When you think of brands inherently tied to geographical areas, what comes to mind? Perhaps Warner Bros and Universal Pictures in Hollywood, many tech brands in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, or Samsung in South Korea? What about more local areas? Is it true that some businesses are more tied to towns or cities? Cadbury, in Birmingham for instance?
Now what about your local area? We’re willing to bet that to you, as a resident of a certain place think of several brands nearby, however modest. Perhaps that local farm shop or the company that sells stoves you’ve driven past hundreds of times.
The truth is that when a company is able to stamp its mark in a local area, a certain character is generated from the effort. You might want to invest in your space, to be defined by it as much as you define it too. It can grant you the power of community to uplift your presence in such a way, and that’s nothing to sniff at.
So, how might you become known for being in that specific space? In this post, we hope to discuss that and more:
Situate Yourself In Premises
Having a physical location gives people something to point to, even if you’re renting office space it still counts. This means that when locals drive past your shop or office every day, you become part of their mental map of the area. We’d recomend that you put some thought into your signage and how your building looks from the street. If you own the space you can consider altering your property lines and use, like having enough parking or being close to public transport. The longer you stay in one spot, the more people associate you with that corner, that street, or that neighborhood.
Engage In Various Aspects Of Public Life
Local visibility comes from showing up, and there’s no real way aroun that. A few good ideas are to sponsor the summer fair, join the local business conventions, or send someone to speak at the school’s career day. If you have a charitable bent, you could support the food bank or homeless shelter. But don’t just throw money around of course, pick things you actually care about and get involved properly. People notice when a business takes genuine interest in local events and causes, as they remember seeing your staff volunteering at the festival or your logo on the youth football team’s shirts. It does make a difference, and there’s a good amount of fun to be had here as well.
Invest In Communities & Hire From Them
The people who live nearby are your greatest asset, so treat them well! Moreover, when you hire locally, you create a web of connections worth knowing, as each employee has family and friends in the area who hear about your business. So, train people well and pay fairly. Support their growth, and let them bring their local knowledge and relationships to work with them. You might even consider starting an apprenticeship program with the local college. The more you invest in local people, the more the community sees you as one of their own rather than just another business passing through.
With this advice, we’re certain you’ll stamp your mark on a local area and benefit as a result.