Changing your branding is not something to be taken lightly and should only be done when necessary. That’s because your brand is how people remember your business. Imagine if McDonald’s suddenly swapped its golden arches for an image of a burger. They suddenly become just a burger shop, without anything to easily differentiate them with their competitors. It’s a similar thing with your business’ branding. By changing your logo, font and colours, you put your customers off balance and it takes time for them to readjust to your new branding image. However, sometimes changing your branding is the best decision for your business. It may be that you’re offering new services or products, have a change of ownership or your old branding no longer reflects the direction your business is taking. Today we’re going to discuss all you need to know about changing your branding. Changing Your Branding: A Beginner’s Guide 101 When you rebrand, it can be a partial or complete rebranding. You can choose between:
Pros and Cons of Rebranding When you alter your branding, you’re doing it with the desire to grow your business. In order to make the right decision, you need to weigh up the pros and cons. The pros of rebranding include:
The cons of rebranding include:
A great way to promote your business, rebranded or not, is to list it in a directory. Business Networking NZ offers a free NZ business directory listing and it’s a great way to increase your online presence. Come and add your details today!
0 Comments
There’s something special about throwing on a t-shirt, or a hoodie, with a logo or personal design printed on it. Nothing beats throwing on a t-shirt with your favourite band’s best album plastered over the front, and noticing another member of the public wearing the same band. Nothing beats throwing on a t-shirt of your favourite brand, and noticing another member of the public wearing the same brand too. You throw each other a look, a knowing smile. You’re part of the same team somehow, a club that you both belong to. When you start a new job, the logo sitting proudly on your shirt signifies you’ve become part of something new. You can walk into any office and have almost instant comradery with everyone present. Have you ever created something, like a new business, or an important event? Try throwing on a hoodie with the name and logo of your creation printed ceremoniously on the back. You’ve achieved something great, something tangible. And if someone asks you about your business while you’re wearing it? A bonus advantage of clever marketing and branding. How do we do it? Now there’s a number of ways you can get your hot little hands on that specially designed apparel. Here we’re going to break down the three main processes of apparel design (and the one favoured by us at One Bite), so you can make the best choice for your needs. Make your father’s day by giving him a branded T-shirt or hoodie! Better still get him to advertise your business while he’s out and about!
Ok it’s obvious now, screen-printing wins. Screen printing is the best option in our view as we can create high end designs that include the pièce de résistance - shading and gradients. Detailed logos? No problem. Photos? Done. Cool effects? Bingo. Specific colours that are on brand? Easy. All these effects are nearly impossible with embroidery or vinyl. Plus if you’re printing a bunch of the same item it’s the most cost effective as well, a true winner in our books. The graphics produced through screen printing should also last for the t-shirt’s life under normal use. To make your custom graphic last the garment’s life, simply flip your garment inside out before chucking it in the wash, and use cold water. Easy. Get in touch with us today if you’re interested in looking at how One Bite Graphic Design can create the perfect screen-printed item for you and your business. Get in touch with One Bite TODAY! OR better still check out the website! What is graphic design? Did you know that it is more than just creating logos? In fact, it is so much more than that. While logo creation is one of the services a graphic designer can offer you, it is really just the tip of the iceberg! Graphic designers have a strong set of skills that can help you to grow your business. Yes, that’s right, grow your business. We create more than pretty images, we actually help you to communicate a message with your branding that engages and persuades people to use your business. Now you know what we can do here at One Bite Design, let’s look into the concept of graphic design in a bit more depth. What Is Graphic Design? Whether you need a logo, an image banner for your website, or an actual banner to hang at an event, you will need a graphic designer’s expertise. Without their eye for colour and design, you can cheapen your brand and confuse your clients. These are just some of the things that a graphic designer (just like me) can help you with... ● Logo Design ● Branding Packages ● Business Cards ● Social Media Cover and Newsfeed Images ● Flyers ● Posters ● With Compliments Slips ● Marketing Material ● Gift Vouchers ● Website Banners ● Vouchers ● Advertising Images ● Apparel Designs And that’s not even a full list, that is just a taste of the things I could help you with in your business! Why Is Graphic Design Essential In Your Business?
Validates You Great branding makes your business look professional and gives you credibility. Not only that, but it also shows that you care about your offerings, that you believe in your products or services, and that you are putting in an effort to impress your customers. This all demonstrates the value you can provide to your clients and that you are customer-focused. Makes You Memorable Being forgotten is the kiss of death for a small business. If no one remembers your brand, then they are not going to seek out your services. But you can make an impact with your imagery. If you have an iconic design for your business branding, then it will be hard for your customers to forget about you! Consistently using this branding in every visual and customer-facing aspect of your business will help you to become recognisable and memorable. Makes You Stand Out How do you make the decision between two products when they do the same thing and they are at the same price point? Often the choice will come down to which product looks better. If one has design that is tired and dated, and one has a fresh, eye catching look, then it is pretty safe to say which is going to be more popular. Good graphic design can help set you apart from your competition. Tells A Story Your imagery can tell the story of your business. It can convey what it is that you do, even if it is the first time someone has come across your brand. It can do more than simply look good, it can also entice people to your business and persuade them that you are the brand for them. Clever design can convince customers to buy your products off the shelf, to read more in a pamphlet, or to click the ‘buy’ button on a website. Professional graphic design has the potential to deliver real results for your business. If you are umm-ing and ahhhh-ing about whether you should invest in graphic design, consider this. If you don’t go down the professional design route, sooner or later you will be paying for a brand overhaul. Quality design lasts the distance, amateur design does not. Engaging a professional graphic designer (like me) upfront, can save you a lot of time money and stress in the long run. So if you want a professional and consistent look for your business, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me here at One Bite Graphic Design. When you decide to start a business you don't always realise that you are beginning a story as well. Often you get started because you have a skill or something you love to do, and then it evolves. You are no longer starting a business, but instead you are building a brand. Laying the foundations of your brand is like writing the first chapter of your story. So, how did your brand come to be? Do you have a story behind it? I'd love to tell you my story... The Elephant In The Room You will probably notice that my elephant is a large part of my branding. He is actually where my story starts... Years ago when I was at school, I would often get overwhelmed by my workload. My dad is a very wise man and he used to say something back then that has stuck with me through the years. Probably because he still says it now! He said... ‘Helen, how do you eat an elephant? One Bite at a time.’ His wise approach allowed me to focus on one small task at a time and gradually work my way through my massive to do list. This is a motto that I live my life by now. Life has a habit of getting very busy, with a business to run, house to maintain, three amazing children to raise and an equally amazing husband. We get through the busy times One Bite at a time, often achieving more than we thought we could with this tactic! So when it came to choosing a name for my business, One Bite was the obvious option. I also knew that I had to have an elephant as part of my brand. Even my elephant is an embodiment of the motto. You will notice that it is sectioned into smaller pieces to symbolise the ‘bites’. What's In A Name? I suddenly realised that after 3 years working alongside my elephant, he didn't have a name! As soon as my realisation hit, I knew what his name had to be. So, I would like to introduce to you... Petros This name is perfect for 3 reasons...
I am really excited to be on this journey with Petros and I can't wait to see what the next chapters have in store for One Bite! Your Branding Story
So, what is your story? And is it embodied in your branding? People love to work with other people, which is why it is important to reflect your story and personality in your branding. If you feel you could be communicating your story better, then maybe it is time for a brand refresh. I would love to help you tell the story of your brand in your logo, business cards, marketing material, and social media templates. Basically any aspect of your branding. Get in touch with me now at One Bite to see I can help you tell your story with my professional graphic design services. I’ve been wondering about why personalised hoodies are so popular. Could it be because we love the power of designing our own clothing? Maybe it’s the fact they are so warm and cosy? Or perhaps it’s because they are so darn terrific at promoting our businesses? I think it’s a combination of all three! As a small business owner, I understand the difficulties of undertaking a successful marketing campaign on a super low budget. Not for me are the large digital billboards showcasing the city’s big firms. Nor can I afford to place a weekly ad in the local paper. While I could dabble in Facebook ads, they don’t really offer me a high rate of return for the dollar value I put in. So, what form of advertising could I use? Personalised hoodies! For less than $150, Helen designed and delivered me a personalised hoodie for my business Spotty Lizard. But why is it so great? Everywhere I go I wear it. The supermarket, dropping the kids at school, playing sport, walking the dog – I wear it everywhere. On the front is my main logo, with the back featuring one of my graphics and URL. The number of people I’ve had ask me what Spotty Lizard is, commented on the cute lizard and asked me what I do is amazing. I use it as a uniform when I am working, plus I wear it for all my social media videos and photos.
Ordering Personalised Hoodies for Your Business If you’re sitting on the fence about ordering a branded hoodie for your business, jump off it and here’s why:
The downside of having personalised hoodies for your business? Well, they’re mighty hot to wear in summer, but I’m certain Helen can arrange the design and delivery of a polo shirt for me by then. I suggest you get in touch with Helen now and start the process of getting yourself a hoodie with your business logo and graphics on it too. - Jackie Spotty Lizard Everyone tells you how important it is to have a social media presence for your business. People make a habit of hunting for businesses that interest them on Facebook. What are they going to find when they get to your Facebook Page? Is it a perfectly curated cover image that reflects your current marketing focus, or is it more ‘higgledy piggledy whatever image I can find to chuck up there’ kind of look? Your Facebook cover image is an incredibly important part of building your brand, showcasing what your business is about and supporting your online marketing strategy. Let’s look at it in a bit more detail now. Why You Need A Good Facebook Cover Image
As soon as a potential or current client navigates to your Facebook Page, they are going to be presented with your cover image. This is your chance to make an instant visual impact. If your image is boring, unrelated to your field, or jarring to look at then you have missed an opportunity to impress your page visitor. There are currently more than 2 billion active users on Facebook. That is a lot of people that can be unimpressed by your Facebook cover! Here is why you need an image that is eye-catching and appealing... Introduces Your Business If someone isn’t 100% certain about what you do, your cover image can introduce your business to them. Not only can it tell them about your products or services, but it can give them a feel for your business’ personality and values. Encourages Familiarity For those who do know your business, they will recognise they are in the right place when they see your cover image. That is why it is important to always keep your branding consistent by using the same colours, fonts and style. Makes Them Want To Know More A picture tells a thousand words, but it is still only an introduction. Make your cover image be the start of a long running conversation with potential clients. Draw them into your business with great visual elements and some carefully chosen text. Proves Your Professionalism Having a polished look on your Facebook page will encourage trust in your business. Clients will be able to see your professionalism and it will allow you to stand out amongst your competitors. This places you as an authority figure in your field and makes people want to work with your business. A lot goes into the design and execution of a professional looking image. Image placement, choice of font, inclusion of white space and many other design aspects that come as second nature to a graphic designer. So, instead of fiddling about on Canva for hours, let One Bite Design create a cover image for you instead. Why You Should Change It Up Your Facebook cover can be a key component in your marketing strategy. Because it does draw instant attention, you can use it to your advantage. That means changing your cover image to align with your current focus. These are just some of the things you could highlight...
Whatever you choose to highlight, make sure you back it up with a relevant reason to click the Facebook Call to Action button. If you don’t utilise that button, your marketing efforts will not be as effective. How Often Should You Change Your Image? There isn't really a rule on how often you should change your image. Like anything, content can become stale if it stays the same for too long. We would recommend changing your image at least once a quarter to keep things fresh, or once a month to match your monthly marketing themes. Yep, it can be a lot of work creating 12 professional images every year. Who has time for that? We do at One Bite Design! In fact, creating amazing images for social media is just one of our specialities. Save yourself time and stress by letting us create individually curated Facebook Cover images for your business. We can work with you to showcase any aspect of your business. Get in touch with One Bite Design for a chat on how your Facebook page could be working for you with great visual content. It's amazing to think that when I wrote this blog I had just started my third year in business, offering my professional Graphic Design services to the public through One Bite Design. It's been a 'one bite' at a time learning process with some things certainly learnt the hard way. Not everything has been plain sailing but important lessons have certainly been learned and both myself and One Bite Design are in a much better position now than what I was those years ago when I began. With more than three years under the belt I thought it would only be fitting to share three things that I have learnt. There Will Always Be Something To Do On Your Business:
I’ve heard it said that a business is like a new born child, you need to constantly care for it and feed it and the work you put in over the early years will shape the business well into the future. The thing is, there is always something to do. This is especially true in the first few years as you develop your systems and find your own feet and direction. It's in these first years where passion can meet head first with the annoying reality of tax and accounts and invoicing. It’s easy to get consumed by all the things to do. What I’ve learnt is that you need to be intentional about taking a break and stepping outside of your business from time to time. Whether that is turning your phone and computer off and going for a walk or an actual holiday, taking time out to recharge your own batteries is an important way of ensuring that you keep that passion which got you going in the first place burning bright. Comparing Yourself To Others: Starting out in a new business is a scary and at times nerve wracking thing to do. It's only natural to want to know what other people in your industry are doing. The problem is that it becomes very difficult to not compare your fledgling business with those potentially more established operations already out there doing it. What’s worse is that if you're not careful you may even start to copy what these other guys are doing whether consciously or not. Then there’s the pressure of trying to match the offerings of others! That’s not what you started your business to do. Like me you most probably started your own business because there was something special that you love to do, something that you’re passionate about. Stick to it. Perfect your passion and don’t be swayed by others! Accept The Appreciation: Having happy clients is what's really rewarding and provides the energy which enables us to continue to do this thing that we love. Learn to enjoy the appreciation of a job well done. You can see some of my testimonials here. This is something that I’ve learnt slowly, not being a person who naturally accepts compliments well. A big turning point for me was learning to not be ashamed or embarrassed to ask my clients for a review of One Bite Graphic Design after completing a job. Getting these positive reviews not only helps in business promotion, but more importantly they help to reinforce to ourselves that yes, we are doing a good job. Yes people do see the value in what we do, and yes, our efforts are making a difference! Have you recently started your own business? Are you passionate about your business succeeding? Does your business need a fresh, inspiring and professional new look? Let One Bite Design assist you in developing a brand that you are proud of and that does it’s job in attracting people to do business with you. Get in touch TODAY! A picture tells a thousand words. We have all heard this saying hundreds of times. But when it comes to social media, it is so on point. We live in a very visual world. There are images and messaging everywhere around us. To ensure that your business does not get lost in the newsfeed, you need to have a solid plan to make a visual impact. Why is that? Let One Bite Graphic Design tell you... Get Noticed People spend hours every week scrolling through their social media feeds. They are so accustomed to trawling through screeds of information, that they only pause when something catches their eye. If you don’t utilise this visual space to your advantage, people will keep on scrolling right past your content. You need something that is going to stop their scroll immediately. Words alone will not do this, but an eye catching image, designed by One Bite can. Be Memorable Have you ever struggled to recall a written quote that you’ve read? Yea, me too. But, it is so much easier to remember a striking image. That is because your brain actually processes images better than it can process words. If you consistently produce great visual content then people will engage with it. When they engage with your content, there is more chance that your other posts will pop up in their newsfeeds. Suddenly, they are being exposed to your brand on a regular basis. This helps them to remember who you are and what you do. When they have need for your services, you will be the first business they contact. Convey Your Message It can be hard to get your point across in a concise, digestible way when you only use words. But an image personally created by One Bite Graphic Design can instantly convey a message and spark a reaction. It can get your viewers thinking about your content straight away. You can use this to your advantage by asking for them to comment, or engage with your post. Let Others Promote Your Business If you produce great content that resonates with your viewers, then they are going to share on their newsfeeds. If your content is branded, (check out One Bite’s total branding package) then that sharing is a great opportunity to get your business in front of a whole new audience. This increases your organic reach and automatically shows these new viewers that your business is worth following. The best part is, it is completely free advertising! Consistent Branding If you take a look at the visual marketing of the world’s biggest businesses, you will notice it is always consistent. They don’t change the colours of their branding, distort their logo, or chop and change between styles. Their consistency helps you to recognise their brand. You want to do the same thing with your business. You want your followers to instantly recognise that a piece of content has come from your brand simply by the look and feel of it. Consistency helps to build memorability and trust for your business. Your social media pages are a great place to showcase your consistency to your audience. This is where One Bite’s 20 years of professional design experience is worth it’s weight in gold for you. How Can I Get Visual? One Bite Graphic Design is here to help business owners like you get their brand noticed on social media, we create branded social media templates. These are visual templates that you can add your messaging to, or use them exactly as they are. They are designed specifically to showcase your business. Get your followers to stop the scroll and take notice of what you have to say. If you are interested, you can check out more information on the social media templates here, or get in touch via email to order your templates now. Have a look at some templates One Bite has designed already! Business cards have been around in one form or another since at least the 17th century. Despite such a long period of use, in a world of increasing technology it’s easy to be left wondering if the humble business card still has a place in the modern world. A casual visit to any business gathering will quickly put that question to rest as you witness a plethora of business cards swapping hands along with the usual handshakes and smiles. There are a number of reasons why business cards remain an important part of your “business kit” and why having One Bite Design professionally design a well presented card is vital to business success. Brand Awareness and Brand Legitimacy A professionally designed business card by One Bite, in conjunction and in harmony with your One Bite Design logo immediately projects a sense of legitimacy. Let's be honest, first impressions really do count. Handing out your business card to potential customer or prospects is often the first time that people will personally be confronted by your brand, and the first opportunity they have to form an opinion on whether they will do business with you or not. Networking Tool The key to networking is not only making connections, but ensuring that those connections last, so that when it comes time to purchase your network is either seeking you out or referring your details on. Being able to leave your business card and have these spread out through your network is a proven method for generating ongoing business. There’s a reason why everyone does it, and that’s because it works. Tangible Representation While technology plays an ever increasing role in business, your client or potential client is most likely not a computer or a bunch of electrons. They’re way more likely to be an actual person. As a human we’re drawn to physical things. The very act of handing out a business card not only connects that person with a tangible representation of your brand, but it most likely also connects them to you as you look them in the eye and shake their hand. Vital Information A well laid out business card by One Bite Design is going to provide a touchstone to who you are, what you do, where you’re located and perhaps most importantly, how to contact you. For the tech savvy there are now specific apps that will scan and import this information from the card to your contacts on your smart phone. It’s the best of both worlds, but it starts with the card and it ensure that your client gets the information that you want them to get – spelt correctly, with no mistakes! What makes a good Business Card There are a number of specific tricks that One Bite Design will ensure are incorporated into your business card design. Firstly, we will make sure that the card is dimensionally designed to perfectly fit the requirements of your printer. That may seem obvious but is easily over looked! One Bite Design will make sure that the colour and typography stay consistent with your brand. This is key to ensuring the continued strength and growth of your brand. Combine this with a clear message, quality imagery and sufficient uniqueness and your One Bite designed business card will ensure you stand out from the crowd. Contact Helen from One Bite Design today to create or refresh a unique and purpose driven business card which will ensure your first impression is one that will last. You can find some more of the business cards we have designed so far HERE.
Clear consistent branding is something that we commonly see lacking with entrepreneurs or those of us with a small start up business. The temptation all too often is to get your amateur designer friend, or artistic brother / sister / husband / wife / second cousin twice removed on your fathers side … to put together a logo for you. Sometimes this temptation takes the form of using that “awesome” free site you found on the internet to generate the logo for your business. Regardless of the path, all too often as the business grows these decisions lead to frustration and costs because the logo you have is limited to the one version of it that you have. One of the important benefits about having One Bite Design professionally design your logo really comes to light as your business grows and you start to use your logo more to push your visual marketing, whether that be via print, the various forms of social media, promotional items or even the graphic to wrap your car. Let One Bite Design show you eight logo versions, where and how to use them:
These are all versions of your logo that can be provided by One Bite Design, which will allow your business to expand and grow without compromising your hard fought for brand.
There are many advantages to having a number of different logo versions which all retain the same shape feel and theme of your “master logo”. This creates a visual image that you can not only use and adapt over a number of different platforms and mediums but it also quickly becomes a logo that is distinct and therefore can be trademarked and protected. For a review of your logo, a refresh, or a completely new design for the new year contact Helen and One Bite Design. Even better, mention that you’ve seen this blog for 10% off any initial design work. |
One Bite Design BLOGCheck out these amazing blogs. Loads of great information and tips. Categories
All
Previous Blogs
April 2024
|