Posted

Don’t Trip & Fall into These Common Branding Mistakes, They Can Kill Your Brand!

You have come up with an amazing idea for your business and you are ready to run full speed into the business world. Slow down, if you are not careful in the Branding Process, you could trip and fall into a mess that could kill your brand.

What is a brand? Your brand is your claim of distinction, backed up by the evidence of performance on that claim. It is important that you get this right, as it is often more difficult to change a tarnished brand image, than it is to start from scratch. We’ve put together some common branding mistakes and how you can avoid them while developing your business brand. 

Choosing a bad name for your business

Something as simple as your company name will impact your brand. When choosing a name for your business there are several factors that you need to consider.

  • Is the domain name available? You may have chosen a perfect name, but if the domain name is not available, it could kill you before you even leave the starting line.

  • Is the name difficult to pronounce? If the customer cannot pronounce your Brand name, it does not inspire confidence in those that would try to repeat it.

  • Is it a long, difficult to remember name? If you have to spell out your business name or it is very long, your customers will have a difficult time remembering your brand.

Choosing a logo that does not reflect what you want your brand to convey

This is an important question that you need to answer when having your logo designed. It will help drive all of your other decisions. Do you want your logo to be whimsical, traditional, technical, or forward thinking?  You have to know what you want your logo to convey before you start the process

You also need to know what demographic you are targeting with your logo. This will help guide the font style, color choice and everything else.

Not defining who you are and what makes you different

This is where many people get stumped. They think they need to have a very long, detailed description. This needs to be done in just a few simple words so your customers can understand what to expect from you and what specific qualities position you above the others in your industry. Think about who your customer is, and how you can address their needs.    

Having an unprofessional or outdated website

Your website is the window into your business. It says a lot about your company. First impressions are everything and in most cases, your website is their first impression. If the website is out of date or does not have a professional appearance, this tells your customers that you are not up to date on the latest technology and may lower your credibility. In many cases, they will go onto your competitor’s website that may be more visually appealing and easier to navigate. As a rule, your website needs to be redesigned or updated to the latest designs approximately every 18 months.

Using different logos or designs for different outlets

If you have a website with one type of logo design, a brochure with another type and a vehicle wrap with another. Your company will miss out on the power of association and brand identity. Make sure you are consistent with your true identity brand in every aspect of your media.

Keep in mind you don’t have to do this alone. We at TradeMark Advertising are really good at sorting out these issues for you. We are especially good at getting you to understand your true strengths, and what your target audience values. We can help you run the race, and not trip and fall into a branding mistake.