Consistency is key for your brand as it not only builds credibility, trust it will also will help your attract the ideal customer and grow your business.

In this Blog I am covering ways to help you create a cohesive brand for your small business.

BRAND IDENTITY
This is generally the first thing people see when they come across your brand.
Just like we all have a personal identity that makes us unique, your brand identity is what sets you apart from another business.

It will consist of at least a main/primary logo, sub mark logo, type and colour palette.

Before you hire a designer to create your brand identity, knowing who you are as a brand is key (your why, values, brand personality, unique positioning, voice, customer etc).
If you need clarity, to help you start thinking setting up these foundations for a meaningful brand - you can download my FREE Branding Worksheet here.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography plays a big part of your brand just as your fonts, colours, identity. It creates the mood for your brand.

When it comes to choosing images for your your Brand. Look at a particular style for your Images and similar images.

Product Photography
If you are a product based business great photography can really make a difference to your brand. You can hire a professional photographer to take them that specialises in product/packaging photography.

If you are to photograph your products yourself - things to think about how you will photograph them, indoors/outdoors, prop you will use, colours and the type of vibe you want to create.

Ensure they have a consistent feel, style or theme to create a cohesive brand experience.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media is a big platform most small business owners are on. The online world is getting busier and noisier.

When people visit your page and look at your grid you don’t want them to feel overwhelmed with a mish mash of different things going on with no consistency. It will confuse your potential customer.

Being consistent with your visuals, colours, fonts as well as your messaging - not only provide a cohesive brand experience but also memorable one and help you stand out from your competitor.

You want to be seen as a professional business and it should have the same feel. When it comes to what you post on Instagram, think about if your on brand and also target/ideal customer.

If you are a product base business and you post back to back images of products will give the feel you just want to sell. People will view your feed in those quick seconds your visuals before reading your caption.

Balance your feed by weaving your brand identity (Colours/Fonts/Patterns), product images and lifestyle images suited for your brand as well as show your face (as daunting as that may be) on your feed so people can see the face behind the brand.

YOUR WEBSITE
The brand experience should continue here. Things to look at to make it an enjoyable experience for people visiting. Is it easy to navigate, uncluttered as well as look at the actions you want them to take. Your brand identity should be throughout here too and be consistent.

It should have clear, good quality photos to showcase them well - low pixelated images will make you look unprofessional.

BUSINESS MATERIAL
A cohesive brand should continue across every interaction not only online - from your business card, brochure/marketing material, opt-in pdf, invoices etc

The brand experience shouldn’t stop once your customer has purchased from you either - this is from your thank you cards, packaging design, swing tags etc

MESSAGING/TONE OF VOICE
This is also part of being cohesive with your brand. How you write from your blogs, web copy, social media should be targeted for your ideal customer and that is also sounds like you through all your touch points.

Hope this Blog has helped you.

Effie x