- Have you ever looked at your brand with an objective eye?
- Does your brand set you apart from the competition?
- Does your brand impart a sense of the benefits your Ideal Clients will get out of working with you?
The answers to these questions can help you decide if you need to re-brand. That's what happened to Sharon Krieger of Ride Marketing and PR. She has just finished a re-branding of her business and answered these questions for me.
First off, what is Ride Marketing and PR and what do you offer clients?
Ride Marketing + PR is a boutique firm located in the East Valley specializing in lifestyle marketing, events, branding, copy writing and public relations for entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized businesses. We are hands-on and affordable, running “lean and mean” with little overhead - which means a nicer price point for our clients!
What made you decide to re-brand your business?
Working with a FANTASTIC business coach...YOU! It was during this time that the idea of a re-brand was suggested. At first, I was resistant, it being my first venture as an entrepreneur. But after further thought and looking at the bigger picture, it made complete sense. Not only strategically, but after the “wet behind the ears” phase I had gotten to know my business better and where I wanted to go.
Who are your Ideal Clients?
We’re big thinkers so work best with those like-minded souls with a great vision for their business and the world! Specifically, the businesses we connect most with are those in hospitality (i.e. restaurants, lounges, resorts), outdoor and active lifestyle, philanthropic organizations, sustainable/green companies and music & entertainment. While we love a good startup and have all been there, we prefer to work with clients who’ve been around a couple years and are well on their way to catching that bigger wave.
Your brand has a quirky, artsy feel. How does this appeal to your Ideal Clients?
Our clients - the “ideal” ones especially - we’ve found, have a sort of instant connection to our brand. The surf culture look and feel appeals to many entrepreneurs who have that drive, vision, creativity and spiritual way of moving through the world. And at the end of the day, it’s really all about having fun and enjoying the ride.
What benefits do you think you will gain from this re-branding?
Benefits gained from the re-brand have been both immediate, in terms of the type of response we’ve gotten from new contacts and existing relationships, and will continue to ripple out as we move forward. New doors have opened a result - from working with an awesome designer, learning a lot from our web developer and attending events that are both educational and offer great networking opportunities. It’s like starting a new business, but better because we’re not starting from scratch!
What advice do you have about branding for entrepreneurs in this economy?
In all honesty, there really could not be a better time to do this. I’d say for any entrepreneur out there who has been toying with the idea of freshening up their brand, or doing a full overhaul on an existing product or service....now is the perfect time!
While so many business owners have frozen in their tracks and have had their lives turned upside down, few are taking this season of challenge as a real opportunity. It’s an opportunity to look inward, evaluate, brainstorm, create, and EMERGE as better people and better business owners. This economy has given all of us pause to appreciate what we have, decide what’s really important and discover our true values.
Those entrepreneurs who rebrand during a time like this are going to be so much further ahead on the other side of this thing.
Suzanne Muusers
Prosperity Coaching LLC