What is included in the basic Branding package and why do you need it all?
You might be thinking that all you need for your business is a logo and if you’ve been following me and reading my blogs you might know by now that I always say that that is not the case. But I hear you ask, what DO I need? Well, that’s why I decided to write this blog post - to explain what is included in my basic branding package and why you do need all the elements included in it.
Main Logo
This seems like an obvious one - something that most people will know is part of your branding. And that’s true. Your logo will be what people hopefully start recognising. Your logo grabs people’s attention, it’s memorable, makes you stand out from the competition and it is the foundation of your branding. You will use this on almost all of your marketing collateral, your website, business cards, signage etc.
Definitely an important one. When I design a logo for a client a lot of thought goes into it and there’s a strategy behind it, not just creating something that looks good. This is also one of the reasons that I would never design a logo in Canva.
Submarks
A submark is one that a lot of clients overlook - something they say they don’t need. But there is definitely a need for them! Your main logo is often bigger, has text and images and is a bit more intricate. When you try to scale this down to a social media profile image it isn’t legible anymore. This is where a submark comes in, it’s a simplified, stripped down version of your logo. Ways to use your submarks are as your website favicon, or in its footer, on secondary pages of a document, as a watermark or like I said as your profile image on socials. Submarks are a fun way to keep your branding looking cohesive.
Colour Palette
One of my favourite parts of branding as it brings so much personality to your brand identity. It makes people feel things before they even read any words about you. Again, a part where a lot of thought and strategy goes into. What do you want to portray as a business? Who do you want to attract? What do you want to be known for? I will look at the psychology behind the colours (obviously taking into account the colours you like and don’t like - your branding is still very much related to you) and put together a colour palette that answers to all of that.
Fonts
Similar to colours fonts add to the first impression people get when they see your brand. Fonts have personality, they can be playful, bold, professional, clear or trustworthy. So as you can see the main font you use for your brand is very important. Then there is the issue of pairing that font with another font that compliments your main (or Header) font. You don’t want them to clash or one to overshadow the other. For body text you want a font that is easy to read. And although there are a couple of basic rules, there are so many variations available that it sometimes is hard to choose which one you like best.
These are the four elements that are included in my basic brand package, but if you want to add some extraness to your look here are some add ons:
Patterns
Either using elements from your logo or designing some new ones, I will create a pattern that you can use to elevate your branding. Brand patterns are eye-catching, add another layer of recognition and make you stand out from the crowd. Most businesses are happy with their branding when they have a logo, submark, colour palette and fonts. Take it a step further and show how unique you are. Patterns are a playful and visual way of engaging your customers.
A pattern doesn’t always have to be super bold and out there. Create a more subdued version that you can use alongside your brand photographs. Being consistent in your branding but not having to rely on your logo or colours all the time.
Illustrations
I’ve written a whole blogpost about this one - because I just LOVE illustrations! But illustrations give you an edge - they show you value creativity. They make people feel things instantly. Putting across a feeling or a message that would maybe take a paragraph to explain in writing. And in today's fast paced world, with most people having the attention span of a goldfish it is so important to get your message across! If you want to read more about why you should have illustrations as a part of your branding, read all about it here.
Elements and Icons
Creating elements and icons that are in line with your brand look will make it so much easier to add small touches to your documents and social media posts Instead of having to scroll through all the elements that Canva has to offer, why not have a bank of elements and icons that are readily available AND create that consistency that is often missing when using random elements from Canva. As well as adding them to your social media posts, they can be included in your website, documents and email marketing.
Social Media Templates
Of course we all want our social media to look on brand. Canva has, of course, all the templates at your fingertips but the problem is that they are not on brand. Sure you can change the colour and the font but using different templates, the look and feel of them won’t be consistent. And that is what we are trying to create - that consistent look so people recognise us as soon as they see our post. Having a selection of Canva templates created in line with your new branding means that you save time AND your socials look incredible. I do also offer this as a standalone package.
Want to create a brand look that is bold, unique and in line with you and your business? Reach out for a free chat to talk about your project!
Comments