7 ESSENTIAL TO-DO’S FOR A SUCCESSFUL REBRAND

Finding the right creative direction that caters to your evolving brand can be overwhelming. Almost too overwhelming to bother. Are you procrastinating rebranding your creative business because the task seems so daunting? Are you feeling confused because you have no idea where to begin?

Let’s begin by understanding why there is a need to rebrand in the first place. In my experience of branding for creatives, I have come across the reasons to be:

1. Creative service providers have a growing and evolving business

2. Their target audience has shifted or changed altogether

3. Their business has an outdated look & feel that does not match their values anymore

4. It’s hard for them to differentiate their brand from the competitors due to which it is hard to attract and convert ideal clients and so on….

As your brand friend, my approach is always to guide you in the right direction. So follow along for actionable to-do’s and tips to make your rebranding process smooth, your brand more customer-focused, and geared towards attracting ideal customers!

1. ASK YOURSELF “WHY”

Before you begin with the rebranding process, there are a few essential questions that you need to ask yourself. What has changed? Why is there a need for rebranding? Is your ideal customer still the same or has your niche shifted? What changes/upgrades have you made to your offerings? Answering these questions will help you focus and get clarity to move ahead.

2. FIVE-YEAR PLAN

You need to think and be clear about where you want your brand to be in 5 years. List down your brand vision, ideas and goals. Doing this will help you and your brand designer to build a brand incorporating all these factors. The branding must be timeless that stays consistent while allowing room for the brand to evolve.

3. POSITION YOUR BRAND THE RIGHT WAY

Rebranding is the perfect opportunity to clearly show how your creative brand stands out from the competition. In order to start attracting your ideal customers, you need to create a unique positioning for your brand.

4. FOCUS ON BRAND EXPERIENCE

How do you want to make your customers feel? List down up to 3 keywords associated with it. For example, you may want your customers to feel special, cared for, protected, etc. Try to communicate the same through the right tone and voice. Keep the keywords in mind when planning to write copy for your website, social media, or marketing messages. All in-person interactions and phone/email communication with potential clients should result in them trusting your brand. Giving a great brand experience to your customers goes a long way.

5. RESEARCH THOROUGHLY

A crucial step that I take my time with when branding for creatives is Research. The persona of your ideal customer should be crystal clear in your mind. For that, do all the research that you need to so that your brand strategies and actions are directed towards targeting those very customers. Always think from your customer’s perspective to stay on top of their mind. What do they need from a brand like yours? How can you take it to the next level with your offerings? That’s how you will attract your dream clients and make them fall in love with your brand!

6. CREATE A MOOD BOARD

This step is important when it comes to setting a tone for your brand. Creating a mood board or inspiration board will give you and your designer a creative direction to follow. When I am following my signature process of branding for creatives, I conduct an in-depth brand strategy leading to the creation of a mood board. It has a compilation of ideas (logo, typefaces, colors, and brand style) that brings out the essence of a brand and I use it as a reference point when I start designing. You can put one together on your own on Pinterest and share it with your brand designer for the rebranding process.

7. HIRE THE RIGHT PROFESSIONAL

This one is so important! When you have done the homework and it’s time to begin execution, make sure you get professional help. Seek consultation and discuss your ideas in depth. A good professional should be able to understand your vision and guide you in the right direction :) My branding and web design studio specialize in branding for creatives and I offer a complimentary discovery call to understand your business goals and suggest the best solutions that will move the needle for your creative service-based business. Schedule A Call today!

Building brands with strategy + love,

Ridha