Yes, I get it, you don't want to spend a "fortune", "an arm and a leg", or "a crap load" of money on your brand but you want to making a killing in your business. Let me break it to you -- IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. In order to make a mark in your industry, you need to stand out for the right reasons and that comes with an investment in your brand. Which is an investment in yourself! So don't cheap out where it counts. If you can spend a few hundred dollars on a vacation, or shopping spree -- you can find the funds to put into your brand. Also, negotiating or bartering for a deal if you cannot afford it, is the way to go. A lot of designers have payment plans, so don't be discouraged!
So let me get real with you. Deep down you know, you aren't leaving a memorable impression with your potential clients. You absolutely feel like your brand doesn't authentically represent you. Let me ask you these following questions, and do yourself a favour and answer them honestly:
1) DID YOU DIY YOUR LOGO?
Even if you didn't DIY, did you get it made and you aren't 100% in love with it? Are you proud of it? Do you wish it were better? Does it lack something? Well, if you are having any of these thoughts, it's time to re-do it and this time invest in a designer who will resonate with your vision. The overall energy of your brand will reflect you aren't in love with your company's appearance. A logo is how people see your brand, and your investment in the right one for you is important.
2) DO YOU HAVE A CONSISTENT BRANDING THEME?
If you just said "What is branding?" out loud, you are in trouble! This entails everything from fonts to colour palettes. When you post on social media, or make any type of materials under your business name -- is it consistent? Do you use the same fonts? Do you use the same colours? Do you place and format everything correctly so it's aesthetically pleasing? If you are having doubts about any of these, or find yourself guilty of these VITAL steps; it's time to re-think your brand strategy.
3) DO YOU STRUGGLE WITH CLARITY?
What is your message? Your niche? Your ideal client? Your expertise? Are you all over the place? You should be able to explain your brand in a sentence or less. If you can't narrow it down to that, grab a piece of paper and reflect. For example, Pixels and Lattes, is a styled stock library for women entrepreneurs! See? One sentence and not a complete mouthful. I was very confident writing that. You should be too!
4) IS YOUR WEBSITE LAYOUT TERRIBLE?
The first thing most people do is search for your website. If the layout doesn't flow, if your logo doesn't match your website, and if the fonts are whacky and hideous, you won't make a good, or lasting impression. A good website design is an investment - this is something you should not do yourself, unless you have design experience. If you need a good website and an affordable package, check out Black Dahlia Press! Websites like Squarespace, Wordpress, Weebly are easy to DIY but if you "suck" at design, do yourself a favour and make the investment towards hiring a professional!
5) YOU STRUGGLE WITH GRAPHICS, DESIGN & ALL THE FUN VISUAL STUFF?
You don't know the first thing about making infographics for your business. Whether it be for social media or other materials. You are unsure of where to place text, which fonts to choose, and how to choose your colour palette. It's okay! Pat yourself on the back if you tried regardless. Make sure to have a designer help you with your brand identity while you are in the process of re-building your image. If your website looks completely different from your social media posts -- it shouldn't.
If you have answered yes to even one of these 5 questions, you are in serious trouble. Need help with your rebrand? Check out some of our favourites in the industry: Black Dahlia Press, Holly McCaig Creative, or Felicity + Design Inc. Tell them your friends at Pixels + Lattes sent you over!
Did you have any thoughts to share with us? Feel free to leave your remarks in the comments section below or email hello@blackdahliapress.com or hello@pixelsandlattes.com