7 tips to build brand awareness on a budget

We all wish we had more money to spend on building our brand's awareness. When money gets tight, marketing is usually the first to go. But just because you don't have a wheelbarrow full of cash, doesn't mean that you shouldn't be actively promoting your brand in the ways that you can.

Here are 7 tips to build your brand awareness on a budget:

1. Use the power of Referrals – If you can get your customers talking about your exceptional service or products, word of month will be your most powerful lead generation tool. Nothing beats the leads you’ll receive as referrals from existing customers. Even better - try creating a simple program that rewards your customers for referring your business to their peers.

2. Branded Promotional Products – They stick. It's easy to throw away a flyer in the mail. Less easy to throw away a jacket, polo, or hat that you just received from a client. We all love free stuff and we usually remember what we got from who--it's just how we're wired. You can stay top of mind with some relatively inexpensive yet strategically planned and implemented branded promotional product campaigns.

3. Personal Letter – We all love to receive mail (at least when it is personal and thoughtful). A well-written personal letter has a high-degree of authenticity and will come as a surprise to your clients in a world where few people rarely take the time to sit down and write a personal note anymore. Whether your letter is physical or electronic, remember to include your logo to gain a positive association with your brand.

4. Email Signature – This is a great way to provide regular, consistent presentation of your logo. You might consider including your tagline with your logo and standardizing this across all employee communications. Many employees like to add images, popular sayings, photos or different colors and fonts to signatures, but this can hurt your brand identity. Make sure the font, logo and color scheme are consistent.

5. Facebook – This is another way to further connect with your customers. Offer tips, promote special offers, ask for feedback and post about fun or philanthropic activities your company is involved in. In a level playing field, customers are more likely to select the company that supports a good cause. So if you’re doing something good, post it.

6. Blogging – Show off your technical know-how and establish yourself as an expert in your field with a blog. Make sure that you post regularly (at least once a week). You might consider inviting employees to write articles--they know a ton and will love being involved. Not to mention it will spread the work load out and make it easier to keep your blog regularly updated.

7. Vehicle Wraps – Think about how many cars—and people—you encounter in the course of a day. Keep it clean and simple. The average person will only glance at your vehicle. Include your logo, a strong call to action and contact information.

Get creative and think outside the box. Don't let your budget restrict your brand!