What is Brand Awareness?

What do you think of when you hear Johnson & Johnson?  Most likely it’s an image of a happy baby, maybe splashing around in a tub.  If someone were to mention McDonald’s, it’s also very likely that the golden arches will come to mind, and your mouth will start to water.  This is brand awareness at its finest, when an everyday consumer can instantly identify your company, and what it provides from an image, a logo, a slogan, or just by name.

Why Should You Care?

Brand awareness is important whatever industry you are in, but it is particularly important for home service businesses.  Why?  There are many home service businesses out there, and it is hard for a consumer to differentiate.  It is important then to seize the opportunities you have to capture a potential customer’s attention.  People often put off work on their home or business until it is staring them in the face.  You want to ensure when they DO need a service, your company is the first they call.  For instance, if a consumer is driving down the highway and they see an eye popping, but nicely decaled van advertising home cleaning services, with contact information clearly displayed, that image will most likely stick in their head and you could receive their call.

How to Implement Brand Awareness:

Brand awareness is like taking a megaphone and announcing from the rooftops; “we are a great HVAC service company located right in the center of town, check us out!”  Here are some steps to take at your home service business to ensure that you have properly branded your company, and are sharing it with the world.

1.  Hire a graphic designer to create a logo for you.  There are many freelance graphic designers out there that will happily create a logo for you at a relatively low cost.  Be picky and specific.  Describe your business and what you would like to portray and work with the designer to come up with an image that suits your company and is a good fit.  Make sure you include your logo on your service vehicles, your business cards, bills, estimates and the sign on your office.
2. Come up with a slogan.  You are looking for something catchy and memorable that also helps identify what service your business provides.  Take lawncare company B&G Turf Farm of Helendale, California for example.  Their slogan is: “We’re easy to get a lawn with.”
3. Use the social media world.  Broadcast your company’s existence by creating a company Facebook page and Twitter account.  Make sure to use your company logo and slogan in both profiles so that it is easily identifiable.  Make sure to post company updates and industry news.
4. Update the new-aged Yellow Pages.  Visit Yelp, CitySearch, Angies List, and other local search and review websites and update or enter your business information.  Make sure to include your website, business phone number(s), logo, and address.
5. Get Noticed! 

The image that you present to the world is the image that consumers will remember.  Make sure that you are presenting your business as a professional, clean cut, responsible and knowledgeable company.  Demonstrate expertise in your field.  By exposing the world (even if it’s just within your community) to your home service company, you increase your potential customer base.  Next time a frustrated home or business owner needs a service; your company will come to mind.