5 Great Ways to Extend Your Brand for Free

So you just launched your new company, hired a designer to create a logo and business cards, and may even have built a website. Now what?

With the social media taking the internet by storm, you can build your brand the new-fashioned way.

Create a Facebook Page for your business. If you don’t already have an account, create one, then create a page for your business and upload that shiny new logo. Begin connecting to friends and family who might be (or know) potential customers. Post regularly to your business page. As your network grows, so will the reach of your brand.

Create a Twitter account and profile for your business. Create (or have your designer create) a custom background for your profile that utilizes your logo and upload it. Alternately, adjust the colors of your page to coordinate with your logo and/or website. Follow people who are potential customers, competitors and colleagues. Post regularly.

Create a blog. Hey, you’re here reading mine. Why not have someone read yours. Coordinate colors to your look and feel. Or have your web designer customize your blog and/or add your blog to your website. (Yes, I know, I’m just like the shoemaker whose children have no shoes! My blog should better coordinate with my identity. If I wasn’t spending so much time writing my blog, I might have time to design it!)

Everything old is new again.
Traditional ways to extend your brand can be applied to web marketing as well.

Write a press release. This isn’t new, but it’s still very effective, particularly when you’re looking to reach a highly targeted market. Send your press release along with photos of your products, your storefront, your logo and/or you to both online and traditional print media outlets. While you’re at it, add a press section to your website where you can post regular press releases along with downloadable photos and logos for the media to use.

Create a newsletter. Monthly email newsletters promote and extend your brand while keeping you connected to customers. Build a list via your website. Include informational content like ‘tips & tricks’  or promotional offers that are helpful or beneficial to your readers.