Businesses update their brand identity all the time – and many designers lean toward the idea that simpler is better. But why do businesses rebrand? And can you successfully change your logo and other identifying details without confusing your customer base? The answer is yes.
Today, Instadesign shares a few ideas on how to dial in your branding to best tune into your current and potential customers’ needs.
Start with asking for feedback.
If you already have an established social media, it’s a smart idea to ask your current customers that are already following your work what they think about the idea of changing some things up within your brand. While you’ll still need to offer content that appeals to them, there’s nothing wrong with getting their attention and asking for feedback.
Audit your brand.
Once you have feedback, you can then take a brand audit. This is where you assess your current brand identity, which includes your logo, tagline, and overall visual elements. How well does your brand resonate with your target audience? Ask yourself that question so that you can identify areas for improvement. Conducting a thorough brand audit can help you best decide which elements you should hold onto and which need an overhaul.
Identify your story.
Every brand tells a story, and it’s time to tell yours. Decide what your ultimate goal is, and then think of ways that your visual branding might help relay that message. WordStream asserts that keeping things simple is the best strategy. One example of a brand that tells a story through its visuals of Amazon. Its iconic logo features what appears to be a smiley face starting under A and ending at the Z. It’s meant to signify that you can find everything from A to Z through the online retail giant. Your story might be found in your company’s mission statement.
Change your slogan.
Sometimes, adding or changing your company’s slogan is enough to create brand strength. The Feedough blog explains that a slogan is simply a short set of words that assist in brand identification and recall. An idea of a slogan for an embroidery shop might be “We’ll keep you in stitches.” The point isn’t to create a full sentence, and your slogan doesn’t even have to be grammatically correct as long as it evokes familiarity.
Make small tweaks.
Your logo/branding redesign doesn’t have to be anything major. You might even start by simply changing colors and removing unnecessary details. If you plan to use an online designer, you should be able to have no problem finding plenty of options online.
Contact a professional.
If you struggle to come up with ideas or don’t have the technical experience to manage a redesign on your own, contact a professional. Instadesign specializes in branding and has an impressive portfolio of designs that will give you an idea of why a good logo can help you elevate your image.
Put your brand everywhere.
Okay, while you might not actually want to put your brand literally everywhere, you do want to make sure that it’s noticeable and visible in places where it needs to be. A few ideas here include making sure that your logo is on your websites, worn by your employees, and visible on packaging. Each of these is an inexpensive and effective way to create impressions and help solidify the memory of your brand in your customers’ minds.
At the end of the day, the goal of your brand is to tell a story. When it’s time for an overhaul or update, start by talking to your customers on your existing social media platforms. Then, decide exactly what your story is and think of ways to simplify the visual and other elements that go along with telling that story. Don’t worry, you can always call in a pro if you need assistance.
Image via Pexels
