BRANDING
logos, taglines, colors and more.
A brand is a collection of ideas and images representing a business. It refers to the distinct symbols such as a logo, name, slogan, or design theme. Brand recognition is created by the accumulation of experiences with a specific product or service.
Your brand is your promise to your customer. It tells them what they can expect from your products and services, and it differentiates your offering from that of your competitors. Your brand is derived from who you are, who you want to be, and who people perceive you to be.
Branding must answer the high calling of being both memorable and unique to your business or individual venture. It is what makes you you. Branding is the single most important item(s) created in the entire design process. It is also very often one of the most time-consuming things we do as graphic designers.
Regardless of your industry, category, or background, I can help. My clients come from all walks of life, from all types of businesses. I am intentionally industry-agnostic because I’ve learned over the past twenty-four years that it’s not what category you’re in that matters—it’s what you do in that category that matters.
Need Branding for Your New Business?
The 3 Bs of Branding
When meeting a potential client for the first time, how would you dress? Would you meet them looking all disheveled and smelling foul? How would you speak? Would you use slang? NO! Just as you want to create a good first impression in person, you even more so want to online because online is usually where your new clients will first meet you.
Be Real.
The World Wide Web is full of fakes and frauds, and consumers can easily spot them out in a crowd. Consumers have become skeptics and are beginning to demand authenticity. That is why it is important to clearly define who you are and develop a strong brand position. Be different and separate yourself from other brands, but don’t pretend to be something you’re not.
Be True.
Who you are and how you deliver your message must always coincide. By doing so, you are fulfilling your brand promise. The moment you break a promise to your consumer by doing something that doesn’t reflect who you say you are, you start losing credibility with your customer. Always be true to your brand identity.
Be Known.
Be Bold, Be Loud, Be Creative. Don’t be afraid to show the world who you are and put yourself out there. Don’t allow yourself to be intimidated and fall into the trap of doing what everyone else is doing. Be confident in who you are as a brand. Be creative and have fun in what you are doing. People gravitate towards originality and creativity and reward it with loyalty.
If you are embarrassed and unhappy about your brand, you cannot expect your target audience to like your brand either. Having a strong brand not only connects you with your audience, but it also has a huge effect on how you carry and present yourself. Contact me now to discuss how I can help you in creating a brand identity that will help make your business easily recognizable.
Keys to Brand Success
hover over each box for more information
Research & Insights
Brand Strategy
Brand Naming
Brand Identity
Branded Environments
Leadership Seminars
Website Development
Content Development
Style Guide
Need Branding for Your New Business?
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a brand?
A brand is the perceived identity of and emotional connection with your company and its products and services. A brand identity must be consistent and constant to be effective. You want unified branding in everything you do, from your company logo to your annual report—otherwise, your employees and prospects get mixed or conflicting information.
What is branding?
Branding is about developing a customized, uniform image for your business—your brand—internally and externally. It attracts attention, tells your story, sets you apart from your competition, and makes it easy for them to buy. Successful brand marketing is a crucial factor in increasing initial and repeat sales.
What is the benefit of branding?
It used to be that all a business owner needed to be successful was a business card, a yellow pages ad, and a decent product or service. That won’t work anymore. Now you need a website, marketing collateral, brochures, and so much more. Branding ensures that your message to prospects is consistent and clear.
Why should I brand?
If your brand identity isn’t strong and recognizable, there’s a disconnect between you and your audience. You may be sending the wrong message or sending too many jumbled messages. You want a brand image for your company that not only creates awareness but also encourages prospects to buy and cultivates their loyalty.
What is the difference between a company logo and branding?
Your logo is just one piece of the puzzle that is your brand. Your logo is important, and it plays a significant role in your brand marketing because it’s the visual representation of your company. But it’s not your brand. Branding ties together all the elements of your marketing and advertising—including, but not limited to, your company logo.
How often should I update my brand image?
Most big companies freshen up their brand image every 7–10 years, regardless of circumstances, by doing minor alterations. Changing fonts and color combinations or eliminating shapes can keep your company from looking obsolete. If your company has experienced a transformation such as a merger, a new company direction, or a company name change, you need to update your company’s brand identity.
Do I need a custom designed corporate logo?
A custom-designed corporate logo is central to your brand building. You want to set yourself apart, and a custom logo is one excellent way to do that. The last thing you want is someone else using your logo. Prospective clients need to take one look and know your corporate logo instantly.
What is the purpose of brand management?
Brand management is all about about boosting a company’s perceived value to the customer by ensuring all of your marketing materials are consistent. A consistent brand helps improve brand equity, and makes it easier to manage both the tangible and intangible aspects of your brand.
I'm just a small business, does branding matter?
Do you want to stay small? Investing in your brand is really an investment in your future growth. Today you’re a small business, tomorrow you could be much bigger – and it will probably be your brand that gets you there.
Why should I spend money on branding?
It’s your business, and your money – but the reality is that you ARE branding yourself, whether you do it deliberately or by default. The real question is, where do you want to end up? If you look at the marketplace, I think you’ll find that many businesses have failed because they didn’t take advantage of branding to stand out from the competition. In some cases they were swallowed up by companies with inferior products or services, but better branding. Do you really want to go there?
How long does branding take?
Custom logos averages 2-3 weeks, and branding 4-6 weeks. I provide you with a questionnaire so that you can describe what you’d like your brand to be. My process is quite collaborative, so you won’t go for weeks at a time without hearing from me!
What can I expect working with you?
When you work with me, you can expect a partner in your success. I will talk about your company’s strengths, weaknesses, target audience, and goals. I’ll look at your current brand marketing and figure out what’s working, what’s not, and how to get on the right track. You won’t be lectured or ignored. On the contrary, you’ll be encouraged and treated as the brilliant entrepreneur you are. After all, you’ve come this far!