Your brand is your greatest asset
(and so much more than just a logo...)

So how can I convince you that branding matters - whether you are a window cleaner, a solicitor or run a restaurant? And that it's so much more than just a good logo design.

Perhaps the first thing to do is to tackle the wording. If you were to replace the word "branding" with "perception" I might get your attention.

You care about how you're perceived, right? Well branding is all about the impression you make.

It should convey what is special about your business and it should show you in a positive light.

You have to decide what you stand for - what your Unique Selling Points (USPs) are, who you are aiming at and how you want to position yourself.

Then you need to make sure that all aspects of your business are in line with this. It's about applying your values to everything you do, clearly and consistently.

Your brand is in your customer promise, your business values, your personality and the way you talk to your customers.

It's in the way you package your service and answer your phone.

Communicating your brand clearly and honestly to your customers will spread confidence and goodwill. It is a badge of trust that will set you apart from competitors and can give you a lasting competitive edge.

Ultimately it's about instilling confidence in your audience. To do this effectively your brand needs to follow the '5C' rule:

CONFIDENCE

CONSISTENCY

COHESION

CHARACTER

CLARITY

A few examples of this in action are shown below.

You only get one chance to make the right first impression

St Mary Redcliffe School

I was tasked with designing the new brand identity for the school as part of a major rebuilding project.

This included designing a new logo, prospectuses, leaflets, posters, signage, stationery and uniforms.

Café de Boer

The client wanted a quality bohemian look and feel to his new restaurant and coffee shop in Yeovil.

The new brand identity included a logo, menus, posters, signage, stationery and bespoke crockery.

Adapt

The client wanted to attract men in their 20s and 30s to their marriage prep courses. With that in mind we came up with a modern, 'manly' look and feel for a course that would normally be seen as something only women would be keen to attend.

Panther Inks

The client wanted to make the brand look more dynamic and colourful echoing the product itself.