Branding your business can seem like a daunting task, but it's important that you do it right the first time. Don’t settle for average or routine, and if you want your business to stand out in the crowd, be intentional about identifying your brand and executing thoughtful design.
Know Your Mission
Before brand identity and specific design can happen, a business needs to know its mission. Evaluating perspective, image, personality, goals, and values contributes to a company’s ability to understand its mission and, therefore, be able to communicate that identity to its customers and the general market. Create a list of the major goals you have for your business, and analyze your current and desired image. How do you want to be perceived?
Stay Simple
Overly complicated names, mottos, slogans, logos, etc. are easily forgotten. Make sure all company communication is clear and unified. A customer won’t recognize and understand your message and brand if it’s confusing or inconsistent. Companies like McDonald’s, Target, and Apple have basic logos that are both memorable and recognizable. The logos stand out and are unique but still relatively simple and clean. Keeping colors basic and straightforward also creates impact and drama.
Seek Help
One of the best ways to guarantee clear brand identity and killer design is to hire a professional. Trained marketers and designers already have the skills, knowledge, and experience to help you manage your brand and create unique, unified design. They can walk you through the process and offer fast solutions to many, if not all, your design dilemmas. Just make sure you avoid companies or designers that try to force you into a mold without considering your identity and preferences, but also be open minded and willing to take advice. If you’re looking for a design company to help you through the process, consider Arc and Co.
Be Consistent
Make sure the brand identity and specific designs you choose can be used across multiple platforms like laptops, smartphones, magazines, newspapers, etc. A classic, simple logo that can be used in a wide variety of settings is one of the best ways a business can achieve recognition and status amongst its competition. If you do decide to hire a firm or designer, make sure you ask questions about format. The logo and other branding materials should be saved in multiple file formats and should be easily enlarged and reproduced.
Whether you’re starting a new business or simply redirecting an established one, focused branding and consistent design make any company unique, memorable, and recognizable. Branding your business doesn't have to be difficult with these tips.