and generating new business leads. Take time to prepare for such events, producing promotional merchandise, adhering to your corporate identity and relevant handouts providing information and contacts for your organisation.
As well as trade shows, local events can bolster the reputation of your business in your area, giving your company the image of an involved member of the community. Despite the smaller scale, sponsoring a local event or speaking in a community business forum can help to generate contacts on a regional or even national scale and make your business highly recognisable.
