Branding on the Cheap

Here is a great resource for web startups that has a few gems for lawyers too:  Little Known Ways to Brand on the Cheap.  Just a few favorites:

26. E-profiles: manage your reputation. If a potentialcustomer types in your name into a search engine, what sort of resultswill they see in the top 10? It’s key for you to secure the top 10results in Google, Yahoo and MSN for searches relating directly andindirectly (if possible) to your brand. You need to be the one definingwhat people see when they search for you, not your competition. Startby building e-profiles on authority domains such as MySpace, Squidoo, AboutUs, WordPress, Blogger/ Blogspot, MSN Spaces, TypePad, Newsvine, LinkedIn, Rollyo, Wikipedia, etc. Don’t let someone else define who you are.

28. Get listed on local authority websites. Manycities will have a large, centrally operated online business directory.A link from a local government site (.gov) will boost your visibilityand build your search engine rankings. Often that requires no moreeffort than doing a GoogleSearch for “(your city) business directory”and emailing the webmaster.

36. Design with a focus on MDA. Design your blog with a focus on visitor experience that leads the user to your MDA (Most Desired Action). Test various designs before launch by asking friends and family to go to the site and see where they click and when.

39. Design for scanners, not readers. I know, you’veput a lot of time into your content, so you want people to read everylittle word. But the truth is, people online are scanners, not readers.So if you want to get your message across, you need to tell them yourunique selling points in a bullet list or in short crisp sentences.

77. Do something outrageous. Or at very least unusual, and document the action itself and reactions others had to it. Randy’s Affiliate Marketing Programs Blog discusses a few of the more famous outrageous branding ideas, from Alex Tew’s Million Dollar Homepage (the original dollar-a-pixel site) to John Freyer’s All My Life for Sale (a wildly-successful eBay project).

91. Guerilla marketing. Head down to your locallibrary and hunt down books relevant to your topic. Then insert yourbusiness card or flyer into the book at the very front. This guerillamarketing can work on an individual level, but the benefits canmultiply dramatically if your persistent activity starts to create buzz.

94. Be a star. Call up your local public cable access channel and ask to be interviewed. They are desperate for content and may go for it.