How to inspire people to love your brand like they love Target

Want people to love your brand like Target? Brand it like Target. I know I know, that seems to be a HUGE task. As a small business owner, you’re often not able to compete with the big budgets of the Targets, but you can certainly learn a few tricks of the trade. Think for a second, why do people love Target? Target provides valuesize offerings at affordable rates. They ensure that all your essentials, from food to clothing, home,moort and décor, electronics are all in one location. Target offers its consumers value. It’s for that reason when you leave their store, you’ll often walk out with more items than you intended to buy. So how do you inspire people to love your brand like they love target?

How to inspire people to love your brand like they love Target

What value are you offering your customers? How do you make them feel after visiting your establishment/ e-commerce store? Did you provide them with experience along the customer journey?

As a business owner of the Its Really Kita Shop, I often think about this. What value can I offer my customers; especially those within the Gullah Geechee community? It’s what brings us together right?

But why else do we love brands like Target? They are consistent and memorable. We know we can get our essential products but Target is also memorable. The name alone speaks volumes? Is your brand memorable? Does the name roll off your tongue? Is it easy to remember, easy to spell?

And where else can you get celebrity and high-fashion collaborations at affordable rates? Think the likes of Zac Posen, Philip Lim and Jason Wu, just to name a few.  Very smart on their part, right?!

Thinking about these collaborations brought a few suggestions to mind. Want to inspire people to love your brand like they love Target?

• Partnerships: Without partnership, with fellow business owners across similar or related industries, you simply won’t grow. Collaborating on events or perhaps a custom product benefiting a charity organization can be a great way to better your brand and awareness while doing some good for the community.

• Endorsements: Small business owners like you and I don’t have the mega budget to pay for celebrity endorsements, right? So how about, we connect with local influencers. Influencer marketing can actually be affordable if you connect with the right influencers who will work within your budget.

• Build a community: Building a community of like-mined individuals can activate built-in ambassadors who will share your glee and excitement for the product and services you provide. Think about why you started your brand. What’s the passion behind it? I’m sure there are fellow business owners with the same passions. Social media has made it so easy to find your tribe. Go find them!

• Promote everywhere: Not too many people take the traditional and gorilla marketing approach anymore but create stickers, flyers, buttons, pens, pads. Place these items any and everywhere with the link to your location and website, or even a discount code to go shopping.

• Run Deals: One of the things that Target does a great job of doing is issuing sales and discount codes. Who doesn’t love a bargain? Have a built in sales strategy to offer deals, flash sales, holiday themes and promotion, as Target would.

• Have Visual Appeal: In the same realm of being memorable, you want your brand to be aesthetically appealing. Whether you’re a brick and mortor establishment or entirely online. Visually aesthetics that are pleasant to look at go a long way.

• Location Location Location! Location matters. One of the reasons Target is as successful is their real-estate. They are able to put their stores in locations that are both convenient and easily visible to passersby’s. Their logo and brand is often elevated in spaces near shopping centers where they will be sure to get tons of foot traffic.

• This can be tricky with e-commerce stores. But you must then go where your customers are and scream (promote and advertise) at the top of your lungs about why people should care about your products and services and the value you can offer them.

With the tips I’ve provided here, please also share your ideas on how best to amplify the t-shirt line dedicated to the Gullah geechee culture.

Shall we have a virtual event to find fellow geechee residents far and near?

What about sharing some of our favorite dishes and recipes? A celebration of geechee slang and customs to keep the culture alive?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.