GET A LOGO (THEN KEEP IT CONSISTENT).
You can design your own logo, or you can pay someone else to
design it. Many like www.Logoworks.com. They charge you
about $350/logo, or you can find a college student who will
probably charge you less. Either way, make sure they give you
the editable files and in vector form (.eps) so the logo doesn’t
have pixels and can be scaled as big or small as needed. They
should also give you the color codes they used in your logo so
your marketing materials always match. If they don’t offer all
of these things, steer clear and find someone who does!
Read what people are talking about. Search for
your product or trade. Chances are, you'll come
up with something new to offer your customers,
even if it's just better customer service.
GET A WEB PAGE.
Surprise! You don’t have to buy a huge expensive website. Set
up your Facebook page (make sure you do a custom username
like Facebook.com/yourcompanyname), and that can be your
website! Or, for a more complete site, you can use Adobe Muse
or Wix.com, which allows you to edit your website anytime for
around $12/mo.
GET IN ON BLOGGING.
Most people ask me, “What and where are all the blogs?” That’s
a good question. Twitter is like a micro-blog of sorts. Industry
magazines have blogs. Spend time there and read what people
are talking about. Search for your product or trade. Chances are,
you’ll come up with something new to offer your customers,
even if it’s just better customer service.
GET YOUR TRADEMARK.
This is the most expensive part, but it’s essential. A trademark
costs around $300-$500, but it means you truly own your
business name. Without it, you could spend years branding
your company only to have to change it because someone else
got the trademark first.
Story by Nicole Larsen
About the Author
Nicole Larsen is the owner of a graphic design and marketing firm and
the Director of Marketing for U.S. Seal International (the original
creators of Pitch Black® Sealcoat). With an MBA in Marketing,
Nicole has more than 13 years marketing experience in multiple
industries including 12 years in asphalt and paving. You can contact
her at [email protected] or www.GoPitchBlack.com.
www.nasweep er.com
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