Tag: branding

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Dos and Don’ts of Refreshing or Reinventing a Brand?

When you’ve been in business for more than 10 or 20 or 30 years, you need to reassess your marketing and/or your brand. Our company went through this process this past year and did a total redesign – logo, copy, website etc. KM LogoOur business had totally changed but our branding didn’t reflect those changes.

While we had always been two photographers shooting both independently and as a team, our branding was never clear that there were two of us. Many thought Kelly Mooney was one person. We hired a graphic designer to come up with a logo that not only reflected the partnership but also reflected that fact that our business was more than just still photography. We were no longer two photographers shooting still imagery, but a small production company offering integrated still and motion solutions for buyers with multi media needs.

Do start by asking yourself the following questions:

  • Has your business changed? How?
  • Does your logo/branding reflect those changes?
  • Does your logo and branding (taglines) say something about what your business does?
  • Do you want a total revision – new logo, color scheme and copy – or a simple refresh? Why?
  • What is your company known for? Does your branding reflect that?

Some Don’ts

  • Don’t make the mistake of redesigning your logo and colors and overall packaging to look current if your company is still providing the same services the same way. It may freshen up your image on the outside, but if it doesn’t reflect what your company does or offers – it will be a fail.
  • Don’t forget to establish guidelines and be consistent. Logo, colors, fonts, taglines, imagery and your “voice”. When you have a clear sense of your brand, it will be easier to make choices about images or copy to use that are in alignment with your brand.
  • Don’t use vague or generic copy. Copy loaded with catchwords or phrases that are overused and meaningless.
  • Don’t overcomplicate it. The whole point of branding is to make your company’s logo or tagline memorable and define what your company does.
  • Don’t change your branding if the benefits don’t outweigh the risks. Remember that changes to your brand could potentially reduce the connections you already have. So have a good reason for re-branding.
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Online or Web Video

Many of my clients who do business on the internet recognize the power of online video as a marketing tool. Online video can promote their brand by connecting with their customers. It also can give some insight into their company’s personality by providing extra information. And if done well, your online video will be shared virally on social media sites, potentially building a following.

I’ve done testimonial web videos for clients where their customers tell their story. I’ve been hired by publishers to shoot video interviews with authors to talk about themselves and their book – in a sense, like a video book jacket. I’ve shot “how to’s” for companies to show how to use their products. I’ve produced many web videos for the travel/resort markets which is the ultimate way to promote a destination because you can work in the sights and sounds of a place.

I have also created web videos for educational institutions to recruit students who respond much better to the internet than print brochures that are mailed. I’ve created videos for non profits to create awareness and aid in their fund raising . And I have produced and shot numerous online videos for editorial markets. Online video stories are becoming more and more popular with magazine publishers.

What’s most important in creating online videos is that they must be authenticate and entertaining. Those ingredients will not only attract  viewers but will cause a viewer to share the video and spread the word. Be sincere and be engaging. Keep them short. Make sure your video can be embedded and emailed so that it can be shared on different social media sites. Web videos can be inserted on websites, blogs, electronic newsletters and can be the most affordable and effective way of getting your message out. But remember – this is your brand so be consistent. Approach it with the same quality as you would in other promotions. Give it a personality without the hard sell.

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