You may have heard of branding and wondered what it has to do with your small business or company. Well, the simple answer is that branding does everything for your business. Branding not only attracts new customers, but it also creates an experience for them and keeps the ones you already have coming back, time and time again. This means that when someone sees your brand, they know exactly what to expect from your product or service because you’ve created an image around it in their minds.
What Does Branding Really Mean?
These days, branding means more than ever. It’s a catch-all term that can cover every little part of your business, from your logo to your website to (yes) even your social media accounts. Your company’s branding is more than just an accessory; it’s what separates you from all other competitors. When you go to hire someone to help with your business’s graphic design or website or marketing plan, look for someone who understands how important branding is to your company’s success.
Understanding the Growth of Divergent Logos
Logos have always been important, but they’ve come to assume an increasingly vital role as businesses work hard to establish their brand. As brands have come to represent more than just a product or service, and have instead become repositories for belief systems, movements, emotions, ideas, lifestyles—even religions—it’s no wonder that it has become essential for them to attract attention in a crowded marketplace. Understanding how logos convey meaning is key to building an effective brand; if your logo isn’t on-brand with your messaging, you can say goodbye to any attempts at establishing trust with customers. No one will trust someone who has such a messed-up brand.
Finding Good Logos Takes Work – A Lot Of Work. But it pays off when you get it right.
One thing I’ve learned in my years in branding is that logos are so important. And while it might be tempting to try to handle your logo yourself, don’t. It will take you hours upon hours—days, even—to find something that fits your business’s personality, message, and vision. A great logo is worth every penny; cheap logos are just not worth it. Spend as much time on finding your brand as you do on finding what you want to sell. Designers aren’t just important for your logo either: they can help with all kinds of graphic design work for your website or social media presence.
Logo Colors Are Emotional – Learn To Use Them!
I’ve seen it time and time again – I don’t know what color to make my logo! Is blue good? Or red? I like green… wait, maybe that’s not professional. Will people take me seriously if I use pink? How about black? It goes with everything. What should I do?! If you are asking yourself these questions, then you are fighting an uphill battle. A designer would have helped you pick out your brand colors right away. Colors have so much meaning and implications that they help define who you are.
Custom Packaging Is Vital For Your Company
The way your brand looks is vital. Business cards, website design, letterhead, etc. all need to reflect your vision and look professional in order for you to appeal to your target market. If you want consumers to trust that they’re dealing with someone who knows what they’re doing, it’s vital that you put together a good-looking brand before launching your business. And it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, either: there are plenty of affordable options out there. Just be sure not to skimp on quality! An amateur design can do more harm than good for your company down the road…
Font Choices Reflect Culture, Not Just Taste
Font choices reflect more than just taste—they often reflect culture. When you’re starting your own company, it’s important to consider how your choice of font reflects on your business. Is it mature? Can it stand up to other companies in its field? Does it project trustworthiness? Professional designers can help you determine what font is right for your brand image. No matter where you are in starting or expanding your company, partnering with a professional designer will go a long way toward projecting professionalism from day one. And when people think professional, they think trustworthy—which means they’ll be willing to trust that your products live up to their promises as well. That’s how small design decisions become big marketing wins!
DIY Packaging Can Harm Your Brand
Don’t go cutting corners when it comes to packaging. While that might be tempting to save money, your business will suffer in return. Packaging is not just what you present your product in; it’s also branding. In fact, packaging is such an important component of your brand that if it is poor quality, people are less likely to purchase your product at all. They subconsciously associate bad products with bad brands—and that hurts sales! Instead, work with professionals who specialize in branding to create a custom solution for you!
How We Get Our Clients Their Dream Branding
When we start with an idea, one of our first steps is to research your industry. We will use tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush to find out what people are searching for when they look for a product or service in your field. If you don’t have clients yet, we might study similar businesses or organizations in your area that already have their brand established. Then we’ll do our best to understand what words people use when they think about brands like yours. It helps us gain insight into how others view your brand, even if they haven’t come in contact with it yet.
Conclusion
Having a unique brand is one of the most valuable tools in building your business. Your website, logo, colors and font make up your brand’s personality. It will tell people who you are, what you do, how you do it, where to find you and why they should hire you. If you’re struggling with your brand’s design or feel as though it could use an update, there’s no better time than now to get some help from a professional graphic designer. It may seem daunting at first, but having a professional on board can drastically increase your potential to build success for years to come.