Branding the boring bits

Branding your website, video and social media posts can be fun, and it’s always nice to see your content shared from other users when it has your logo and colours incorporated into them. That said, there are some very boring everyday items that need to be branded too, such as letters, warehouse packaging and price lists. These everyday items still need that brand incorporated into them, and they should look the part.

Everything that goes out your warehouse or printer is important, and it’s going to be noticed by customers and potential customers alike, so make sure some time and effort go into it. A letter with a nice branded heading will draw more people to open it and read it when compared to something in black and white without any logo or branding. This is why it’s important to look at the bigger picture of branding, whilst realising it’s not just for digital platforms.

What’s In a Brand Design Agency?

A major action for business people is the development of their particular brand. Your brand is your assurance to your client that you will be staying and will be reputable. A branding agency ensures that your key message is delivered clearly. It also generates an emotional relationship with your customers and drives the consumer to purchase your merchandise. It also serves to create a memory for the purchaser. Brands are essential, and an excellent brand design agency should be hired to help the entrepreneur develop the brand. Keep reading to learn some principles of making any major changes which are discussed below. Continue reading “What’s In a Brand Design Agency?”

Maintaining brand identity

Brand identity is very important aspect of building a business. It is vital that brand identity is established when the business is created. There are a few things to consider when creating a brand identity:

Logo- You should create a logo that is simple, creative and memorable, that way it is more likely to be recognised when seen on products, posters or at a glance.

Colour- Choosing a colour that represents your brand is key. This can then be implemented onto your website, social media business accounts, promotional flyers or products.

Typography- You should choose a style of writing that will help represent your brand, this should then be used on all written content for your business.

These are the three main elements that help shape a brands identity, that is why sorting this out during the creation of a business is so important. Brand identity helps old and new customers become familiar with your business and are more likely to return.

Cutting Costs on Logo Design

Logo design is one of the first branding tasks for startup companies, and spending a fortune isn’t necessary. There are many ways in which you can cut costs on logo designs, and the first is by checking out freelance websites. There are many great logo designers offering their services at very fair prices, and depending on how simple your logo is, you can actually choose an individual with little experience. They may be looking to build their portfolio and some will be willing to help you out free of charge (FOC), so it’s win win for both of you. You can also learn how to design logos yourself, and though this takes time, knowing basic design can be great for you and your business. Another option is to ask around and find friends who have experience with design, there’s always a good chance they know someone who can help you out, so be sure not to pay over the odds for logo design.

Maintaining a positive brand reputation

No matter how beautiful your logo looks, it is not the be all and end all. A logo is just the start of the branding process. Many companies feel that if they spend time creating a website and social media pages with their new luxury logo, they will have created a brand that looks good and entices new customers. But what about your reputation?

You also need to make sure you’re responding to messages quickly, providing your customers with engaging content, making sure orders go through seamlessly and giving them reasons to leave positive reviews. Word of mouth is always going to be huge in terms of attracting new business, so you have to do all you can to create a positive brand reputation. You may not have full control over this, but you should at least make sure the majority of your customers have good experiences and you should go out of your way to make that happen. This is much more important than a fancy website or logo!

Branded stationary for your clients: More than a nice gesture

The key to creating strong brand awareness is repeated exposure of your brand to your target audience.

This ‘repeated exposure’ can come in a range of forms, from your logo on your packaging to your letterhead, social media page, phone case, carrier bag, website or van. Many companies spend a considerable amount of their marketing budget on branded stationary so that they can give these items out to their existing and potential customers, and you may be surprised to know just how much effect a pencil, pen, keyring, mousemat or ruler can have!

Stationary is important in most workplaces. A branded pen could stay with your client for 2 weeks, a month or even a year, so by giving your branded stationary out to perspective clients as a gift or nice gesture, you’re able to keep your business in their mind. We’re not saying a customer will choose you just because of your sparkly new pen, we’re just saying that if you’re able to get your branding in their workplace, around them, near them or on their desk, you could be making your brand more recognisable, so this little touch can actually go a long way.

This form of branding also shows that your message is worth more than just an email, social post or letter. You’re making your brand look more professional and unique, which is always a positive in the eyes of a potential client. Many people confuse branding with logo design, but your brand is everything about your business. It’s how customers see your business. So make sure you’re keeping a positive reputation in the industry by outperforming your competitors, whilst never taking your foot of the gas in terms of building brand awareness and improving recognition. Every new client or customer is unique, and while some will be more likely to act on an email or social media post, others may prefer a phone call or face to face visit, so make sure you deliver valuable content for all types of individuals.