A guide to rebranding your company

I was meeting a new client a few weeks ago and we were talking about how to grow his business and the importance of a great looking website. That struck a chord with me and not a particularly good one as it got me thinking about my own website which was more than overdue a refresh. By my own admission, it had grown a little tired, dated and was in need of rebranding.

It wasn’t just the website that needed some TLC but the whole brand, well in my opinion, in any case. So, without delay, I embarked on my rebranding project. I commissioned a new logo, colour palette swiftly followed by a new website. Now of course mine isn’t a complex business but it’s absolutely imperative that as soon as visitors land on a website that they know exactly what you’re offering. Visitors need to get a good feeling for you and your business. Did you know that the average time spent on a website is 15 seconds which is not long to make an impact?

A website is typically the first port of call for prospects and anyone wanting to know about your business so first impressions count and it’s why branding is important. Here are my top tips if you’re thinking about a rebrand:

New logo

If you fancy a new logo then don’t be afraid of a complete departure from your existing one whether it’s colour, look and feel or all three. Having the power to revamp your brand shows that you’re in control and happy to make a change to keep up with competitors and your client’s needs.

I personally like to have an icon that you can use with and without your logo. That’s because it not only gives you a professional feel but is also super handy when you’re creating collateral such as business cards, stationery, and presentations.

Selecting Your Typeface

Your typeface is also important and needs to compliment your logo and work across everything you do from your stationery and emails to your website. The choice is endless but my advice is to pick one that’s not too fussy and can be found on the mainstream office packages.

Rebranding Your Colour Palette

The colour palette for your rebranding project needs to accommodate your logo so bear this in mind when you’re selecting and while it’s good to be bold don’t let it overpower everything else or take away from any images you select. Also, consider the different types of collateral that you want it to work across.

Image Selection

These are so important when rebranding and there are a few options here. You can commission your own if budget permits. Alternatively, you can buy fairly reasonably priced imagery fairly from the likes of Shutterstock or iStock. There are also some free image sites such as Pexels.

Think ahead about what sort of images you require and what represents your business and what you offer best so that they can double up across the website, presentations and any other marketing collateral you might need to produce.

Your Website

Probably one of the most important aspects of a business today. Your website is your shop window so treat it like one. Don’t leave it to get dusty and tired. Choose a platform that offers you flexibility and there are lots of DIY packages such as Wix and Squarespace to choose from. In my experience, though, they don’t offer enough flexibility to scale in the way that WordPress does and aren’t as easy optimise.

Copywriting

Finally, once you’ve got the look and feel aspect of your rebranding project sorted you can move on to what you say which also needs careful consideration. Do visitors to your site ‘get you’ and your business as soon as they arrive on your site or could it be clearer? If you can’t stretch to the support of a copywriter then get a draft together of what you think you want to say. Then share it with colleagues, family members and trusted associates for constructive feedback.

Your brand is your image, your business card and your shop window all rolled into one so make it count and ensure that it reflects your business message and brand.