5 Ways to Increase Brand Awareness in Tough Economic Times

The opinions expressed by entrepreneurs contributors are their own.

Branding has become such a buzzword that all the gurus and paid speakers tend to over-complicate it. Branding is simple; it's all about what you experience in public and what makes them want to do business with you. It makes people want to buy your product or use your service.

Branding is even more critical in times of crisis when the country is facing an economic downturn. Many people start losing their jobs during these times, and inflation makes the cost of living more expensive. I'll share five keys to increasing your level even during tough economic times.

Related: 6 Innovative Ways to Increase Brand Awareness

Go out and win

People are always looking to cheer on a winner, especially if you're an underdog with a story. A winning underdog is always front-page newspaper material. Your victory inspires others and gives them hope for their success. This is especially true if people can relate to your background and story. When you start winning, and people know about it, other people start thinking you can help them too.

To win, you must do several different things. Make sure you have core values ​​in place personally and in your business. Your company policies should reflect your core values ​​to create a winning culture. You also need to ensure that your product or service is of the highest quality possible. Be sure to create an exceptional product worthy of a five-star review. If you focus on pursuing excellence within yourself and your business, you will win, and winning solves a lot of problems. Brand excellence always creates brand awareness. If you win, people will talk and the brand will grow.

Client experience

It is crucial to take care of each customer and treat them as if they are the most important person in your world. Treat each customer as if they were your only customer. Your company must restore to others the faith that good people still exist. Make the word “caring” not a buzzword that your employees may have heard about during training, but a real core value. Listen to your client's situation. Have empathy and understanding to make them feel important. Most people listen to respond instead of listening to understand.

Related: 3 Strategies Entrepreneurs Can Adopt to Boost Brand Awareness

Use social networks

Compelling social media content will work for your business. People want to be entertained. They want to smile and laugh and forget about the difficulties of their current situation and their environment. People also want to be educated. That's why some people go back to school to further their education or learn a new skill when times are tough. You need to create and grow a customer social network that cares about your product or service and your and your company's core values.

Partner with an influencer

Partnering with a famous social media influencer becomes a must for . This can be done by knowing an influencer personally or by directly messaging the influencer or their agency and negotiating a deal with them. The easiest method is to pay them to directly promote your product. The other way is to trade your product or service for their help in a promotion. Having an influencer promote your product or service is the fastest way to gain social media followers.

Be a local asset

The fifth key is to be an asset to the local community by joining, sponsoring and supporting local organizations and events. When times are tough, people seek help wherever they can find it. Hosting or sponsoring a local event will allow you to meet people in person to win their business. There is no substitute for in-person relationship building. People prefer to do business with people and companies they know and trust. Your brand and business will be more relevant when people see the real person behind the product or service instead of just a social media personality.

To sum up, your brand is your