CentreO Blog

 Branding for a small business can be a fun and challenging task. We all want our businesses to be known, recognised and respected, but as the day-to-day happenings of a small company may keep us busy, we may sometimes ignore the branding basics, that are necessary for a business to grow.Below is the list of a few signs that may tell you that your brand needs an upgrade.

 1.   Your website was not designed by a professional

Yes. We may start a business on a tight budget and in the first stages of its life, we may get by with a meagerly designed website to get things going. However, as time goes by, an adequate presence online gets more and more important.

Ask yourself – what is the first thing you do before choosing a company to work with? That’s right. You check the website.

We all know first impressions are hard to shake.

So review your website and if you think it may need improvement – put it on the top of the list.

2. Your logo was designed using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Paint (you get the idea)

While the logo is not all your brand, it is a significant part of it and deserves to be treated with respect. Rather than settling for a cheapened look, defer use until you’re able to afford the type of design you can be proud of.

3. You don’t follow a brand guide (whether in your head or on paper), and have inconsistencies throughout your brand.

Repetition works. Especially when it comes to branding. Everything you do when promoting a brand (images, wording, colours) must have a consistent style and tone.

Following a brand guide creates uniformity and elevates your business.

Your own photo is not up-to-standard (vacation photo, selfie or a pic with your pet)

A professional needs a professional photo. It doesn’t have to be boring, Photoshopped or out of character for you. But it does have to be in line with the character of your business.

4. You are working for somebody else by not having your own domain

Having your own domain can be more important than having your own office. It can affect your company’s influence and also how you are perceived by potential clients. Not having your own domain can also hinder the development of your business and prove counter-productive, as you will spend time and effort marketing an internet space that is not truly yours.

5. You’ve been in business for quite some time but have not checked out the competition.

It’s not about jealousy. It’s about improvement. Make it a habit to watch what the competition is doing.  You do not have  to copy their ideas. Instead, use them to motivate yourself to improve in your own way.

Monitor any new developments in the industry and be open to change. After all, flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of a small business.

6. You do not have a social media strategy

Social media is a great way to have a voice, engage your customers and build relationships. We are sure you’ve heard about all the benefits before. So if you still do not have a social media strategy  – we suggest you get to it right away.

 7.   You have never worked with a branding professional

Of course, we often feel we know best where and how our company is going, but having professional help can not be underestimated. You may discover new selling points, advertising ideas or simply get a more structured plan for your brand development.

This will only take 10 minutes, but will keep you “charged” for the whole day! 

1. Think of the outcome you desire.
2. Visualise the outcome happening with total belief
3. See yourself in the picture: what do you look like?
4. What can you hear?
5. What do you feel?
6. What can you see around you?
7. Change your posture as to how it is in your imagination
8. Make the image bigger
9. Make it brighter
10. Make the sounds louder
11. Intensify the feeling
12. Now focus on making it happen!

Have a great Monday!

 

Repeat customers and referrals is a cost effective way for your business to generate income. So it is a good idea to spend some time improving your customer‘s experience, nurturing and caring about your existing clients, here are 4 tips how:

1. Serve, don’t sell

Start focusing on your potential customer’s needs, wants, goals, challenges and how you can help them with it, rather than solely focusing on generating sales. Customers will see that you care more than their pocket and over time open up. They will begin to exchange more information with you that will not only help your sales, but in turn make themselves a satisfied customer.

2. Ask and Listen

Questioning and listening to their feedback is key to ensuring what your customers want, finding out about your potential clients and creating a relationship. The more you find out about your customers, the easier it is clarify their needs, making them feel valued as you begin to relate and understand them, in hand making it easier to target new customers.

3. Be contactable

Stay regular contact with them and be open ended, think outside the box of direct marketing and newsletters. This means not only replying their emails and phone calls as soon as possible, but also going that extra step. For example, after the purchase send out a thank you, then after a few weeks follow up with a  ‘Hello___ how they are going with the product/service’ etc., making it personalised so that they feel individually valued. This comes back to number 2 and 1, being contactable doesn’t  just mean doing punctual with your replies, but also making the customer feel that they are able to approach you.

4. Exceed expectations

Go the extra mile and make your customers happier to keep them coming back. That is, giving them what they cannot receive elsewhere, knowing simple things such as birthdays, likes and dislikes, for example having their favourite drink ready when you have a meeting with them. Customers are the reason your business runs, always value them and make sure they know they are valued.

So remember to be proactive with your customers, stay up to date with them, be thoughtful and make them feel special. This rapport may be in turn be rewarded with loyalty, repeat sales (even up sales) and referrals.

>Are You In The Customer Service Business?

This activity is extremely easy to organise. It is not only fun, but also very helpful in activating cooperation and thinking outside-the-box.

All you need: spaghetti and marshmallows

How it goes:

Divide your team into several groups.

Ask each group to choose a leader, team name, team slogan and team pose.

Give each group a task: they must create a symbol/mascot for your company, using a pack of spaghetti and marshmallows and then present it to the other groups, explaining the meaning behind their construction.

The team with the most creative construction and presentation wins!

 

 

We are all familiar with team building and while we mostly tend to see it as a fun outing with colleagues or a night at KTV, there is much more to it than that.

Here’s what.

 Improved Communication

Teambuilding activities can breakdown barriers and help people come out of their shell.

By working together on a task that is different from their daily responsibilities, people can develop new ways of working together. It can help let go of built-up tension and develop partnerships and cooperation, as in a competitive environment people will see the benefits of helping out each other very clearly.

 Developed Team Roles

Team building can help employees discover and fit into the roles that are naturally suited for them.

For instance, some may be good at setting objectives and delegating, while others are better at checking the finished work for errors.

Team building allows each member of the team to develop and focus on what they are best at. It also allows the team members to find their niche within the team, so that everyone can best contribute as an individual while still performing together.

Developed Skills

In a busy and deadline-driven working environment it may be hard for employees to develop new skills and equally hard for employers to discover the “hidden” abilities of their team members.

Team-building activities can allow each member of the team a chance to take charge and develop leadership skills, as well as skills in other areas of the business.

 Long-Term Benefits

According to team expert Talan Miller, a strong team can lead to major gains for a small business, like the ability to maximize profitability, meet cross-functional challenges and respond to changes quicker.

It also gives your team a better sense of involvement and belonging, making your team more mission-focused and helping you achieve more with less direction.