Author: Michelle Davidson

4 Key Elements That Make a Business Plan Fundable

There are various reasons to create a business plan. You can create this plan for your strategic partner. Your partner might want to understand your business milestones, staffing, and strategy. They will choose to work with you if they believe in your strategy. You can also use this plan for convincing employees to join your company. Your business plan will also help you in assessing your strategic options. 

Your business plan will ultimately depend on your audience. Internal management, business partners, and future employees are going to have unique needs. They will assess your plan according to their needs. 

However, there is a very important business plan that you need to show to your lenders and investors. The difference between investors and other parties is that they are bombarded with hundreds of business plans every day. They can only fund a small portion of these plans. Thus, you are competing with other founders. In this article, we are going to give some tips that will help you in creating a fundable business plan.

1. Define your company 

You need to first clearly define your organization or company. For example, suppose that you are building an app for the tourism industry. You should start your plan with a short and concise definition. In this case, you should say that your company is developing an Android or iOS app and we are targeting the tourism industry.

If you are starting with a short and concise definition, then investors can quickly understand your business. Sometimes investors might skip your business plan because you are starting with a backstory.

2. Detail your success factors 

You need to explain your unique success factors to investors. They are only going to invest money into companies that can succeed in the future. The best way to identify these success factors is by analyzing your business.

Your management team experience might make your company qualified for success. There might be some unique think about your services that is very hard to replicate. You might have already developed some operational capabilities. All these things can boost your company growth.

3. Specify your risk-mitigating milestones 

It is very important to identify your risk-mitigating milestones. If you have accomplished these milestones, then it will reduce the chance of your company failing. 

For example, suppose you are working on a mobile app. If you only have an idea, then your risk of failure is very high. However, the chances of failure will decrease if you build a demo app. Your app will become better after gaining user feedback. The risk will be minimized further when you gain over 1 million active users. 

You should mention your risk-mitigating milestones in your business plan. Also, you should mention how much funding you will need to accomplish these milestones.

4. Present a good financial model 

Investors want to get good returns on their investment. Similarly, lenders want to ensure that you can repay your loans. 

Investors and lenders will use your financial model for determining if they are going to invest or not. You should ensure that your financial model is actually credible. 

You should research your competitors for creating a credible model. Check the growth rate of your competitors. Your company can grow faster when compared to your competitors. However, it will never grow twice as fast as other companies. You should also pay attention to other costs like labor costs. Also, it is important to consider training and hiring costs. You should think about these things before creating your model.

Conclusion

These are a few key elements that you should include in your business plan. Funding sources make money by funding startups like yours. All you need to do is get them excited about your company. 

How to Turn Your Mompreneur Goals into Reality

If you are a mom, then your entire schedule will revolve around your kids. You need to drop-off and pickup them for school. Also, you need to cook dinner and check their homework. Thus, it is very easy to lose your aspirations and interests due to this hectic schedule. The mompreneur term is becoming famous with time. It is giving mothers an opportunity to create their business without changing their schedules. The flexible work hours will ensure that you are always available for your kids. Also, you will have the freedom of being your own boss. It will give you a unique identity. In this article, we are going to share some tips that will help you in turning your mompreneur goals into reality.

1. Clarify your financial and time commitments 

You should determine your priorities before creating your business plan. It is important to estimate the time and money that you can put into your business. 

You can start by comparing your startup expenses with your household finances. Try to reduce your startup expenses. You should be realistic as you can’t spend your entire saving on your business. Also, determine how much money your startup should generate. Create a strategy that will help you in reaching your goal. 

You also need to address the time factor. Your mornings will mostly be devoted to errands. Similarly, your afternoons will be devoted to your kids. You will only find a few free hours in a day. Thus, it is important to make the most out of these hours.

2. Networking 

Everyone needs access to a support network that can provide guidance, practical assistance, and encouragement. You might not have enough time to attend a local networking function. However, you can use the connections that you already have. Ordinary conversations with people that you already know will provide useful feedback to you. You can also reach out to your friends by using social media platforms.

3. Test out small markets first

Many entrepreneurs look for high-profile opportunities when they are starting their business. However, you should actually set a realistic pace for your sake. First, build a prototype and give it to your relatives and friends. You can experiment with local trade shows. Social media sites are the best platforms for promoting your business. You can also use platforms like Etsy for promoting your business. 

You should create your business foundation on a manageable scale first. This will ensure that you can hone your product. You should start expanding your business once local people know about it. Sometimes you can find success by taking a shortcut. However, it will also lead to entrepreneurial burnout. You will feel uninspired, discouraged, and overwhelmed and will ultimately close your business.

4. Don’t wait for the perfect moment 

Most moms think that they will pursue their ambitions once their kids are in school or they are self-sufficient. This is a very common thought process. Most aspiring mompreneurs will hold their dreams and wait for the perfect moment. However, this perfect moment will actually never arrive. There is never a right time to launch your business.

It is going to be very difficult to manage entrepreneurship and motherhood. You will learn from your missteps and mistakes. However, this doesn’t mean that your brand will become a failure. If you are looking for perfect things, then it will stop you from growing and expanding. You can never reach your destination without taking the first step.

Four Reasons Why you Should Incorporate Your Business

You will encounter many forks during your entrepreneurial journey. It is a very difficult task to make the right decision every time. The most common forks that companies will face is whether they should move their business from sole proprietorship status to another legal entity. Entrepreneurs that want to build credibility and personal assets will mostly go for incorporating their business.

Why incorporate your small business?

Corporate entities are actually considered as an individual by the law. They are just like a person. It can buy its own properties. Also, corporates can sell their properties. Corporates can engage in contracts, commit crimes, and file taxes. It will remove the burden from the founder.
There are three different types of legal entities:

• Partnership 

This is used when there is more than one business owner. You can either make a general or a limited partnership. A general partnership means that every individual will have their share of assets, profits, and legal liabilities. It offers unlimited liability which simply means that all owners will responsible for legal issues and debts. In a limited partnership, partners will be committed only at a financial level. Your liability will depend on your investment. They are not responsible for handling the company operations. Venture capitalists and Angel investors mostly act as a limited partner.

• Sole proprietorship

This is mostly the default status of all the small businesses. It simply means that the business is operated and owned by a single individual. According to law, there is no difference between the individual and the business. It won’t be taxed separately and all the income will be considered as the income for the sole proprietor. He needs to handle all the taxes.

• Corporation 

A corporation is a separate business entity that is owned by multiple shareholders. The board of directors will manage the organization activities. Shareholders are not responsible for the organization’s actions.

Most corporations are LLC or Limited Liability Company. In this, shareholders are treated as partners. They will have some stakes in the organization’s losses and profits. However, the organization will be taxed separately and shareholders don’t need to worry about it. The tax benefit of LLC is very attractive to small business owners. 

Pros of incorporating a business:      

• Personal asset protection: Incorporating will ensure that your personal wealth is protected from common lawsuits. This is the most important benefit of incorporation.

• Credibility: If you want to incorporate, then you need to find a unique name of your business. This will provide protection to your company name. Adding Corp or Inc in your company will also increase the credibility of your company. 

• Tax flexibility: Corporations can also enjoy various tax benefits. For example, C corporations have to pay the lowest tax. S Corporations don’t need to worry about the self-employment tax. Every state has different tax policies. Thus, you should look for the best tax options available.

• Deductible expenses: Large corporations are taxed according to their profits. You can also enjoy some deductions for approved expenses like salaries, operating expenses, travel fees, and advertising costs.

Cons of incorporating a business:     

• Formalities: If you are incorporating your business, then you need to document all the business operations. Many activities will become mandatory like annual meetings and corporate audits. You need a registered agent that will help you in communicating with government bodies. Uncorporated businesses don’t need to worry about these formalities. 

• Expense: Corporations require more expenses when compared to sole proprietorships. For example, you need to hire a corporate attorney who will ensure that you are following all the business laws. In some states, you need to pay for workers’ compensation insurance. These costs will increase your overall budget.

Conclusion

It is difficult to maintain a corporation. You need to invest a lot of time and money. However, there are various benefits of incorporating a business. If you need more assistance, then you should hire a corporate attorney.

How Entrepreneurs Can Keep up With Their Emotional Hygiene

Entrepreneurs are also subjected to emotional outbreaks as they are also humans. Most entrepreneurs will try to deny this fact. However, every entrepreneur will get hurt when things don’t go according to their plan. Emotional hygiene plays a very important role in entrepreneur life. It is more important if you are a solopreneur. You need to handle your entire business alone. However, most solopreneurs actually ignore their emotional hygiene during their entrepreneurial journey. This can actually lead to a lot of failures and frustrations. In this article, we are going to share some tips that will help you in keeping up with your emotional hygiene. 

1. Understand the absolute and relative value of money

Finance is going to play a very big role in your business. It is usually the cause of stress for startup owners. Sometimes your third-party vendor won’t deliver on time. Your customers might ask for refunds. This can lead to various issues that will ultimately frustrate you. You might lose your temper in front of your partners and teammates. These things can bring in permanent strains on your character and on your relationships. You should always evaluate the amount that you have lost. Also, you should evaluate what is at stake. You need to understand that you can always earn the lost money. All you need to is maintain your sanity. This is only possible if you are not stressing about the problem. If you are stressing about a specific problem, then it will create new problems.

2. Don’t opt for the cheapest available option

Startups mostly outsource their work to other third-party vendors. However, you might face a communication problem in this step. You need to deliver the exact message to your vendor. In ideal situations, there should be a consultant between you and your vendor. They will pass your message to the third-party vendor. Many startups don’t have enough money to hire a consultant. Thus, they might directly start working with third-party vendors. In this case, the final product will be actually different from what you wanted.

3. Understand other people’s personalities

You can learn a lot about other behaviors by analyzing their personalities. It is impossible to completely judge a person from his personality. However, you can make a lot of predictions from their personality. You can use online tools for learning about other’s personalities. It is important to understand that everyone has a different personality. Understanding their personality will help you in seeing the person better. 

4. It is impossible to satisfy everyone 

Entrepreneurs always try their best to be good at their craft. They will push themselves harder to satisfy their customers. However, this can be very frustrating for you. This doesn’t mean that you need to stop working harder. But, you should ignore a few nagging customers. It is not possible to satisfy every customer. Even large companies are not trying to satisfy every customer. Some customers will feel satisfied with your services. However, you need to do a lot of things for satisfying some customers. You might need to issue a refund to that customer. However, make sure that one customer is not impacting your other tasks.

5. Never trust vendors that are selling magic 

There are hundreds of vendors available in the market. Sometimes you might give your contract to the vendor that looks most convincing. These are the vendors that are selling magic. They will use statements like “I will treat your work as mine”. These statements might sound very convincing to you. However, they are mostly bogus. You should ask them about how they will complete your work. Also, you should ask them about the industry approved standards that they are following.

Why Technology is Important for Modern Entrepreneurs

Technology can help you in achieving more profit without investing a lot of money. The software and hardware costs are decreasing with time. You can even use the cloud platform if you don’t want to buy hardware. There are various free tools available in the market that can help you in effectively doing your tasks. Even the developing countries are investing money into digitization, digital entrepreneurship, and digital ideas. 

Technology will help you in communicating with your customers, partners, and clients. You can use social media pages, blogs, and websites for communicating with your customers. Technology has also simplified the global networking. You can easily reach the entire population via the internet.

Telepresence and internet technologies can create virtual environments like webinars, video chat, and conference calls. This will ensure that you don’t need to travel for conducting your business. You can manage your entire business from your home. 

Technology has also introduced the culture of remote work. Your employees can work from their homes. This will ensure that you don’t need large offices. It will help you in reducing your operational costs. Strategies like BYOD will help you in minimizing the electronic wastes. There are many more benefits of technology. It is actually helping normal peoples in starting their venture. You can use social media sites for promoting your products. 

The technology ensures that we are connected with each other. We can learn any skill we want. There are hundreds of portals available on the internet from where you can learn new things. However, many entrepreneurs are not properly utilizing technology. You can grow your business by using the latest technologies. Some of the main benefits of incorporating technology in business are:

1. Communication

Efficient communication is very important for every business. It will ensure that the information is flowing smoothly in your business. Technology will provide multiple communication channels for your business. These channels will help you in communicating internally and externally. You can set up virtual workspaces for your employees where they can work on their ideas. Video conferencing will help you in communicating with international businesses. You can use social media platforms for collecting feedback from your customers. This feedback will help you in improving your product.

2. Research and Development 

Businesses can use technologies for researching the market. You can use the data that you are collecting from your customers. This is very important for modern businesses as it will help you in making better business decisions. You can learn about the market before entering it. Technology will help you in conducting primary research also. You can use customer feedback and online surveys for conducting primary research.

3. Web-based Advertising 

You can also advertise your product to millions of people by using the internet. There are various social media platforms that will help you in advertising your products. You can use tools like Squarespace and WordPress for creating your own website. It is very easy to create social media accounts. All you need is an email account for creating these accounts. You can advertise your products to millions of people on these sites. 

Conclusion

Digital entrepreneurs are going to rule this decade. You should ensure that you are properly utilizing the technology. It can help you in growing your business. You should use the latest technology for running your venture. It is important to become a digital entrepreneur in the modern age. You don’t need to be tech-savvy for becoming a digital entrepreneur. However, you should know about the technologies that can help your business. You should know about your customer’s pain points. After that, you should try to solve their problems by providing affordable solutions to them. Technology will help you in growing your startup to a large organization. 

6 Alternatives to VC Funding that Every Entrepreneur Should Know

Venture capital has become famous due to the news and television. Most startup founders assume that VC funding is perfect for them. However, it is actually not a good fit for many small companies.

If you are taking VC money, then you need to give up a large chunk of your startup. You need an amazing growth rate for meeting the VC expectations. Your investors will always ask questions from you. If you are a women entrepreneur, then you should consider other funding options first. 

1. Bootstrapping 

In this, you are going to fund your company with your own resources. It is not glamorous like VC funding. However, it is best for new startups. If you are self-funding your startup, then you will limit your startup growth. 

But, bootstrapping will ensure that you have flexibility. You can run your business without any questions. In simple words, you are betting money on yourself. You can look for better investment options in the future. Bootstrapping will help you in negotiating better results in the future. 

2. Family and friends 

Outside investment mainly starts with family and friends. Only your family and friends can invest money in a business that is still not making any money. Your family and friends have full faith in you. 

However, there are some limitations. Not everyone has friends that can give you a five-figure check. Also, your friends are going to take a big risk by investing in your money. This can lead to an awkward Thanksgiving.

3. Debt

Small business owners can take loans from banks. Most founders don’t like taking a loan from banks. If you are taking a traditional loan, then you need revenue, credit rating, and collateral. Founders can also take a personal loan from the bank. You should be ready to take the risks associated with the loan. 

4. Angel Investors 

Angel investors invest their own money in different startups. They have the freedom to pick any startup they want. Thus, they can fund any startup that they want. If an angel investor feels passionate about your startup, then they can write a big check for your startup. 

You should invest your time in creating a relationship with your angel investor. It is important to develop relationships with investors that can add value to your startup. For example, make good relationships with investors that can provide you advice, resources, and connections. 

5. Non-dilutive funding 

The most famous example of non-dilutive funding is government grants. It is not like debt or equity funding. You don’t need to worry about giving a big chunk of your business. Also, you don’t need to worry about paying it back. Most governments are helping their small businesses during the coronavirus crisis.

Non-dilutive funding comes with its own set of challenges. Grant-writing is a very time-consuming process. You need to first find a grant program that is perfect for your business. If your startup is qualified for a government grant, then you should definitely take it.

6. Strategic Partnerships 

This type of partnership is formed when a business partners with a small business that complements its strategy, product, or service. They will provide you funding, resources, and support in return. 

This type of funding is still underrated. This investment won’t depend on huge ROI. Most startups can enjoy the benefits of a strategic partnership. It is better when compared to traditional venture capital. Most women entrepreneurs find it easy to raise funds from strategic partnerships. Your partner will also provide you with support and exposure. Thus, they will help you in growing your business. It is one of the best funding options available for startups.

6 Habits That You can Learn From Highly Effective Entrepreneurs

Effectiveness will help you in producing the results that you desire. The most successful entrepreneurs are also the most effective people. They know how to work smarter and how to eliminate wasted time. You can’t become successful if you are lazy. Also, effectiveness can be only achieved by routine and discipline. You can’t achieve it just because you are talented. Successful entrepreneurs try to be organized and detailed. They know how to execute their plans. In this article, we are going to talk about 6 Habits that you can learn from highly effective entrepreneurs. 

1. Visionary 

Most entrepreneurs will spend a lot of their time thinking and visioning. You can become innovative by following a strict routine. The most powerful asset for an entrepreneur is imagination. It will help you in dreaming about new things. You can convert these dreams into reality by acting on them. Successful entrepreneurs don’t limit their creativity and success. They try to have a positive impact on other lives. 

2. Early Risers

Most successful entrepreneurs are early risers. They start their day by visualizing their dreams first. Some entrepreneurs also start their day from physical activity. They use this method for waking themselves up. You can get your blood pumping by doing physical activity. This will ensure that your mind is active and alert. You will get extra time to collect your thoughts and create a schedule. This will help you in organizing your day.

3. Sleep

If you want to be effective, then you should understand the importance of sleep. The more you will sleep the sharper you will become. Sleep will help you in decreasing your stress levels. However, lack of sleep can have a negative impact on your body. It will increase your stress levels which will disturb your entire sleep cycle. You need to manage your poor sleeping patterns for improving your affectivity. 

4. Flexible 

Successful entrepreneurs are also flexible. They can change their routine according to the circumstances. You should be flexible as it will increase the chances of success. It will also help you in enhancing your own growth. You should follow a simple routine as it will ensure that you can easily change it. Effective entrepreneurs are more productive because they only need the essentials. They can do their work from even a simple office.

5. Curious 

Boredom can kill the success of entrepreneurs. Thus, entrepreneurs should make sure that they are never getting bored. They will always spend their time on productivity things. Effective entrepreneurs are curious about everything. This will ensure that they are always asking questions and looking for new ideas. They don’t drain their creative reservoirs because they are always curious about new ideas. Elon Musk is the best example of this thing. If he is curious about a new idea, then he directly starts creating a plan. He has become the most successful entrepreneur just due to his curiosity and hard work. If you are curious, then you will never run out of ideas. 

6. Simplicity

Simplicity will also help you in improving your effectiveness. Most successful entrepreneurs are following simple but practical routines. You can avoid a large workload by creating a simple routine. It is very difficult for entrepreneurs to handle a huge amount of workload. You can only achieve good results if you are not under a lot of stress. Thus, you should set some limits on your schedule. Make sure that you are not working too hard every day. It can affect both your mental and physical health. The only way to become effective is by doing self-care. 

How to Create a Unique Brand Identity

Consumers are becoming more powerful in the modern business landscape. The market is already saturated and consumers are bombarded with hundreds of marketing messages. Thus, even small businesses are now working on their brand identity. In this article, we are going to share some simple tips that will help you in creating a unique brand identity. 

Definition of Brand Identity:

Branding is a communication strategy that will help your consumers in identifying your brand. It is the most important thing in competitive markets. If you have created a unique brand identity, then your customers will automatically recognize your brand. It will help you in increasing both your sales and customer retention rate. You should focus on creating a unique brand identity as it will help you in becoming an industry leader.

1. Be Different 

You should look for a key selling point that only you can offer to your customers. Make sure that you are pushing these qualities forward to your ideal customer base. This will help you in convincing your customers. There are thousands of businesses in every sector. You need a unique selling point for attracting customers towards your brand. Coca-cola is the best example of this point. They have become famous due to their unique taste and unique bottle packaging. Coca-cola is branding its drinks as refreshing drinks that you can have after working hard in the office. Thus, they have successfully associated their brand with happiness, freedom, and celebration. 

2. Consistent Visual Expression 

Visual elements can help you in creating a unique brand identity. Your customers can identify your brand by your brand name and logo. The logo is the most important visual element. Your customers will always notice your brand logo first. For example, you can easily recognize the apple brand by its logo. 

3. Give a voice to your brand 

You can make your brand identity unique by personifying your entire brand. The visual elements will help you in creating your brand personality. However, your brand voice is also important for your business. You should first research about your target consumers. Make sure that you are using a specific tone that will help you in attracting these customers. You can associate your brand with various different personalities. For example, deodorant brands mostly associate themselves with a playful personality. Make sure that the voice of your brand is an actual representation of your entire brand. Also, your brand’s visual expression and voice should match. They should always remain consistent. You can’t use colorful visuals with a professional tone. If you want to send a strong brand message, then you should ensure that your brand voice and visual expression are matching with each other.

4. Create an amazing brand experience 

You can’t attract new customers just by relying on aesthetics. It is important to create an amazing brand experience for your consumers. Customers will go for the brands that have similar values. If consumers can associate themselves with your brand, then they will definitely buy your product. This will also help you in building a loyal customer base. The brand experience should help you in creating a unique connection with your customers. You can use visual expressions and your brand voice for creating a unique brand experience. However, make sure that your customers are directly interacting with your brand. You should always try to provide a good customer experience. This will help you in increasing your customer retention rate.

Conclusion 

These are some simple tips that you can use for creating a unique brand identity. Branding has become the most important thing for modern businesses. Even small businesses can succeed by creating a unique brand identity. 

Top 7 Reasons Why Content Marketing is Important for Your Business

Marketing is somewhat of the most important part of any business. Either a start-up or a successful business, marketing can affect in numerous ways. Many marketing strategies are rolled out each year, and businesses make a lot out of them. One of them is content marketing. Content doesn’t just  fill your web pages on your business website, but it also builds trust among you and your clients. It’s a famous verse in the enterprise world that it doesn’t matter what you are selling, but how you are seeling it.

The following are some of the top reasons why you should do content marketing for your business.

1. Builds brand awareness:

The content you use for your business builds brand awareness. If done right, content marketing can prove to be a doorway to get maximum traffic every month. Through the content, you let your probable clients know that you exist and that you are seeling the best services or products as per niche specified. If you are wondering what type of content would bring the most leads and will make the most sales, then video content it is. It helps your client know exactly what you are selling. 

2. Helps you make links:

Other websites will only want to link with you if you have great content at your site that is also bringing in traffic. The joint venture of you with other websites having similar content can benefit both of the websites. Other sites linking to you, aka backlinking can prove to bring other benefits like higher page rank. Websites with higher DA and PA when a link back to you can resultantly increase traffic to your site as it will build the credibility of your website.

3. Awesome digital marketing:

Digital marketing is based on good content. You can not expect good results from digital marketing if the content you are using to do so is of low quality. Digital marketing is done through SEO and SMM, where high quality is written, and visual content is used to promote the business and gain an audience eventually. Excellent text content on a website makes it a better-ranking site.

4. Text content is evergreen:

Evergreen content means traffic that never stops flowing towards you. Written content, except only a few, is evergreen and can always be used for brand recognition. You need not make any efforts to make written content useful for more traffic other than just slight updates in it to keep it fresh. But you can also repost the same content and get the same rewards.

 5. Makes your audience learn:

Content is written only to tell your side of the story to the audience. You use content either in text or audio form to tell your customers what you are all about. Your company needs to have educated clients who can advantage of your services and products just as you taught them to through your content. This is why your content must be a perfect representation of what your business is.

6. Makes your ties with customers strong:

Your content must be believable. Nobody will visit your site if you are making impossible vows. Your content should represent only what you can do and must be written most finely. This content, when shared with the audience, will make a stronger bond with them.

7. Generate sales and leads:

And then the purpose of marketing your business fulfills here. Your business will end up getting the spotlight after doing the perfect content marketing. You start generating leads. And if your content is powerful enough, it starts giving your business some boosting sales.

6 Inexpensive Branding Strategies for Your Business

Most small business owners think that only big companies like Google can do branding. However, the truth is that every business owner should think about branding their business. Larger companies will have access to a larger budget for branding. But, you don’t need a large budget for creating an effective branding strategy. There are various things that you can do for grabbing your customer’s attention. In this article, we are going to share some tips that will help you in creating your branding strategy.

1. Plan a Strong Brand Name 

Your brand name will eventually become your business identity. Many business owners don’t think about their brand names in the starting. This can hurt your business in the long run. You should brainstorm through hundreds of ideas. This will help you in finding the perfect name for your project. Make sure that your brand name is not boring, long, or too short. You should stay away from dull descriptions and acronyms. If you think that some name is funny, then you should immediately drop it. Also, you don’t need to get too creative during this process. Branding is a simple process of broadcasting your project to the world. You should look for a simple brand name that can define your project.

2. Social Media 

Social media is the best platform for small businesses. You can use social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for promoting your business. The best thing about these sites is that they are completely free. You can promote your business in ads, chats, and groups. However, make sure that you are posting consistently on your social media account. This will help you in attracting more customers.

3. Encourage Feedback

Feedback is very important for your business as it will help you in improving your services. You should always ask for feedback from your customers. Also, many companies get scared of negative feedback. Negative feedbacks will eventually help you in improving your products. If you are using a video for promoting your brand, then you should check the comments of your video. Your customers will help you in removing inefficiencies from your business operations.

4. Content Marketing 

Content marketing is both a powerful and cheap tool. Thus, it is perfect for small businesses. Content marketing will help you in projecting yourself as an authority. This will help you in building respect and loyalty. It will give a strong brand voice to your business. You can use your website blog for connecting with your audience.

5. Excellent Customer Service

There are millions of online businesses running right now. The key differentiator between these businesses is customer service. You can build your brand reputation by providing quality customer service. The word-of-mouth marketing is still the most effective marketing strategy in the market. Make sure that you are keeping your customers happy. You should pay attention to your customer’s feedback. Try to resolve their complaints quickly. This will ensure that you can attract more people to your brand.

6. Partnerships 

The easiest way to build your brand is by working with other like-minded entrepreneurs. You can use this technique for building your trust by proxy. If your customers are getting referred by some other brand that they already trust, then they will also trust your brand. However, you should look for businesses that have a non-competitive but similar audience. For example, companies that are offering protein bars can partner up with local race event hosts. They can also partner up with a workout blog. This will help you in attracting the right audience.

Conclusion

You can use these tips for creating an inexpensive branding strategy. These are some of the best branding strategies that won’t cost you a fortune. Thus, both small and medium-sized companies can use these strategies. These strategies will help you in gaining a competitive advantage.