Your Secret Weapon Against Market Uncertainty: Leveraging Your Brand

With so much market uncertainty, you may feel like you’re powerless against global market forces. In times like these, there are marketing tasks that we recommend to clients so they still have control over what is happening in their business. Your brand is one of the most overlooked tools in a competitive B2B environment.
Brand Power
Your brand is more than just a logo. It’s your reputation with customers and suppliers, which can help you weather tough times. Proactively sharing your brand as a marketing tactic can have lasting positive effects on your business.
CASE STUDY
A client in a competitive marketplace needed to stand out. Instead of suggesting a new logo or website, we focused on her company’s reputation. Her products were part of her client’s larger projects. Delivering on time and on budget meant fewer headaches for project managers.
We advised her to remind customers of her company’s reliability with every bid. Over a year, she included examples of past projects where her company solved problems quickly and thoroughly. This reinforced her brand’s promise of ‘no headaches.’
What is a Brand?
The elements of a brand include:
- A symbol (golden arches, swoosh)
- A name (McDonald’s, Nike)
- A promise (Consistency & Convenience, Innovation, Performance & Inspiration for Athletes)
Many B2B businesses get caught up on their name, colors, logo, etc. when the really important element is the promise. Our client promised ‘no headaches’ and consistently delivered on that promise, building a lasting positive reputation.
Building Your Brand
When sales are slow, it’s a great time to evaluate your brand. Ask yourself:
- What do customers desperately need from us?
- Do we deliver that to them?
- Do we deliver consistently? If not, how can we be more consistent?
- How do we communicate our history of reliability?
- How do we communicate our promise to customers and prospects?
Today, our client sales are 90% from direct orders and only 10% from bids. Customers return because they know what to expect.
If you’re ready to take control of your business amidst market uncertainty, start by evaluating and strengthening your brand. Contact us today to learn how we can help you build a solid brand that stands out and drives growth.

About the Author: Jill Sauter
Jill is a big picture thinker and Co-Founder of Bench Strength Marketing. She sees things from a different angle and never forgets the goals of your organization.
