Your branding looks GREAT, and you’re so close to launching your product that the anticipation is palpable. But the one thing you keep asking is: “Where do I take my brand from here?”
The reality is that a brand is more than a logo and a color palette. A brand is the personality that comes across at every customer touchpoint. More than anything, it is important that this personality is consistent and recognizable.
Instead of feeling stressed about where to implement your brand first, simply run through this checklist of 5 vital steps to take before launching your brand.
It's important to note that first and foremost, you need a logo and brand guidelines before creating any of the following materials. Not sure what brand guidelines are and if you have them? Come back to this blog after reading Brand Guidelines- What They Are and Why You Need Them.
Summary of brand launch steps
Have a memorable website
Create a social media strategy
Design your storefront
Order print materials
Take professional brand photos
Step 1: Make sure you have a memorable website.
Website created by Vetter Design Co for Diffuse Network.
We all know websites are vital to a thriving business. Even if you don’t sell products directly online, your site is a credibility check to the world. However, having a presence online isn’t enough- your site MUST be memorable and reflect the amazing visual brand identity you’ve recently created. A beautiful website full of personality puts customers at ease that they’ve made the right choice. They need to know you’re real, trustworthy, and relatable.
It's important to note that websites take time to make, which is why it is at the top of our brand launch list. Don't waste time, get in touch with a website designer as soon as you have brand guidelines for them to work with.
Step 2: Create a social media strategy.
There is a lot that goes into creating a successful social media presence. When in doubt, hiring a professional is always a great place to start. If you’re up for the challenge, the most important things to remember from a branding perspective are:
Use a consistent voice when writing captions
Communicate a consistent narrative about your business
Stick to a specific style of photography
Use only 2-3 design templates for non-photo posts (And of course make sure they use your brand colors and fonts
Step 3. Brand your storefront’s interior + exterior design.
If your business has a brick and mortar space, take tips from your brand guidelines and start implementing your colors into decisions such as tile, paint colors, and lighting. Go the extra mile and hire a designer to paint a mural to make the space uniquely yours so customers have a memorable experience.
Step 4. Order all print materials.
Signage, business cards, stickers, packaging, the possibilities are endless. Depending on your business model, certain materials will be more important than others. Decide what areas you want to leave a lasting impression with your customers and invest in the best possible designs for those materials. Some of my favorite sites to order from include Vista Print and Sticker Mule.
Step 5: Hire a photographer to take one of a kind branding photos + video.
Photo by Adam Ghantous. You can follow him on instagram at @adamghantous
Now that all your ducks are in a row, it’s time to document it. Schedule a branding photoshoot and capture content of your employees, storefront, products, packaging, and more. While many treat this step as a luxury and put it at the bottom of their priority list, I can assure you it’s quite the opposite. In this online age- photo and video are king. Poor quality images or even worse *stock photography* aren’t going to cut it. In order for customers to connect with your brand, they need evidence of its existence.
Hooray! It's time to launch your brand!
Take a deep breath and tackle each step one at a time. Once you have these 5 essentials, the rest will fall into place.
And remember, you don’t have to do this alone. With some solid brand guidelines and a designer you trust in your corner- nothing can stop you!
Looking for a brand designer to help you execute these steps? Let's get in touch.