Branding with OmniWorx Design.
Every business owner knows they need a brand, but what exactly is a brand and how exactly does one go about creating one. In this article we explain our branding process and why good branding costs more money.
Branding for various assets for FLECK Productions In My Backyard
What is a brand?
A brand is more than just a logo. A brand is how your business appears to your customers, your suppliers and even your employees. A logo, a colour scheme and the type face are all the sexy parts of a brand but to have a successful brand you need a few more things. You need to ask yourself, “How are my social media posts going to be written?” or “What tone of voice will I use on my website?” as well as what type of photos or graphics you will use other than your logo. If your consistently utilizing the same tone or simular graphics your message to both existing customers and new customers will stick around in your target markets minds for when they are ready to purchase. Your brand is your promise to your customers!
Why do you need a professional?
“Saving money should not be the only consideration in design, promotion and marketing because effective design will greatly affect how one is perceived and how well you communicate with the public.”
We get it. Small business owners sometimes where a lot of hats, especially those starting out their business and there are a lot of programs that can help the technically savvy owner create a decent logo. That being said as discussed above a brand is so much more than a logo. It represents the promise you are making to your customers.
Good design is an investment in your business and good design starts with a good brand. What other investments have you made in your business? Product? Office/Retail Space? Good, distinctive, branding adds value to your business just like the other investments you have made!
Hiring a professional saves you money in the long run. Not everyone is great with computers and thats ok, if you’re one of them then hiring a professional may save you money. Think about it, if you can be out selling your product to someone and making $100 on each product, wouldn’t you rather make $2,000 selling 20 products than make nothing while you spend 20 hours figuring out the ins & outs of some software you’ve never used before? For us, we would rather spend our time working with our clients on their project than do our accounting, that is why we hire and accountant.
To end off this section, here is a quote from one of our clients Jamie Fleck of Top Roofers that sums up the reason you should hire a professional designer for your branding, “I think if you don’t have graphic design experience or are not a visual or creative person, hire a professional. Sometimes small businesses think they can handle everything but they can’t. Also, the final product will look so much better and will show a better public image to prospective clients. Saving money should not be the only consideration in design, promotion and marketing because effective design will greatly affect how one is perceived and how well you communicate with the public. Being in business always has costs and marketing is a very important one which is often overlooked but you won’t get new customers without great marketing.” Very well said Jamie!
Our Process at OmniWorx Design.
Discovery
2 - 8 weeks.
We work with our clients and communicate with all of our clients stakeholders through surveys and retrospective meetings. We also can meet with our clients to discuss any existing data the client has on their target market. We then parse all this information into a single document called a Creative Brief. This document to be approved by the client will become our guiding document when coming up with our creative solutions.
Design
2 - 4 weeks.
In the Design stage we work through the Creative Brief to create options for our clients to review. We then work within the clients review process, whether that is a single person providing feedback on the options or a community consultation. We can also create and provide a presentation to your stakeholders about the proposed directions on request. We will take the feedback and create a single direction for review and approval.
Implement
1 week - 1 year+
The Implementation stage can be done all at once or in stages as old branded assets run out. This stage is where we provide you with all the information and assets you need to maintain your brand. We provide you with your logo in colour, black and white as well as files for both print and screen use. We will also provide you with a brand guideline document with specific colours and typefaces and guidelines on when and how to use the various types of logos. We can also provide clients with custom branded assets such as business card templates, letterhead, website design, print ads, social media templates, posters, banners, signage, newsletters and more on request.
Our professional designer has experience working on branding projects for various small businesses. Reach out to us to see if we can help your branding project get underway!
About the Author - Jack C. Henry
A graduate of OCAD University’s Graphic Design program, Jack blends art with real-world business strategy. The result? Creative solutions that add value to your business. Jack has designed for a wide range of industries including restaurants, retail stores, health care, community organizations and charities. As well as helping companies develop their brand, he creates beautiful marketing materials and signage.
About OmniWorx Design.
OmniWorx Design is a boutique design firm providing graphic design, branding, marketing services to individuals, small & mid-sized businesses. More...