If you have just launched your online business and are on a tight budget, you might not have the funds to employ a branding expert who will design your visual branding tools and messages. However, if you are willing to learn, you can get started for free or at a very low cost, and create a strong image for your business in a short period of time. Below you will find a list of five things you need to take care of now.

1. Your Logo

The first thing your customers will remember about your brand is your logo. While you can get these designed cheap on some of the popular freelancing websites, it is best not to let the job out of your hands. You don’t have to be a pixel and vector design expert to create your own high resolution logo, as there are several online tools that are suitable for beginners. Search for an instant logo maker and experiment until you get the expected results and you are satisfied that your new logo represents your brand adequately.

2. Website

The next job is to create your virtual shop front. No matter if you are a writer or a virtual assistant, a photographer, or a  gardener, you will have to feature your portfolio and communicate the benefits if your services through your website. The design needs to be user-friendly and engaging, suitable for all screen sizes. You can learn WordPress in just a couple of weeks and download premium themes for just a couple of dollars to customise your online shop.

3. Social Media Designs

Many new business owners believe that a generic business page on social media sites will be just good enough. In reality, however, you will need to take care of the image you are creating and develop a strong brand that appeals to today’s customers who are facing similar pages and messages multiple times every day.

4. Unique Selling Propositions and Brand Slogan

While graphics are important, and today’s internet users are more likely to remember an engaging picture than an article, you will have to pay attention to your brand slogan. It has to be based on the unique selling proposition that defines your brand. The slogan should be catchy and repeated often on various platforms for your target market to remember.

5. Press Release and Media Exposure

While hiring a publicity expert and getting a local online marketing expert to design your campaigns is a great idea, if you can’t afford it, you will have to rely on your talent. There are plenty of online press release sites offering free distribution and resources on getting your press release to go viral. You might also try to contact some of the local blog networks and news outlets to see if they are interested in a story.

6. Create Your own Logos

If you engage a graphic designer to create your branding and business logo, this can be quite costly.  But with Canva’s Online Logo Maker, creating professional, eye catching and professional logos is easy and quick. This tool is indispensable and can help you build your brand identity thanks to its intuitive, easy-to-use drag-and-drop design platform. I use Canva extensively and it is a tool I cannot do without.

If you would like to increase your brand awareness and create a buzz about your business without blowing your budget, you can use these DIY methods that will help you take off.

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