14 Sneaky Ways to Build Brand Awareness: A Marketer’s Guide
By: Katherine Williams
Introduction
As competition grows fierce in the business world, it’s no longer enough to have a great product or service.
To succeed in today’s market, you must establish a strong brand that consumers recognize and trust. Building brand awareness is crucial to increasing business success, but it can be challenging to know where to start.
In this article, we’ll provide you with 14 creative and sneaky ways to effectively build brand recognition and establish your brand in the minds of consumers.
1) Training and Webinars
Training and webinars are excellent opportunities to build brand awareness and establish yourself as an expert in your industry. These events provide a platform for you to share your knowledge and insights and interact with potential customers and other professionals in your field. You can incorporate training and webinars into your brand-building strategy in a few different ways, each with its unique benefits.
One option is to attend industry conferences and events. These gatherings offer an opportunity to meet and network with other professionals in your field, showcase your brand and share your expertise. You might consider giving a talk or presenting a workshop at one of these events, which can help you get noticed and establish credibility with potential customers.
Another option is to host your webinars and workshops. This allows you to take control of the conversation and tailor the content to your target audience. You can share your expertise, offer valuable tips and insights, and interact directly with participants via Q&A sessions or online chat. Webinars are especially useful for engaging with remote customers or those who cannot attend in-person events.
Finally, you could offer online training courses as another way to educate customers and reinforce the value of your brand. These courses can be hosted on your website or through a third-party platform and can cover various topics related to your industry or products. By offering valuable educational content, you establish yourself as an expert and create a more loyal customer base who appreciate the value you bring beyond just your products or services.
2) Run a Contest
or Giveaway
Contests and giveaways are a great way to build brand recognition and spur customer engagement.
When running a contest or giveaway, you must set clear rules and instructions for your participants to follow. Make sure to provide clear criteria for entry and explain what the winner will receive. You should also set a time frame for when the giveaway will end.
To make your contest even more appealing, consider offering prizes that are relevant to your brand. This could be anything from a free product or service to discounts or exclusive access to content.
Once you’ve set it up, don’t forget to promote it across multiple channels. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are great places to spread the word. You can also use email marketing and your website to reach even more potential participants.
3) Create Interactive Content
From quizzes to polls, surveys, and games, interactive content allows your audience to actively engage with your brand and creates a memorable experience that sticks with them long after engaging with your content.
Quizzes not only generate interest and keep your audience engaged, but they also provide you with valuable insights into your audience’s preferences and interests. Use quizzes and polls to test knowledge about your product or service, check how well your audience understands your brand values, or just for fun!
If you’re looking to take interactive content a notch higher, consider creating games or interactive experiences related to your brand. Gamification techniques can help your audience perceive your brand as interactive, fun, and innovative. Whether it’s a puzzle game, a memory game, or any other creative game related to your product or service, your audience is bound to pay more attention to your brand and even share the experience with friends and family.
4) Affiliate Incentives
When building brand awareness campaign, most marketing activity relies on traditional methods like an active social media presence, influencer collaborations, and content marketing strategy. But did you know that offering affiliate and referral incentives can be a game-changer for your brand?
An affiliate program is a way of partnering with other businesses or individuals to promote your products or services in exchange for a commission or incentive. This allows your brand to reach new audiences, build credibility and trust, and drive more traffic and sales to your website.
The key to success with an affiliate program is to choose the right partners, set clear guidelines and expectations, and offer attractive incentives to motivate them to promote your brand. This may include a percentage of the sale, a flat fee per referral, or other bonuses or perks.
5) Leverage User-Generated Content
User-generated content can be a powerful tool for marketers looking to boost brand awareness and loyalty. By leveraging customers’ personal experiences with your brand, you can create an authentic and engaging relationship with your target audience.
Social media is an excellent platform for leveraging user-generated content. Encourage customers to tag your brand in posts or use specific hashtags to increase brand visibility. You can also offer incentives or rewards to customers that share photos, reviews, or testimonials about your brand. This will help to build trust and credibility with your target audience.
Another way to leverage user-generated content is to monitor user posts and identify potential brand ambassadors or influencers. If you find someone passionate about your product or service, reach out and offer them a special reward in exchange for promoting your brand. This can be an effective way to gain more exposure and reach a wider audience.
Once you’ve identified a potential collaboration partner, it’s time to create a strong collaborative partnership agreement and strategy. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Clearly define your mutual goals and objectives: It’s crucial to have a clear understanding of what each brand hopes to achieve from the collaboration. This will help you create a clear and concise partnership agreement that outlines the scope of work, responsibilities, and expected outcomes.
- Establish communication channels: It’s essential to establish communication channels for regular updates and progress reports throughout the partnership.
3. Develop a marketing plan: Work together to develop a marketing plan that aligns with your mutual goals and establishes a clear timeline for executing your marketing campaigns.
6) Inter-Brand Collaboration
When it comes to building brand awareness, sometimes it’s better to team up with another brand and work together to achieve mutual goals. This type of branding strategy is commonly known as inter-brand collaboration, and it’s an effective way to amplify your message, reach a broader audience, and establish your brand as an authority in your industry.
But what exactly are the benefits of partnership and collaboration between brands? Let’s explore a few of the most significant advantages:
- Access to a broader audience: When you collaborate with another brand, you have the opportunity to reach a wider audience. By joining forces, you can tap into each other’s customer base and increase your overall exposure.
- Increased credibility and authority: Associating your brand with another well-respected and established brand can help boost your credibility and authority in the eyes of your target audience.
- Cost-effective marketing strategy: Partnering up with another brand can be a cost-effective marketing strategy as you can share the costs of advertising, marketing materials, and events.
Now that you know the benefits of inter-brand collaboration, how do you identify potential partnership opportunities that align with your branding strategy? Here are some practical ways to do so:
- Research complementary brands: Look for brands that offer products or services that complement or enhance your offerings. Your target audiences may overlap, making it a natural fit.
- Connect with industry influencers: Build relationships with influencers in your industry and explore partnership opportunities with the brands they work with.
- Attend networking events: Attend networking events and trade shows to meet other brands in your industry and explore potential collaboration opportunities.
7) Limited Edition Merch Collections
Nothing buoys loyal followers more than rewarding them for their commitment. And what better way to do that than by offering exclusive merchandise? These items should be available only to those engaging with your brand on social media or advocating for it in other ways. This motivates them to continue supporting you and attracts new followers to see what all the fuss is about.
Collaborating with popular local artists allows you to work with them and create custom designs highlighting your brand’s values and identity. These artists can create designs that perfectly capture your brand’s essence and put your message out there in a way that resonates with your audience. By fostering these partnerships, you can tap into the artist’s following, expanding your reach even further.
Pre-ordering is an incredible way to create a buzz around your limited-edition merchandise before the official release date. Using this tactic aggressively establishes a sense of urgency around your product while building anticipation among your audience. Collecting valuable feedback before going full tilt on production is also an opportunity.
8) Keep a Robust Resource Library
When you want to increase brand awareness, having a robust resource library can be a game-changer. Not only does it provide value to your audience, but it also positions your brand as an authority in your industry. But how do you create a resource library that stands out from the competition?
Start by offering a range of content formats. Some people prefer watching videos, while others prefer reading how-to guides. By providing a variety of formats, you appeal to different learning styles and preferences. It also keeps your library from feeling stale and one-dimensional.
Next, make sure your content is optimized for search engines. Conduct keyword research and implement SEO best practices to improve your chances of ranking higher in search results. This not only boosts visibility but also drives traffic to your website.
Leverage email and social media marketing strategies to promote your resource library. Use eye-catching visuals and compelling calls to action to entice your audience to explore your content. You can also repurpose your content in different ways to appeal to different platforms.
Finally, don’t let your resource library become outdated. Continually update and add new content to keep it fresh and relevant to your target audience. This shows your audience that you’re invested in providing the latest and greatest resources to help them achieve their goals.
9) “Pay it Forward” Campaigns
As a marketer, building brand awareness is key to the success of your brand. There are many ways to approach this, but one effective method that has gained popularity in recent years is the “Pay it Forward” campaign. This approach helps build brand awareness, creates a positive impact on the community, and promotes generosity.
A “Pay it Forward” campaign encourages people to perform acts of kindness and share them online using a branded hashtag. Doing so creates a ripple effect of positivity and generosity that can reach a wider audience, including potential customers. It also showcases the values and personality of your brand, which can help build trust and loyalty among your audience.
How to Create a Pay it Forward Campaign for Your Brand
Creating a “Pay it Forward” campaign for your brand requires careful planning and execution. Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Identify the cause that aligns with your brand’s values and personality.
- Create a branded hashtag that is easy to remember and unique to your brand.
- Encourage people to perform acts of kindness and share them online using your branded hashtag.
- Offer incentives, such as discounts or free products, to increase engagement.
- Share inspiring stories and content to keep people engaged and motivated.
10) Engage in Community Outreach
The first step in community outreach is to identify the right communities to engage with. These could be local non-profit organizations, hobby groups, sports clubs, social clubs, or even online societies. The key is finding communities where your target audience is most likely present. This will require some research and analysis, but it will be well worth the effort.
Once you have identified the communities to engage with, there are various ways to do so. One popular strategy is to host events where community members can come together and interact with your brand. This could be a product launch party, a fundraiser, a workshop, or a seminar. You can showcase your products or services during these events, answer questions, and get valuable participant feedback.
Another effective strategy is to sponsor local teams or charities. This is a great way to show your support for the community and build positive associations with your brand. For instance, if you own a sports equipment store, sponsoring a local team will help them and generate goodwill toward your business. Similarly, supporting a charity or a community event can also help you connect with your target audience and create a positive image for your brand.
Participating in community forums or social media groups is also a great way to engage with your audience. By participating in discussions and sharing helpful information, you can position yourself as an authority in your niche and build credibility for your brand. This will also help you generate leads, increase your social media following, and ultimately drive more traffic to your website.
11) Optimize Your Search Engine Visibility
Search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the most effective ways to build a better brand awareness. By optimizing your website for better visibility in search engine results, you can reach more people and drive more traffic to your website.
Developing a comprehensive SEO strategy is essential for success. Start by conducting keyword research to identify the most effective terms and phrases that people use to search for your products and services. Then, optimize your content with these targeted keywords to increase your visibility in search engine results.
You should also take advantage of social media to increase visibility in search engine results. Share content on your social media profiles and link back to your website. This will help to boost your website’s ranking in search engine results and improve your overall brand awareness.
Finally, keep an eye on your analytics to track your progress and adjust your strategy as needed. Following these tips can optimize your search engine visibility and build brand exposure.
12) Develop a Voice-Activated App
Voice-activated apps are becoming a major trend in the digital landscape, and they’re becoming an increasingly important way for brands to connect with their customers. By developing a voice-activated app, brands can create a more engaging and interactive experience for their customers and build brand awareness in the process.
When creating a voice-activated app, it’s essential to understand your target audience. Are you targeting a younger demographic? Or are you aiming to reach a more mature audience? Once you’ve identified the target audience, you can begin to think about the features and functionality of your app.
Creating a voice-activated app also requires an understanding of the technology behind it. There are a variety of platforms, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, that you can use to develop your app. It’s essential to research and understand each platform’s capabilities to determine which is best suited for your app.
Finally, you’ll need to explore the options for monetizing your voice-activated app. You can either charge users a fee to use the app, or you can monetize through advertising. You’ll also need to create a marketing plan to promote your app and build brand awareness.
13) Punchy Email Marketing
Have you ever checked your inbox and found a flashy email subject line that made you click right away? Well, that’s the power of personalized email marketing! As a marketer, you can use this strategy to your advantage and build brand awareness in a sneaky but effective way.
First things first, you need to craft personalized subject lines that speak directly to your target audience. Make sure the tone aligns with your brand identity, and avoid using generic phrases like “sale” or “last chance.” Instead, use puns, emojis, or even questions to grab their attention and pique their curiosity.
But great subject lines alone won’t cut it. Your email content has to deliver the same level of engagement and provide value to your subscribers. This means customizing your messages based on their interests and preferences while also showcasing your brand’s unique voice and personality.
So, how do you incentivize your subscribers to engage and take action? The answer lies in crafting perfect calls-to-action (CTAs) that align with your business goals. Whether it’s encouraging them to visit your website, sign up for a free trial, or attend an event, make sure your CTAs are visually appealing, action-oriented, and easy to follow.
Once you have the basics of email marketing down, it’s important to stay consistent and maintain a regular schedule of email campaigns. This way, you can stay top-of-mind with your subscribers and build ongoing customer relationships. Plus, traditional email campaigns can lead to increased website traffic, improved engagement rates, and, ultimately, higher conversion rates.
And if you’re worried about the time and resources required to execute a successful email campaign, fear not! There are plenty of email automation strategies that can help streamline your efforts and still effectively reach and engage with your target audience. From personalized drip campaigns to scheduling automated welcome emails, the options are endless.
14) Podcasting
Are you looking for a fresh and innovative way to build your brand and connect with your audience? Look no further than podcasting! In recent years, podcasting has emerged as a hugely popular form of entertainment and information-sharing, with millions of listeners tuning in every day.
As a marketer, you can harness the power of podcasting to reach new audiences and build brand recognition through sponsored content, guest spots, and even your own branded podcast series. By crafting thoughtful, engaging content that resonates with your target demographic, you can establish deep connections with your audience and build trust and credibility over time.
One of the key advantages of podcasting is that it allows you to create long-form content that can truly captivate and engage your listeners. Whether you’re discussing industry trends, sharing insider tips and tricks, or chatting with influential guests, you have the opportunity to showcase your brand’s expertise and communicate your message in a genuinely compelling way.
At the same time, podcasting allows you to reach highly-engaged audiences who are already interested in your brand and message. By targeting specific niches and demographics with your content, you can tap into a community of listeners who are enthusiastic about your products or services and who are more likely to become loyal customers and brand ambassadors over time.
So if you’re looking for a powerful and overlooked way to boost your brand’s profile and connect with your customers, consider adding podcasting to your marketing arsenal. With the right approach and a commitment to quality content, you can harness the unique power of this medium to build a stronger, more dynamic brand and elevate your business to new heights of success.
Final Thoughts
Building brand awareness can be a tricky endeavor for any business. But with a few simple strategies, you can ensure that your brand stands out from the competition. From influencer marketing and content marketing to creative campaigns and email marketing, there are many ways to get your message out there. By leveraging the power of social media and the reach of the Internet, you can successfully build a loyal customer base and increase your brand’s visibility. With careful planning and dedication to your goals, you can leverage these 14 sneaky ways to build brand awareness and get your business the attention it deserves.
From optimizing creative email marketing campaigns to powerful SEO integration, Variantista’s content strategists will help you build your brand awareness and get your message out there. Contact us today to learn more about our innovative strategies and services.
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Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular article! Its the little changes that will make the biggest changes. Thanks for sharing!