A New Year rebrand can seem like a great idea - until you get down to the details. You might know that you’re not happy with what you have, but what do you want instead? Here are a few simple ways to approach your New Year rebrand and get it right.
Think about your values
Your branding needs to tell your customers what you stand for. What do you think of when you see logos for some of the world’s biggest brands? You don’t just think about the design. It reminds you of what that brand stands for and how you feel about it. What are your business values? How do you want your customers (or the people who aren’t customers yet) to feel when they think about you? There’s no set answer to this. You might want to be super professional, trustworthy, friendly and approachable or a whole host of other things. You might want to be known for your stand on a particular issue. Start there and get clear on what you want your branding to say.
Talk to your customers
Your customers have chosen to work with you for a reason so ask them what it was. You might find that what they see in you wasn’t what you expected. Hearing their thoughts tells you how to create branding that will attract more people like them. It also stops you from moving away from the things that your audience already love. Ask wide ranging questions that go beyond what products and services they like best (although you should definitely ask about those too). What do people like and dislike about your service and how you talk to them? Have they seen your social media posts or read your blog? Find out what makes them come back and you can create new branding that does the same.
What do you want to change?
Once you’ve done your research it’s time to work out how to create your new brand visuals. Do you want to stick with your original brand colours but use them in a different way? People will often recognise your colours before anything else so it can be a good idea to keep them in some form. You can shake up your branding by changing the images you use, choosing new fonts or creating new layouts for your marketing materials. It’s a good idea to talk to a designer as we have lots of experience with expressing your brand values in a visual way. We can come up with ideas that will tell people what you stand for without being obvious and cheesy.
Be consistent
When you’ve created a gorgeous new brand you’ll want to show it off everywhere. In fact, making sure you can show it off everywhere is part of the process. If you work with a designer to create your branding it’s important to give them examples of the marketing materials you already have. That could include both online and offline examples. Your new branding will need to appear everywhere your customers find you. Your logo and branding could appear on your website, social media, leaflets, business cards and in print advertising as well. Let your designer know what you need and they’ll make sure you have the designs to match. Being consistent with your branding means that your customers will recognise you wherever they find you.
If you’re ready for a New Year rebrand, I’d love to help! Just get in touch!
