Your brand is your greatest asset…
Journal
To protect and grow, we must first have systems to check in and confirm everything is as it should be. Blair outlines theirs in the above document, but you could create your own as long as you have a way of reviewing. Combine these with physical results from activities, and you’ll have a fantastic way to measure your brand performance. Review, and you’ll have results – Hopefully it’ll be a positive thumbs up, may be a thumbs down or not conclusive. Either way, it’ll give you facts to consider and act upon.
So, your brand is your greatest asset – What will you do for it moving forward?
How does a logo help you stand out from your competitors?
Journal
In today’s competitive business landscape, it’s crucial to establish a strong brand identity that sets you apart from your competitors through strong design communication visuals. One of the most powerful ways to achieve this is through a well-designed company logo. A logo serves as the face of your brand, representing your values, mission, and unique selling proposition. It acts as a visual anchor, helping you make a memorable impression on your target audience. Let’s explore how a logo can help you stand out from your competitors.
Visual Differentiation.
A company logo plays a significant role in visually differentiating your brand from others. It is a unique identifier that helps customers recognise and remember your business. By being distinctive, you can establish a solid visual presence and make your brand more easily identifiable among a sea of competitors.
Brand Recognition.
The ultimate goal of any company logo is to create brand recognition. When customers see you being consistently across various marketing channels, it builds familiarity and trust. A well-designed company logo can evoke positive emotions, reinforce your brand’s personality, and create a lasting connection with your audience. As a result, customers are more likely to think of you when a need arises for the products or services you offer.
Representing You and Your Business.
A company logo allows you to highlight your unique selling points (USP) and key differentiating factors. It should reflect what sets your brand apart from the competition. Whether it’s your exceptional customer service, innovative products, or sustainable practices, a strategically designed logo can communicate these qualities, instantly conveying your brand’s value proposition to potential customers.
Professionalism and Credibility.
A professionally designed company logo can significantly enhance your brand’s perceived professionalism and credibility. A poorly executed or generic logo will make your brand appear amateurish and untrustworthy. On the other hand, a well-crafted company logo demonstrates attention to detail, quality, and a commitment to excellence, which can help you earn the trust of your target audience and establish yourself as a reputable player in your industry.
Brand Consistency.
Consistency is key in branding, and a company logo is a foundation for maintaining brand consistency across various touchpoints. From your website and social media profiles to packaging and advertising materials, strong design communication visuals will tie everything together. This consistency reinforces your brand identity and helps you stand out from the rest by presenting a cohesive and professional image.
Investing in a well-designed company logo is an essential endeavour for every business that can yield long-term benefits for your business, helping you capture the attention and loyalty of your target audience. As a creative design agency, we know what it takes to cut through the noise and truly capture attention. We create logos that last, that have the ability to grow with you and that always represent you.
Creative62 is a creative brand agency and we have a fundamental understanding of graphic design. We understand the importance of a company logo, the advantages of a well-crafted brand identity, and the necessity of consistency across ALL brand and marketing activities. So, reach out to us if a new logo might be on the cards!
How can social media increase brand awareness?
Journal
Most businesses will know that brand awareness is completely essential to growing your business sustainably. But, many businesses are unlikely to have thought about the huge part social media can play in generating that brand awareness. Here’s how social media increases positive brand awareness for thousands and thousands of businesses every single day.
Show some personality!!
Social media offers an exciting new avenue for your business to add a touch more personality, to create your very own community and to get involved in activities which other outlets don’t allow.
Whether you’d like to be seen as professionals in your field, as a page for inspiration or to build more of a fun community, you’ll need to decide on a tone of voice which will achieve that for your business. Choosing something a little more unique will help your business stand out and could help your business to become more memorable. It’s certainly a brand awareness opportunity not to miss out on!
The importance of consistency.
Although it’s likely that a large number of businesses do now have a presence on at least one social media platform for their business, are they using it effectively to positively impact brand awareness? One of the biggest pitfalls for busy companies is neglecting their social channels. Consistency is always preached when it comes to social media, but for good reason. If you push posting on social media down to the bottom of your to-do list, your account can start to look a little neglected. Sometimes, even looking so neglected that when people search for your business and see that you haven’t posted in weeks, months or even years, there’s a good chance they’ll get the impression that you’re no longer in business anymore.
A stat to get you straight onto that content calendar of yours is that 21% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that they can reach on social media! Not having consistent posts being published to your social accounts could leave people hesitant to make an enquiry through social media due to your account becoming seemingly inactive. A lack of consistency could result in a lack of enquiries. So essentially, our tip is to post consistently and as often as you can to keep your presence maintained.
Social media is the new Google search!
As buyer habits continue to change, a huge development announced by Google itself, states that nearly
40% of Gen Z prefers using TikTok and Instagram as a search engine over Google!
Whether that’s looking for the best shampoo on the market, or watching reviews on the latest technology, the social media platforms have become the go-to place to search for reviews and honest opinions from content creators.
Creating short-form videos for TikTok and Instagram is a great way to get your brand out there and discovered by new interested people! Get a conversation going, show some personality and become memorable as people begin taking to TikTok and Instagram over Google when looking for products and services on offer.
Hashtags- the easiest way to increase brand awareness.
Hashtags offer another chance at increasing your company’s brand awareness, on the topics you’d like to be most well-known for too. It’s a quick and easy way to get those extra few keywords into your posts and to help your post show up in search results when people type in words related to your brand.
Believe it or not, less is often more with hashtags to avoid things looking too spammy. Make sure to get in a good mixture of broad and popular hashtags, with more specific and less used hashtags to increase your chances of reaching your target audience.
Manage the publics perception of your brand.
The good, the bad and the ugly, social media has undoubtedly become the place for customer feedback. Whether it’s positive or negative feedback, on a public channel or through private messages, any feedback is an opportunity for you to manage public perception of your brand.
If somebody compliments your products or services, you’ll want to make sure to thank them right away, so they know just how appreciated their custom and feedback really is.
In the case of receiving a negative comment or message, being active on social media means you can respond quickly and professionally, willing to resolve any issues which may have arisen. On a public channel, other customers will be able to see you actively addressing customer issues, meaning they’re likely to turn the negative they’ve seen into a positive!
There were just a few of the many reasons why incorporating a strong social media strategy into your marketing plan can skyrocket your brand awareness! Need a hand with getting your social media off the ground? Get in touch with us and let’s have a chat!
5 Signs your website is in need of an update.
Journal
Grab a comfy seat because we’re about to go on a journey into the world of design and technology – the key ingredients for making your website truly stand out! Let’s jump straight into it! Here are 5 signs to let you know your website is in need of a makeover.
Latest Design & Technology
I always say, “first impressions are the lasting impressions,” so making sure your site is visually up-to-date is an absolute must! It’s like giving your site a style upgrade, making sure the overall look and feel truly reflect your fantastic products and services. When it comes to design, focus on ensuring it’s visually pleasing and easy to engage with.
Tips: Simplify the design, refresh colours and fonts, try and add multimedia elements such as videos or subtle movements and ensure responsiveness of the website; which leads me on to my next point…
Non-Responsive Design
We’re in the age of smartphones and tablets, so it’s super important to ensure your website is friendly to all screen sizes. If your site doesn’t play well with mobile devices, you could be missing out on a load of visitors! Yes, the visitor count matters, but our good friend Google also loves websites that are mobile-friendly and gives the site a boost in search rankings. So, I’d say it’s a must-have in all cases!
Tips: Try stacking your content in a simple and easy-to-read format. Break information into clear sections and use clear headings to improve readability. Make your calls to action stand out by increasing their size and ensuring they are easy to locate.
Slow Loading Times
In this day and age everyone wants information quickly and efficiently. Not only is a slow website frustrating for users, it also determines the performance of your website and the ranking it’s given on search engines such as Google. If your site takes too long to load, visitors are more likely to go elsewhere and look for an alternative website.
Tips: Optimise images, use browser caching systems and ensuring you’re on the best possible hosting plan for your website.
Outdated Content
Content is the royal icing of your website! Keeping the content fresh, relevant, and updated has a significant impact on your website’s credibility. Ensure the content is reviewed on a regular basis, and make sure it aligns accurately with your business goals. Okay, so now I’m going to sound like a broken record, but guess what? Search engines love to read content that is relevant.
Tips: Pop a date in the calendar and take some time to review your content and schedule time for updates. This not only ensures accuracy but also shows that your site is actively maintained, improving its credibility and search rankings.
Poor Navigation
Let’s talk about website navigation – it’s like the GPS for your visitors… but if it’s a bit confusing or not super easy to use, it can be really hard for the visitor to find exactly what they are looking for. A website with confusing or inefficient navigation can frustrate users and drive them away. If visitors struggle to find the information they need or if your site lacks a clear call-to-action, is it time to look at your website navigation?
Tips: Make the menu as simplified as possible. Direct the users around the website towards the end goal/endpoint of the website. Ensure the journey on your site is smooth and super easy.
Get in touch with Dimple
And there you have it… Whether it’s a style upgrade, mobile-friendliness, or a content refresh; remember your website is your online kingdom, and it deserves to be treated like royalty. Book a consultation or a website audit with us and we will give you tips on how you can improve your website and online presence.
6 Marketing tips to celebrate your business anniversary.
Journal
Is your business approaching a milestone anniversary? Whether it’s your first, fifth, tenth, or even a significant 25th, 30th, or 50th anniversary, seizing this moment is crucial. Anniversaries are not just about celebrating longevity; they showcase your business’s achievements and the remarkable journey leading to this milestone.
Recognising and publicising your anniversary is a powerful way to enhance your business’s credibility and attract prospective clients. The growth and evolution your business has undergone—expanding staff, overcoming challenges, adapting to industry changes, and launching new products and services—deserve recognition. So, embrace this opportunity to highlight your success. Here are six effective strategies to commemorate and market your special anniversary:
1. Consider a Rebrand
Evaluate your brand’s relevance every few years. If your anniversary aligns with a need for rebranding, this is the perfect opportunity. A fresh brand can invigorate your image, open new doors and supercharge growth.
2. Temporary Icon
Create a temporary anniversary icon or logo featuring the number of years achieved. Utilise this icon across platforms—social media, email signatures, printed materials—to maximise visibility and to prompt conversations. Established businesses instil trust, and this tactic reinforces your credibility.
3. Engage Local Press
For significant anniversaries, why not engage local press outlets to really get the word out there? You could arrange a photo shoot with your team to make the supporting imagery stand out, incorporating the business’s history and key success factors. Craft a press release highlighting your journey, industry adaptability and biggest achievements to date. Share this with local and national media outlets for the best coverage possibilities.
4. Host a Celebration
Mark the occasion with a celebration—whether a party, event, or open day. Invite customers, prospects, local influencers, and press contacts that could make the occasion extra special. Leverage social media and blogs to showcase the event, giving insights into your business culture and sharing appreciation for those who have helped you reach this monumental milestone. Physical invites add an extra layer of excitement and give the event a feeling of exclusivity too, so get those golden envelopes at the ready!
5. Exclusive Product Launch
Emulate major brands by launching an exclusive anniversary edition product or service. Create a limited run of special edition products to generate excitement and exclusivity. Alternatively, run an anniversary sale to boost sales with an exclusive offer that everybody take advantage of.
6. Social Media Campaign
Leverage the power of social media with a campaign that runs across your social media pages. Social media campaigns are versatile and can effectively reach new audiences, making them an ideal tool for anniversary marketing. Plus, they’ll help you spread the word and boost engagement rates!
Beyond the logo.
Journal
Brand storytelling with character design
I’ve been drawing characters since I was a little one – what started in the 80s and 90s as reading comic books and watching Transformers, He-Man and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the TV has turned into a passion of mine both inside and outside of my career.
Having recently had the chance to design brand characters for some of our clients at Creative62, I have seen the power of characters first-hand and how they spark imaginations for future projects.
The landscape of marketing and branding is an ever-evolving beast, with brands constantly searching for ways to connect with their audience. Beyond the traditional logo and brand elements, the creation of characters or mascots adds a dynamic and relatable dimension to the right brand identity. In this blog post, I’ll be talking about the significance of using characters with a brand architecture and how it can elevate the right brand to new heights. So, let’s get to it!
Duolingo’s Duo
Fun, bright and engaging.
Waze’s Bubble Car
Combining everything that the brand does with its communication tool.
Reddit’s Snoo
A perfect execution by Pentagram.
Octopus Energy’s
Constantine, cute and welcoming.
Headspace’s Smile
Although not a mascot, the warm use of colour and emotion in such a simple way is perfect.
Duracell’s Bunny
Originally launched in 1973 and has been through various iterations, has continuously evolved for the target market.
Kaws
Although not a brand that utilises marketing in the traditional way, Kaws shows just how powerful a perfectly executed character can build a brand on its own!
Everyone Active’s
Active Monsters, would be a bit silly to not put one of our own creations in the mix now, wouldn’t it?
Storytelling
Character design, when used in the right way, provides a visual narrative that enables the brand to speak to the viewer in a completely different way than words alone can get across. Humans are natural storytellers and readers, you can tell the story of a brand’s journey, mission, values or cadence in a much more engaging and personal way in an instant.
Recognition
By creating a distinctive character or mascot for a brand, it gives the brand a face, a recognisable face, a personality and a story that makes the brand memorable and forges an emotional connection.
Loyalty
Well-designed characters or mascots have the potential to become a cherished symbol for a brand. Looking at characters that have stood the test of time are the Compare the Market Meerkats, Monopoly’s Milburn Pennybags, Pringles’ Julius Pringles and the Michelin Man, whose brands can all be recognised without a single word.
Target Audience
Brand characters can be tailored to suit the demographic of the brand, which is something that can be difficult to do using any other method of branding as it leaves very little in terms of interpretation when used well.
Versatility
From packaging and printed advertising to digital and social animated campaigns and merchandising, a strong character is versatile and can be used across various marketing channels.
Stand out
In a noisy modern marketplace, it is increasingly more difficult to stand out from the crowd. Character design offers a memorable way to differentiate brands from the next, which isn’t easily replicated.
In conclusion, by utilising character design within a brand, you are connecting with the audience via storytelling on a purely visual platform. It’s not creating a logo or mark that people might recognise… it’s creating an ambassador for the brand that can speak to the hearts and minds of the customers when you can’t.
If what you have read here resonates with your brand in any way, please just reach out for a chat and see if we can create some storytelling magic together.