Templates by Tamara Kramer

You have a great product, but still struggling to stand out?

Here's what you have to know about building a brand as a startup.👇

Standing out is crucial, but here's the twist:

you are already different, you just have to show it.

Do you have to be better than your competitor?

Well, yes and no.

You have to be unique.

Before investing countless hours and $$$ into reinventing the wheel, consider this: authenticity > novelty.

Focus on a genuine connection with your audience.

1. Tell them stories about your brand

↳so they can relate to them

2. Be present on socials

↳like if your brand was a person

3. Understand their pains

↳but offer solutions

4. Be on top of their minds

↳when they need to buy

5. Don't sell in your ads

↳but build connections

Differentiation → differentiation with purpose and authenticity.

Remember, it's not just about what sets you apart; it's about what draws people in and keeps them coming back.

P.S. Investing more in brand marketing or in paid ads?

"Love at first site" First impressions that convert 💸

🔥 New (roasting live) Linkedin audio! 🔥

We're here to bring crystal-clear, no-nonsense critiques built on a decade of branding and marketing experience —all in the name of helping you grow. It's done in the spirit of generosity.

We will tackle these topics:

1. How your brand’s vibe hooks visitors the moment they land on your page

2. Storyselling - the power of brand storytelling that steals hearts (and opens wallets)

3. Call to Action or Cry for Help? How to design CTAs that acctually work ✨

4. Building credibility that converts browsers into buyers

5. How does brand awareness bring you revenue

And much more.

Will it get awkward? Likely.

Feel like a personal roast? That’s on you.

Do people get defensive? Sometimes.

But for those brave enough to sit in the hot seat, and those armed with nothing but eagerness and a notebook, the rewards are massive.

Where else can you get a free website and brand check-up?

Who else is giving you sharp, real-time feedback?

How else are you going to level up?

Post your website in the comments and we will roast it LIVE on Wednesday 24th of April - 7PM CET.

If you have questions, feel free to post them in the comments.

Adriaan Myburgh and me will be answering them live! 🔥

____

I am Tamara Kramer - your strategy friend. Share this with your audience, so they can also learn some useful stuff for free. ♻️

Brand building vs ads in B2B marketing?

Both! Here's why... 👇

In B2B, brand building is often seen as:

1. Slow → not worth the wait

2. Unnecessary → doesn't show results

I will proof you wrong.

Many (probably you included) opt for quick-fix targeted ads. But remember: you're only as good as your last ad.

Stop paying → the party's over.

Building a brand? Tough and time-consuming.

But once built, it stays. No ad can match the trust and loyalty a strong brand brings.

Here's the twist:

Combine, don't choose.

Paid ads + loyal customers → an unbeatable combination

Proportion? Try 60/40, then opt for more brand marketing.

Unable to measure ROAS? Try checking your sales after you have an established brand.

People buy from brands they trust.

It's time for a pivot. Think 'and', not 'or'.

Adopt this strategy and share your results.

P.S. Do you only rely on paid ads?

How did you choose your career?

What made you what you are today?

I will start. ✨

My passion always lied in creative work. I liked to draw since a very early age.

I thought I'd be a fashion designer, I was only drawing women and their fearless combinations. 😀

But, in my city, we didn't have Applied arts University and I went to study in Italy.

(partially because of their food too 🍕)

But, when I came to Austria, it was very different.

They were organised, speaking german and (seemed in the beginning) not very artistic.

(I learned that wasn't true, I was too young to see)

But... There were plenty of jobs. I could try out things and decide what I 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 want.

For a long time I didn't know what I wanted. I became an art director, but I still wasn't sure if was on the right path.

Something was definitely missing, because I liked doing creative things, but I knew there was more to design.

I knew I liked strategy too: strategic thinking, thinking how we're being perceived, psychological part of it.

(yes, I've read tons of book about psychology)

But I thought I can't do it, I didn't study marketing. Who would ask an art director about strategy?

I started learning about marketing like crazy. I worked in a marketing department after all.

Then I discovered brand marketing.

That was it: strategy + design!

That was literally me! ✨

I connected the two dots: the art of asking right questions and visual creative work.

The art of telling stories.

I love talking to CEOs about their visions for the future and the purpose behind their businesses.

I really love that spark in their eyes when they talk how they started their business. I have the same spark when talking about mine.

And you know what? They love it too.

They feel the genuine approach. They know I am there to help them to get where they wanna be.

But what I wanted to say, if you feel something is missing, explore it.

Ask yourself these difficult questions.

You have the answers, I can guarantee you.

What's your story? How did you end up where you are now?

Tell me in the comments! 👇

P.S. This is picture on the day I graduated - post yours, I dare you!

Branding fails scale-ups face

(and how you can avoid them)

Step 5 is when I was hired. Twice.👇

1. They ignore branding in the early stages

2. Nobody recognises them

3. They rebrand internally with juniors

4. They don't like it - they try an agency

5. Doesn't work - they try internally AGAIN

6. Gets complicated and too long

7. They quit 🪦

8. They get frustrated and start again. ♻️

This is fine if you have unlimited resources and time to experiment.

But if you're low on budget (or don't wanna lose your nerves around it many times) consider this:

1. Invest in branding from day 1

↳a.k.a. build a brand strategy

2. Keep in mind who you're selling to

↳don't forget - this is about them

3. Your brand persona and ICP should fit together

↳imagine 2 people going on a date

4. Pitch your business to yourself in 20 seconds

↳if you can't - something is wrong

5. Do you see your brand the same as your customers do?

↳is there a gap?

If you're living the tragedy described above right now, feel free to reach out.

Otherwise, take a free brand quiz in my links.

P.S. How many times have you rebranded already?

Number 1 reason personal brands fail

No personal touch.

- they don't speak beyond work topics

- they ignore writing and formatting

- they post text only

The result? Lack of relatability.

My posts were also failing till I applied these 5 strategies.

I started posting just 8 weeks ago. I have 2900 followers now.

Steal my 5 strategies 👇

1. Show your face

↳Faces resonate more than just text

2. Be relatable with your audience

↳Be their solution, turn them into clients

3. Embrace vulnerability

↳Share some struggles and be transparent

4. Post on Sundays

↳My analysis shows it works wonders

5. Show your wins

↳Highlight client success stories

People relate to people, not to text.

Show you’re a professional, but yet human. The others here are too.

Shortest masterclass over! 🫳🎤

P.S. Do you also post on Sundays?

Are you focusing on business growth, or are you growing a brand?

Should you even care about these concepts? Or do you believe that they are one and the same?

Both are important, but you need to understand the differences so that you can get your priorities straight.

Read more >>

I grew my client's ARR by 5%.

I rebranded only 1 of his products. One.

Let me tell you about this.

Meet 'Joe', he owns a fishing business, selling their catch at the nearby supermarket chain.

But why pick his from an 'ocean' of options? (especially here where I live)

'If my product is good, they'll buy it.', he said.

WRONG.

- sales hit the wall

- his radio ads didn't help

You've read that right. Radio ads.

So I stepped in:

1.Rebranded just one product: smoked salmon

2.Tailored it to his target audience: the health-conscious, environmentally-friendly folks

And then, a twist! 👇

3.Launched a second product, again smoked salmon, but this one aimed at kids: playful packaging + smaller serving size.

He said kids don't like fish.

But you know what: they like it if the packaging is fun!

Result? 5% more annual revenue.

It's not just about having a good product. You need to package it right for your audience.

Do you know your audience? And more importantly, do they know YOU?

Do they perceive you as you would like to be perceived as a brand?

P.S. How many times you bought a product because of their packaging?

Everyone wants to build a big brand

(yet only a few succeed)

What's the secret?

Big brands know that the 95% of the market doesn’t know their product even exists.

That means targeted ads would work only on that 5% (that know you).

The mistake I've often seen is:

- businesses double down on ads

- they hit a wall

👉 (all 5% now either bought their product or they don't want it)

What do big brands do instead? 🧠

They convert today and build demand for tomorrow.

Big brands get big on emotional and persuasive ads to as many as possible people over a long period of time.

The best thing? You can do that on a budget!

Brand marketing is much cheaper, but it takes time and patience.

But.. It builds big brands.

Do something great for your business today.

Stand out from that crowd.

P.S. Ready to elevate your brand and stand out from the competition?