The Entrepreneur Forum | Financial Freedom | Starting a Business | Motivation | Money | Success

Welcome to the only entrepreneur forum dedicated to building life-changing wealth.

Build a Fastlane business. Earn real financial freedom. Join free.

Join over 80,000 entrepreneurs who have rejected the paradigm of mediocrity and said "NO!" to underpaid jobs, ascetic frugality, and suffocating savings rituals— learn how to build a Fastlane business that pays both freedom and lifestyle affluence.

Free registration at the forum removes this block.

Tips on Brand Building

TheDynasty

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
17%
Jan 29, 2012
6
1
Hey Guys,

New to the forum. Curious if anyone had tips and/or recommended reading on building a brand. I'm trying to learn how to build a brand and have my brand associated with a specific need.

For example, I want my fitness equipment to be the first that comes to mind when you're thinking about opening a gym.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Bo_

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
15%
Apr 24, 2011
68
10
It's all about focus.

Think Subway, they didn't do anything new. They just focused on a type of sandwich. And whenever people say 'Subway' you know it's that 6inch longish sandwich.

Focus on your brand message in everything you do.

A few ideas:
1) Don't let people buy equipments individually. Sell them as an entire set.
2) Advertising. "Build a public gym with 1 order???"
3) Product name. Gym(xxx)?
4) Make it a high-end product, people won't normally spend tons of money just to get a high-end equipment. On the other hand, gyms might.

Then again I have no experience in this so don't follow my advice 100%. Also I don't know much about gym equipments.
 

SitesForSales

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
17%
Jan 20, 2012
42
7
The one thing every "Brand" book
written by someone who never built a brand or didn't realize how his brand truly was built
misses is this:

Every popular/successful commercial brand was built slowly by making GOOD COMMERCIAL OFFERS.

So you've got a gym:
What is your commercial offer? Why would you think someone would buy it?

Lowest price? Packs up and slides under the bed or folds up into the closet?
Tones muscle better/faster than competitors?
Is made for A PARTICULAR PERSON ( sex / height / weight range / fitness level )

Figure that out first OR the result will be that your "brand" will be associated with failure.

Talk to some gym owners - most of them probably LEASE their equipment
or buy it from a defunct gym/auction. Find out what would REALLY do it
for them - what would CLOSE the sale for them:

Durability?
2 year guarantee with an optional 5 year extended warranty?

Hopefully you are not selling a multiple configuration item
because they want each piece to do ONE THING and only one thing
so that nobody configures it wrong and gets hurt or gets hurt configuring it.
Also makes the product last longer if nobody is tinkering with it.
///////////////////////////

People who are starting a gym MOSTLY already think they know what
brand of equipment they want, since they are mostly familiar with it
as a user. That is one of the main things you need to overcome.

Whatever you do, start with the 3 to 5 most popular pieces of equipment
in any gym - or you will have dead stock for a long time.

The warehouse you use for this stock could actually be a gym.
Your own - where you have new stuff tested - and people pay you to do it.
=============================

Your equipment:
A crappy apartment or long vacant retail space:
A LOW PRICE MEMBERSHIP THAT UNDERCUTS ALL COMPETITORS
BY ABOUT 85% ( since no showers to start lol ):
- you will fund your new gym and equipment company in no time!
 

TheDynasty

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
17%
Jan 29, 2012
6
1
Every popular/successful commercial brand was built slowly by making GOOD COMMERCIAL OFFERS.

So you've got a gym:
What is your commercial offer? Why would you think someone would buy it?
Thanks for the responses guys.

We are the lowest price in the market for the exact same equipment you would get anywhere else. This is because we're higher up in the supply chain, we're wholesalers in a market where retailers are the only distributors.

I already know we have the best price - now how to let everyone know that our quality is as good if not better than the retailers? How do I let my brand reflect that?
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Brander

Bronze Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Jun 3, 2011
607
208
Australia, USA, Europe
Price does in the mind of most simians correspond to quality. Can you somehow take the risk out for them with a guarantee or trial? It's probably unrealistic for this type of product, but think hard about it. "You'll love our widgets, or we buy them back!" or similar.

Current customers talking highly of your product would go a long way of convincing other people. Explain to them the way you explained it in your post above.

Use the old used car salesman trick "Wholesale autos" when they sell to the public (implies same cars, but lower prices). Apologies if it sounds a bit off, it's late here. Good luck.
 

SitesForSales

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
17%
Jan 20, 2012
42
7
Price does in the mind of most simians correspond to quality.

This is true. However, when a business is being created with the primary hope of making it through
their first 6 months ( cashflow ) and knows that there will be multiple users and some people will be
abusive, careless or just incompetent. So quality is not the primary concern.


Can you somehow take the risk out for them with a guarantee or trial? It's probably unrealistic for this type of product, but think hard about it. "You'll love our widgets, or we buy them back!" or similar.

The customer, if smart, knows 3 things:

1 - The seller may not exist long enough to make good on that warranty.
2 - Equipment broken and unusable will be a serious problem for their gym.
3 - Doing what is required for positive cashflow is what needs to be done. and that is either
- get this stuff at low price that not just balances, but negates, risk of breakdowns
- get other stuff, even if it costs more ... and certainly if it costs less.

Again, I suggest getting into a situation with someone with AVAILABLE COMMERCIAL SPACE
and build a cheap gym with your equipment. There are all kinds of trainers and competitors
who would love to come to THE SPACE to train free and if you give them 20% of every CHEAP
membership they recruit - your gym will grow fast.
 

CamillaReberg

PARKED
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
0% - New User
Feb 25, 2012
2
0
37
Brand building like many other online marketing strategies can be time consuming. It is therefore best to integrate this strategy whenever possible with other functions of your business to make the best use of your time. One of the most effective branding strategies you can use is article submissions since this strategy is an excellent tool for developing an image online. When you submit an article you are striving to increase your exposure while also boosting your credibility as well! As the discussion above explains this also serves as a very effective way to reinforce and establish an online brand! By using article submissions as one of your branding strategies you can use your time more efficiently while building both credibility and brand recognition!

[Spam link removed by Mod]
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.
Last edited by a moderator:

anthonysfree

PARKED
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
0% - New User
Mar 13, 2012
4
0
35
when building a brand, its very to think of the PERSONALITY behind the behind the brand.. i know its abit vague, but this is really what matters!
 

longlivemedia

PARKED
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
0% - New User
Mar 8, 2012
15
0
40
Houston, TX
Positioning is a key factor in getting people to have your product or brand in mind. Somehow, it is the consumer that creates the brand, not the marketer. Marketers simply create tactical suggestions that encourage the consumers to acknowledge a specific positioning in their minds. To position your business effectively, you have to identify the key benefits of your product or service. These benefits will also make a positive impact on your brand identity, eventually creating trust in the brand itself.
 

Entrepking

New Contributor
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
13%
Apr 24, 2012
24
3
Positioning is a key factor in getting people to have your product or brand in mind. Somehow, it is the consumer that creates the brand, not the marketer. Marketers simply create tactical suggestions that encourage the consumers to acknowledge a specific positioning in their minds. To position your business effectively, you have to identify the key benefits of your product or service. These benefits will also make a positive impact on your brand identity, eventually creating trust in the brand itself.


I totally agree with you. Other brands became who they are today not because of the impact or the name or anything but on how people accepted it. But of course your marketing strategy would also be another key factor. For the suggestions if you should go for quality or for the economy, if you can go for both then why not, most especially if you are just starting, you would want to create the best reputation for your brand. Keep in mind that the brand should portray or reflect the product itself and the vision of your company. The competition is definitely fierce so it is a must that you bring something unique and worthwile to the table, this way your brand will immediately grab attention, that is something you would want starting out.
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Joebricky

PARKED
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
0% - New User
Oct 3, 2019
1
0
Springfield
Here are top 10 strategies for brand building:
1. Consider your overall business strategy.
2. Identify your target clients.
3. Research your target client group.
4. Develop your brand positioning.
5. Develop your messaging strategy.
6. Develop your name, logo and tagline.
7. Develop your content marketing strategy.
8. Develop your website.
9. Build your marketing toolkit.
10. Implement, track, and adjust.
 

Nick M.

Bronze Contributor
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
230%
Jul 13, 2018
175
403
@Lex DeVille has a great notable thread on branding:


Definitely check it out.
 

Solid Snake

Contributor
Read Fastlane!
User Power
Value/Post Ratio
117%
Jan 23, 2019
75
88
USA
The one thing every "Brand" book
written by someone who never built a brand or didn't realize how his brand truly was built
misses is this:

Every popular/successful commercial brand was built slowly by making GOOD COMMERCIAL OFFERS.

So you've got a gym:
What is your commercial offer? Why would you think someone would buy it?

Lowest price? Packs up and slides under the bed or folds up into the closet?
Tones muscle better/faster than competitors?
Is made for A PARTICULAR PERSON ( sex / height / weight range / fitness level )

Figure that out first OR the result will be that your "brand" will be associated with failure.

Talk to some gym owners - most of them probably LEASE their equipment
or buy it from a defunct gym/auction. Find out what would REALLY do it
for them - what would CLOSE the sale for them:

Durability?
2 year guarantee with an optional 5 year extended warranty?

Hopefully you are not selling a multiple configuration item
because they want each piece to do ONE THING and only one thing
so that nobody configures it wrong and gets hurt or gets hurt configuring it.
Also makes the product last longer if nobody is tinkering with it.
///////////////////////////

People who are starting a gym MOSTLY already think they know what
brand of equipment they want, since they are mostly familiar with it
as a user. That is one of the main things you need to overcome.

Whatever you do, start with the 3 to 5 most popular pieces of equipment
in any gym - or you will have dead stock for a long time.

The warehouse you use for this stock could actually be a gym.
Your own - where you have new stuff tested - and people pay you to do it.
=============================

Your equipment:
A crappy apartment or long vacant retail space:
A LOW PRICE MEMBERSHIP THAT UNDERCUTS ALL COMPETITORS
BY ABOUT 85% ( since no showers to start lol ):
- you will fund your new gym and equipment company in no time!


Hey man great post. Is this what is meant by "unique selling proposition"?
 
Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

Post New Topic

Please SEARCH before posting.
Please select the BEST category.

Post new topic

Guest post submissions offered HERE.

New Topics

Fastlane Insiders

View the forum AD FREE.
Private, unindexed content
Detailed process/execution threads
Ideas needing execution, more!

Join Fastlane Insiders.

Top