Small Business Marketing Guide - DIY (do-it-yourself) BRAND MARKETING STRATEGIES to HELP YOU GROW YOUR BUSINESS

Vanilla is the most popular type of ice cream in the world. But consumers of vanilla ice cream don’t really care about which brand of vanilla ice cream they are eating.

More importantly, fans of special flavors like Cherry Garcia, by Ben and Jerry’s, would never consider switching to another brand, or back to vanilla. The point is simple – niche targeting and specialized content invoke preference, emotion and commitment to your brand.

So, how do you create a Cherry Garcia brand?

One of the answers is to create personalized products and experience. In our mass-produced world it is inexpensive and easy to attain generic luxury in any area, from technology to fashion. In fact, high-end consumer goods have become affordable and available to everyone. But mass availability is not cool. People want to consume and express their own unique flavors and personality.

Starbucks used personalization to revolutionize the coffee industry. Dell used personalization to reinvent computing.

Regardless of your industry, there are ways that the experience could become more personalized, which can also help to drive viral attention from the blogosphere and traditional media. At TrendHunter.com, for example, we’ve seen a huge rise in personalized products, including: custom dresses online, personalized bobble-heads, and custom furniture.

Your business might not be bobbleheads, but how can you further connect with your consumers and create love for your brand?

Photo credit: chriswoo