December 2020
We’ve all been ready to put 2020 behind us since mid-March, but now that we are days away from the calendar flipping to 2021, let’s take a moment to really evaluate what is best for our business and our brand. If that means ‘new year, new brand’, how do you start? How do you successfully adjust your look and feel of your company in a transition?
Let’s go over some ways to change your image while maintaining your brand identity:
1. Starting this list with a list (or two)!
Personally, we love lists. For your brand, we challenge you to create two lists. One will be what you love about your current brand identity and what is working for your stakeholders. On the other, write what you hope to accomplish with a new brand. For the second list, write the outcome, not the details. Maybe it is ‘identifiable brand identity that attracts prospects and reaches new clients’ or ‘an image that represents our company as a whole, including the diverse nature of our business’ or ‘a cohesive look that people recognize from miles away’. Once you have the big picture outlined in a list, you are ready for step 2.
2. Partner with someone that can get you from A to B.
When branding your company (or rebranding), it is crucial to work with a professional that can help you lay the right foundation. Just like building a house, you want to make sure you take all the necessary steps to lay a solid foundation before you start building. A professional will work alongside you to create a powerful brand and a full plan to get there, including a cohesive look across all channels and outlets.
3. Do research, research and more research.
Part of laying the right foundation is making sure you have done your research. Scan the market, your environment and your competitors to ensure you are presenting the right message to align with your brand’s image. This also could include incorporating focus groups to make sure the vision of your brand comes across in reality. Keep in mind, a rebrand fail can cause much more harm than good!
4. Carefully craft the rollout.
Once you have a rebrand in place, make sure you have a strategic rollout plan to go along with it. The entire organization needs to be aware of the plan and the execution of the new brand. You don’t want one person spilling the beans! Plus, getting the team involved with the strategic plan can generate needed excitement and help with your internal PR efforts as a whole.
5. Ready, set, GO!
When it’s time to launch the new brand, spread the message far and wide! Utilize all of your channels to get your new brand out there. Include as many stakeholders in the launch as possible, especially employees! Everyone should be excited about the new image you are bringing to market.
Branding is in our name! Get in touch with Branded for your 2021 rebrand plan!