5 Ways To Make Your Family-Run Business Stand Out
Without family-run businesses, many products and experiences wouldn’t be enjoyed by so many. It’s vital that companies that have been with families for generations – or even a short while – are allowed to shine as much as corporate, more prominent organizations.
You’ve got your name, brand, business, and story, but how do you make it stand out in the crowd? Whatever your organization does, at its core, your brand must sell who you are – your image becomes your identity. How will you and your brand stand out in a sea of competitors? Let’s go over five methods that’ll help you stand out – loud and proud!
1. Make Your Brand Physical
Sometimes seeing is believing, and if your customers can’t see you, they might be ignorant of your existence or importance. Getting your family-run brand into the world is about getting creative and finding ways to make your brand both visible and physical.
A great solution is turning your brand image into custom pins! Such objects are an endearing physical manifestation of your brand and allow your already loyal customers to show their support for your business. Whatever your organization, pins are a versatile advertisement and a chance to show your creativity.
For example, you don’t have to take your existing logo and request that it be a pin – although you can do that if you’d like. Perhaps your business is an ice cream business, and you source your milk from cows. Why not design a friendly-faced cow pin that can be worn on bags, coats, and jumpers?
A fun, new take on your brand with this customizable option is sure to get prospective customers talking. The more creative you are, the more you’ll stand out.
2. Make Your Ethos Shine
Good ethics are in high demand, with ethos-focused Millenials becoming more interested in investing in businesses that put ethics first.
So it’s worth asking:
- What good ethics does your business actively pursue?
- How do these ethics reflect your business’s ethos?
- Where can your business do better?
When your ethics are at the heart of your business, you can publicize this! Don’t be shy about the good your family business does for a group of people, the planet, or your local community.
Remember, you don’t need to change the world daily to be an attractive brand to new and old customers. By having integrity in ethics, your ethos is something to shout from the rooftops!
3. Make Social Media Your Ally
Use social media to your advantage. It’s here, and it’s not going away any time soon. Family-run businesses often involve multiple generations, and while this is an asset to offering solutions and exciting ideas, conflict can arise when utilizing new tech.
Just as younger generations need to learn from the traditions of their elders, older family members need to learn from their younger kin, which means embracing technology that younger generations have more knowledge of. By becoming more adaptable, family-run businesses can thrive.
So pull social media knowledge from the younger business members to discover the latest trends, such as “behind-the-scenes” vlogs, shorts, and Instagram stories. As your following grows, your identity will become more personal to your customers.
4. Make Yourself A Part Of The Community
Communities are assets to any business, particularly family-run companies. Simply put: when you invest in your community, your community will invest in you.
But what does this look like?
- Attending local events to sell your products, like markets, fairs, and festivals.
- Hosting events to give customers a space for discounts and connection, such as Christmas parties, anniversary celebrations, or celebrating national holidays (Valentine’s Day, Independence Day, World ‘x’ Day).
- Using your brand ethos and ethics to support the community, such as donating profits to a local charity, providing jobs for local citizens, and partnering with other local organizations to market each other’s businesses, thus gaining new customers.
5. Make An Online Presence
While many great family businesses aren’t online, to stand out, you need to have a platform to shout about all the great work you do – from the points above and beyond.
Make it easier for people to find you and promote your ethos, ethics, and identity on the home page so there’s no doubt your business is compelling and thriving.
Final Thoughts
Ensure your family-run organization passes on to the next generation by making your identity stand out! Celebrate your products, traditions, story, and ethics to get people talking about your unique business.