Developing a killer brand image is not something reserved for big corporations such as Pepsi or Apple. A professional and memorable brand image is just as achievable by a small business, here are a few tips to get you on your way.
Define your brand image elements
A carefully crafted collection of brand assets will create an impression with your customers as to your products and services and in essence give them a “gut feeling” about your company. They should evoke something positive, unique and instant. A brand image is not built from a single element like a logo but a collection of elements including;
- Logo
- Icons
- Color palette – with primary, secondary and tertiary colors,
- Type faces
- Type setting
- Imagery
- Tag Line
even things like
- Scents – ever noticed a distinct scent when you enter a store such as Holister or even IKEA?
- Texture- think about the texture of bags used in packaging
- Sound – recognize this
- Decor – In a bricks and mortar business does your decor enhance why your are trying to convey with the reset of your brand assets?
- Writing Voice
Creating your brand asset collection is no small feat and is generally the result of extensive research into the market you want to serve and the type of image you want to portray and the experience you want your clients to have.
Create a Branding Style Guide
Once you have established you brand assets it is really useful to create a style guide to optimize the use of your branding elements. For example
- Logo usage – minimum size, orientation, optimum white space border, use in black and white, position
- Colors – color combinations, definition of colors in terms of pantone, RGB, CMYK and hex e.g ( #000000)
- Type Face- Font choices, sizes, colors and line spacing
- Imagery- styling of imagery- think borders, angles, image filters etc.
Used your brand elements consistently
Your brand image will be most powerful when you use your brand elements consistently, ensuring your clients receive the same experience no matter how they interact with you.
Here are some of the places where you need to ensure it is used consistently
- Web site
- Social media profiles such as Facebook and Twitter
- Business card
- Letterhead
- Email signature
- Powerpoint presentations
- Invoices
- Sales collateral such as brochures/flyers
- packaging
- proposals
- uniforms
- sales tags
This list could go on and on but once you start down the road of applying your brand assets to your business tools it becomes easier to use your brand assets than not. Need help? Check out our Branding Services.
