Making Your Name Known

Making your name is one of the most important functions of success. Whether you are working for the man or for the public, you need to create a positive and outgoing image of yourself. Without a Name you are virtually invisible. People don’t trust what they don’t know. Sad, but true. It’s our human instinct.

So how do you do it? Here are some starting points.

Name Yourself. Duh! The first step is to come up with a name. You can use your own or create a brand / company name. There are positives and negatives to both so it is up to you. Be warned though, using your own name means that you, yourself can be tarnished by your endeavor.

Brand. You need to come up with a brand. This means your name, look, and feeling that people associate with you. Logos are nice, or a decorative name. Keep it simple and easy. Looking at some of the bigger names in branding you will find that their designs are simple. Unique but simple.

Website! If you are not living in the past, which I doubt you are considering lack of time travel capabilities, you must realize you need a website for your business. This is true for several reasons. First is that your competitors most likely have one (or to put it in other terms, its an industry standard). Also many people use the internet for their primary source of information. You are losing those people! And finally having a website shows a level of professionalism that most consumers expect in today’s world.

Target. Aim your name directly in the direction of your market. When I started doing web designs, and decided my target would be Artists, I created a website for Artists in Chicago. It had nothing to do with my company and made very little money overall but the subtle links, advertisements, and mentions in that site brought in traffic to my core business, web design.

Press. When you have successes or have done good for the world, make sure people know about it. Press eat up a good story. Give them one. It’s free Exposure!

Sponsor. Sponsoring websites and events that appeal to your target market is a fairly effective way to be in their mind. It can cost very little or a lot but if used properly can really help your name get out there. 

Keep Good. Keeping good stance with your current customers will help spread the word the easiest. More on good customer service here.

 Also,

No Print. Do not Advertise in local print magazines and paper unless you can afford a full page. It is not worth the money almost all of the time.

Do Research. Do not take marketing lightly. Whenever you are trying a new type, be sure to take the time and research and calculate how effective it will probably be. There is such a thing as bad exposure, sending the wrong message, or sending it to the wrong people. 

Focused Marketing. Do not spend too much time advertising in general. Advertising is one tenth of the game in marketing your company name and brand. Focus more on the stuff that does not cost as much money; good customer service, word of mouth, free press, a nice website, good look. These are the things that bring in more business and cost less to do. Trust me on that.

 Again. These are some basics. They are good ideas to start with but also I advocate trying to get creative and come up with some original ways to make it happen. Getting your name out to your target market is vital to your venture’s success. Go do it.