Whether you're rebranding or just getting started, it's important to ask yourself the following questions:
Who are my potential clients?
While maintaining a unique and personable identity is important, it's equally as important to consider who your target demographic is. Are you seeking to connect with trendsetting millennials, senior citizens, etc...? What interests your audience? Perhaps if you're looking to sell sports drinks, you'd use imagery from various popular sports in order to capture the attention of your audience.
What impression do I want my audience to get from my business' image?
Deciding whether you would like a more professional or casual image, as well as how much you are willing to interact with your customers are key factors in mapping out how you would like to present your business to the world.
Who are my competitors?
Familiarize yourself with the market and pre established companies. What are they doing right? What would you change about them? Their proximity, product similarity, and customer-base are also worth taking into consideration.
What sets me apart from my competitors?
Competition is inevitable in most markets. Don't fret! Instead, use this to your advantage by capitalizing on what sets your company apart from the rest. However, it's imperative not to take this too far - being blatantly disrespectful towards other brands is no way to gain endorsement or respect for your own brand.
Once you're confident in the impression your business gives off, it's time to wrap it all together with a logo. As this will be your company's way of introducing itself to the world, your logo should be unique, memorable, yet not too distracting. At a glance, it should give even those who have never heard of you before a good idea of what services or products you provide.
Brainstorming with partners, employees, friends, and family are great ways to organize your ideas before presenting them to a graphic designer. Business identity aside, it may also prove beneficial to take color psychology into account. Color psychology, the study of colors and their relation to marketing, states that various colors evoke different emotional responses and attitudes from consumers. For example, warmer colors tend to yield happier, more exciting, energetic feelings. Cooler, lighter colors tend to promote balance, creativity, and trust.
Although establishing a business identity may seem intimidating, I'm hoping that my insight helps alleviate the stresses and pressures associated with the branding process. For more graphic design tips, tricks, and motivation, head on over to my blog. For more information about Shortsleeve Designs, please hit me up. Lets work together!
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