Time for Businesses to Bloom Again by Reinvesting in Their Brand
We’re heading into my favorite time of year—the ground is thawing, birds are chirping, and flowers are budding. I’m ready to start gardening again and spending time outdoors with friends and family. I’m also ready for this April to look a lot better than last! A year ago, I was writing about “Finding Perspective in Times of Distress and Uncertainty” after the world essentially shut down. Now, doors are back open—excluding the heartbreaking stories of those that had to permanently close theirs—and people are not as afraid as they once were. We’re slowly gaining our consumer confidence back, and I’m so happy to see it.
In the spirit of spring, I’d love to focus on growth and the blooming opportunities that lie ahead for businesses in Lincoln. Growth remains the top priority among business owners, yet research shows that almost one in three businesses don’t know how to grow. Does this apply to you or someone you know? The key is keeping up with the growth trends of the time. We all know that what worked over a year ago is not going to have the same result today. That being said, there are timeless strategies that remain effective because they are centered on one very important aspect of a company’s success: relationships. At Strictly Business, we believe relationships can be cultivated through storytelling, which is exactly what we do.
In this issue, you’ll find a feature story that talks about Starting a Business. There is a lot of great information in there and advice from local experts. While some may think the climate is too rocky to be starting a business due to the pandemic, think again! There are a lot of opportunities still, especially depending on the type of business you have and how willing you are to adapt and adopt today’s trends. In a Forbes article published in January, titled 6 Tips To Grow Your Business In 2021, contributor Ashley Stahl listed “Reinvesting in Your Brand” among the top strategies.
“This one is evergreen,” Ashley said. “But for as often as we’ve all heard it, this advice hasn’t diminished at all in value.”
Our Strictly Business team wholeheartedly believes in investing in your brand. That is what our advertisers are doing when they partner with us and let us tell their story in a way that is engaging and visually appealing. If you’re planning on starting a business or you just want to grow your business, have you fully assessed your brand? Ashley complied a couple questions for business leaders to ask themselves when determining what their brand is:
- Is your branding recognizably you?
- Does your brand convey authenticity? This is one of the most important things that customers look for, with 86% of consumers stating that they value authenticity in the brands they support.
- What feelings and ideas do you hope to evoke for your customers? How can you convey this through your brand?
- Does your branding distinguish you from competitors or others in your sector?
- Do you have unified aesthetics throughout your social media and larger branding? Consistency is key: studies found that a consistent presentation of a brand raised revenue by 33%.
Strictly Business has actually been reinvesting in our own branding lately—so no matter if you’re an entrepreneur launching a new business or you’ve been around for 28 years, having an established brand is crucial and it requires attention every day. Furthermore, you’ll want trusted marketing partners in your corner to ensure your branding is being seen. I encourage you to reach out to our team so we can help your business blossom this year!