Branding Guidelines : 7 Steps to Branding Success

A branding guide for startups and small businesses

Whether your re-branding or branding, there are a lot of decisions that need to be made. My branding guidelines are made to cover some of the most important parts to the process.

1. K.I.S.S Keep It Simple Stupid

Your name and logo have a huge impact on how your business is viewed. I was once told your logo should be simple enough to draw on a piece of paper in a pub from your memory. A strong simple brand will stand out above the competition. Your Business name and logo will appear on all areas of your business to identify your company or your company’s products or services. If its too complex it will look amateurish, so simple clean designs is essential.

2. Unique Logo Design

Think of the Golden “M” of McDonald’s, its unique. Think of the swirly font and navy blue handwriting of Boots the Chemist. Your logos, colours and fonts need to belong to you. For colour meanings visit our useful guide. Simple, unique designs will enhance the trust of your brand.
If you have 2 or 3 logo ideas then test them out before finalising the design. Ask your test group why they like it and what the logo, colours and fonts impart to them.

3. Protect Your Branding

You need to protect and enforce your intellectual property rights. This typically includes brand names, logos and slogans. One lawyer who helps startups and small businesses said “It’s important to protect your intellectual property rights before you launch. This involves carrying out clearance searches to ensure that your chosen brand names and slogans are available for use and registration”. Because the branding is so public, it is vital to protect the design and appearance of your brand.

4. Branding Consistency Builds Trust.

As soon as a visitor notices an inconsistent colour or font, it will subconsciously ring alarm bells. As is often said, branding consistency leads to familiarity, and familiarity leads to trust. If you aren’t trusted, people will not purchase from you.

5. Be Authentic and Honest.

So often business owners start down a road and then refuse to admit its been the wrong direction. If someone shows you, you’ve been traveling down the wrong road on a map, don’t allow pride to blind you. You can always make changes to refine or expand your brand if it is obvious the initial versions are in need of a makeover. It’s not wrong to make changes if it’s not working.

6. Research the Competition.

Its hard to stand out if you don’t know what the comparison is. Your clients will know the competition better than you if they are refining their research. Make sure you are aware of what others in your sector are offering. Your product or service should set you apart from your competition. You need to bring a value that differs from your competitors.

7. Build a Great Website.

Millionaires, don’t turn up to customer meetings in a Robin Reliant. If you have a great product or service, then let your website reflect that success in having a strong professional web design. A poor design or website that doesn’t work on a mobile speaks volumes (not in a good way!)

If you need any help with the above, don’t hesitate to drop us an email here