WHAT IS BRANDING?
I found a really awesome definition of branding on www.whatis.techtarget.com which explains exactly what a brand consists of.
“A brand is a product, service, or concept that is publicly distinguished from other products, services, or concepts so that it can be easily communicated and marketed.”
So, in other words, a brand makes a company Recognizable. It gives it its own individual identity. This goes for small businesses, corporations, or even bloggers.
So, when clients come to me asking for graphics, I always ask if they already have a logo image to use. Your name, logo, and colors should always be incorporated into whatever graphic is produced, whether it be a header, button ad, Ecover, printed materials, or anything else.
I found a really cool example that www.brandidentityguru.com used to explain branding. They related it to a piece of pie.
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“The cherry is a brand’s promise. The ice cream represents all your products and services. The apples are the corporation itself—the corporate environment. The crust is the structure of your company—not the building (although how it looks is still a part of branding). Of course the cherry gets the most attention. It’s your name in neon lights, your fancy new logo, and your overall visual appeal. If a prospect buys a slice of your pie just for the cherry then you’ve done well!“
Wasn’t that great? It really helps put things in perspective and actually shows us that often times, people do respond more to the Visual Aspect of your brand through your logo and design. So, it is even more important that you come up with a logo design that will carry on your visual identity.
If you start from scratch with every graphic that you have made, people will not recognize you. Everything should tie together so that if one of your clients sees your affiliate ad on another site somewhere – they will automatically remember who you are and what your site represents. This goes for bloggers as well. Your button ad should match your blog header and site design.
Here are a few examples of work that I have done for one of my clients which includes a good representation of consistant branding throughout:
Header for Website:
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125×125 Button Ad:
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Box Graphic:
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CD Design:
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Overall Site Design:
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As you can see, each graphic includes her logo, her picture, and the colors from her website header and overall site design. The titles can easily be changed to include other subjects, but the design should stay the same.
So, if you have not created your own individual brand, then be sure to get on it ASAP! DPK Graphic Design is here to help! We would be happy to discuss your graphic design needs and come up with a logo design that will represent your company and brand in the best way possible. We want to create an identity for you, your website, your blog, your company… that will stay fresh in people’s minds.
