Today’s blog is all about your business branding and it’s consistency, or possible lack thereof. Have you ever looked at an organizations social media or website and thought about how amazing it looked but you weren’t sure what the secret sauce was? There IS a formula... and in a nutshell it’s CONSISTENT branding and concise messaging. This pattern of expression that is emerging from your business is what will help take your business to the next level.

We all have our favorite style in the clothes we wear, the products we buy, and the restaurants we prefer to visit. The same identity could be said for your business and its target buyer persona. Trying to constantly reinvent yourself showcasing a brand who may have an identity crisis, probably won’t do your bottom line any favors (although you want to update and refresh from time to time). You’ll want to keep your look somewhat in sync so that when someone is exposed to your marketing, immediately they will know it’s you.

How do I find marketing inspiration?

You probably find yourself doing it while perusing your favorite brands. Notice some of the things that they do, and try to emulate their overarching ideas, but putting your own spin on it and make it uniquely your own. There are professionals (like The Found Brand) who do this with targeted market research and data analysis. I’ve seen many small business owners who think they can do it all (including their marketing), and then other areas of their business suffer. Think about brands like Nike, Target and Walmart. With simple recurring icons they don’t need their full logo to be recognizable…Why? Because their brands are on point and that swoosh, bullseye, and yellow spark is all they need (not to mention the millions spent in advertising that helps you remember their brand). Genius marketing teams over there. You can achieve similar results with your customers with the right strategies. It just takes some work and proper planning. It does not need to cost a fortune.

Do I need a professional logo and brand standards?

It’s important to start with the basics. Do you have brand standards and a professional logo that thoroughly explains who you are and what you do? This will ensure the consistency of your business across the board. All the way from internal memos to Instagram posts. This is where you fine tune your identity and choose fonts, colors and create guidelines that should be followed throughout your team on every level.

Make sure that your voice is homogeneous across any and all platforms. If you have multiple people maintaining different channels, you’ll want to ensure the tone stays the same. Engaging with current and potential customers will create awareness and build loyalty and they. The same would be true for any and all visuals you create for your business.

Do you have brand consistency?

So the big question is, how would you rate your brand consistency? Do you think you are putting your best foot forward to represent your business? Here is an easy quiz to help determine whether your brand could use a little updating… We are here to help YOU.
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Brand Identity Quiz

1. Do you currently have brand standard document created that you could send to a new hire and they would know precisely how to create visuals for a new marketing campaign that fits your organization?

2. Do you know what a mood board is? Have you created one to help curate and streamline the tone and feel for the aesthetics of your business?

3. Do you have messaging framework established that could be shared with colleagues as a reference to how to sell and articulate your business? Would this documentation allow them to sell your product flawlessly?

4. Are your marketing processes automated?

5. Does your website showcase your products or service clearly and offer a way to solve a problem expertly?

6. Have you updated your website/logo/brand within the last 5 years?

7. Have you internally audited your team and inquired about the overall tone and messaging of your corporate communications and sales? What do their answers have in common and how does that match up with your vision?

8. Do you have organized solutions for all your assets (images, documentation, collateral, battle cards, brand standards)

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If you feel that your current brand identity or messaging could use some refreshing, let's discuss your options and how we can help your brand thrive and grow.