10 March 2014. For corporate bodies in Australia wishing to establish a business presence in the UK, the good news is that launching an operating subsidy, branch or other business presence in Britain is a straightforward process, which can be achieved very quickly and at minimal cost. The UK does not impose any restrictions on foreign ownership of businesses and there are no exchange or investment control regulations. Relative to a number of other jurisdictions, the rates of corporation taxation remain low, helping to create an attractive trading and investment environment.

The complications arise from Australian enterprises’ lack of status abroad. For all except the most successful, well-established businesses, relocating to a new country is effectively like starting from scratch abroad. As a foreign enterprise, Australian companies are generally unfamiliar to UK consumers. One of the most important factors in determining success is how well they succeed in improving their visibility and marketing their brand.

Social Media Success

Enterprises should let British consumers know that they are on their way. Australian businesses can take advantage of free platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to share social content relevant to their brand before they even set foot on UK soil. Social media is the rising star of brand marketing and companies should make full use of it. It provides a platform to actively participate in word-of-mouth marketing and interact with customers on a personal level, and provides an unparalleled opportunity to improve company visibility. Brands with an active presence on social media have a supreme degree of control with regards to shaping public perception and creating a brand tone of voice which is in keeping with their personal ethos.

Word of Mouth Works Wonders

The best medium for growth in the early days is also one of the easiest and undoubtedly the cheapest; word of mouth. If clients are satisfied, businesses should ask them for referrals. Enterprises need to make it beneficial for clients to recommend them by offering a referral fee, for example. Australian businesses need to make their name the word on every pair of British lips by networking at industry events such as conferences, association meetings and seminars. Business experts suggest that they should not only network with competitors and industry contacts, but also with clients. Representatives should go to client industry events and socialize, making sure that their business card is always at hand.

Sponsoring Local Events

The sponsorship of public events can provide a wonderful opportunity to display a company or product via a medium which it wishes to be associated with, targeting a specific audience in a direct way. The events which enterprises participate in should be carefully selected to ensure that company budgets are spent on only the most opportune causes; those which depict a company in a positive light, and are attended by a large number of its target demographic. Charity events sponsorship can be a particularly valuable tool - as well as increasing visibility, it associates a brand with a positive cause, highlights its social responsibility and indicates a benevolent ethos which is attractive to consumers.

Cruise into the Collective Consciousness

There are multiple advantages for Australian businesses that choose to invest in company cars. Vehicles provide an opportunity for advertising the brand, and the reduction in prices offered by most manufacturers means that companies can create a fleet which makes them appear affluent and financially stable. Companies such as Maxxia, which offer fleet management solutions and assistance with sourcing vehicles, have local knowledge and can be invaluable in ensuring that businesses don’t spend above the odds.

Vehicle advertising can act as a useful, economical medium for advertising businesses and promoting the brand message. Vehicle wraps, graphics and vehicle vinyl lettering can be used to build a brand’s identity and transform its fleet into 24/7 moving billboards. As cars are not restricted to a particular location or demographic, they provide brands with the opportunity to reach an incalculably large market.

Branding is a fundamental medium for companies to connect with their audience. The ultimate marketing goal is for a company’s target market to think of them, and their company, when they are ready to buy, and it is easy to understand how branding can improve product visibility and appeal to the target audience. Successfully branding can produce an incredible return on investment. For any Australian enterprise seeking to expand abroad and ensure growth, success, and an increase in profits, failing to brand their product is not an option.