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There is no doubt about it, successful people surround
themselves with other successful people. This is not an accident. They
know that while "what you know" is vitally important, "who you know" is
equally important. Many important referrals are gained through their
connections to other successful people. You may not know any highly
successful people, but there is still hope. It isn't just "who you
know" that works. Using and recommending brands that everyone knows and
likes also works.
Brand recognition accounts for a large percentage of sales made
annually by big businesses. By connecting to these successful,
recognizable brands, you are not only offering your customers more
value and convenience, but you are also building your own brand
recognition. When you buy coffee at the grocery store, you probably
don't even look at all of your options. You probably pick up the same
coffee that you have been using for years. Folgers? Maxwell House? Many
restaurants only serve a particular brand of coffee, or ketchup, and
they let you know this. They use trusted brands that are well known and
very popular.
If you owned a printing store, you might use brand affiliation by
letting your customers know that you only use a certain brand of paper,
ink, or equipment. You would, of course, use brands that people know
and like. You are not in the paper business, you are not in the ink
business, and you are not in the printing equipment business. But you
are in the business of printing, and therefore, you have need of those
other businesses. You are making money for those other businesses by
using their products, but at the same time, those businesses are making
money for you because they are highly recognizable brands that people
are drawn too. You are a great printer, and you are using quality
products. In many cases, these businesses will give you discounts for
using their products - and advertising that fact - exclusively.
Furthermore, you are not limited to brands or products. You can link
your business or brand to places, people, and organizations as well.
Figuring out which brands, places, people, or organizations to connect
your business to isn't as difficult as you may think. Start by
considering your target market. What other products or services would
the people who buy your product or service be interested in? How can
those other products or services be used to build your brand? Will
these companies, places, people, or organizations reciprocate by
offering their customers my product exclusively?
Pay attention to how other businesses use the success of other brands
to bolster their own brands or businesses. Hotels, restaurants, car
rental companies, auto shops, beauty salons, and even airports use this
method to strengthen their own brands, and you can too.
About the Author: Monique Danielle owns Portland Marketing Agency DivaDesignWorld.com,
a full service firm that offers web development, graphic design,
consulting, and a wide variety of creative services. She is also
the founder of divadirectories.com,
a free online resource designed to promote the growth and development
of female business owners throughout Oregon, Washington, and the
Northwest.
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