Rebranding your business can sound like a lot of effort and money without really understanding why you should do it. Changing signs, email signatures, stationery or updating everything without realising the cost benefits can feel like a thankless task. There are reasons to delay doing it, and it is not something which makes it to the top of the agenda for many businesses; if it's not broken don't fix it, right?
However, when you are looking at your marketing strategy, it is good practice to question your top-level branding - so should you be looking at your brand strategy?
Here are some questions to help you decide whether now is the right time for a rebrand.
When was the last time you looked at your brand and what it represents?
Business and clients evolve over time; technology is continuously developing, refining and adapting. Keeping up with these changes feels like hard work and a continuous task which needs to be improved. Many people believe certain brands are timeless, but the reality is some of the worlds' biggest brands adapt and change. They have to do this to stay relevant - ahead of the times, not behind! Take Pepsi for instance, they've changed their logo eleven times to date.
Coupling evolution with your brand's recognisability is imperative and achievable.
Who is your audience?
An easy mistake to make is to assume you know your audience and how to target them based solely on the knowledge of your product/service. However, as you grow and adapt your brand may begin to resonate with a wider circle or in some cases completely different groups of people. If this is the case should your original strategy remain unchanged? If the answer is no, what are your next steps to becoming more attuned to your audience?
It's also important to remember that things going on outside of your business influence the vibe your brand creates.
This is not to suggest every new cause and trend is a valid reason to change your brand, but it is essential for your brand's survival to recognise how a changing industry affects your audience. If it has been a while since you've considered how your brand represents your business values - and the principals which your audience invoke - perhaps it is time to investigate how a rebrand could benefit your business.
What is happening in the world?
We have touched on this already but it is essential to understand where your customers' interests lie outside of your specific trend. Does it benefit your brand to commentate on and identify with the world outside of your business? Thanks to Social Media more brands have a voice on civil rights movements, environmental and social issues. This type of commentary has enabled brands to be seen in a certain way by their customers and therefore reinforce their relationship on a more personal level. A current example is the Nike campaign and the faces they are using to back their brand. Having Colin Kaepernick front their brand is a direct comment on the black civil rights movement.
Moreover, they are more than happy to lose customers who do not share their brand's point of view. Nike has consistently used athletes and celebrities to further causes in which they believe change is or is going to occur. While you may not feel your business needs to or even should have an opinion on some matters, audiences who are passionate about issues linked to your business may believe your silence on an issue is evidence of apathy, which in turn can cause damage to your brand. Having an opinion can bother some people, but - as in the case of the Nike campaign - are they really the people you want to keep onside?
If you are looking for help with your re-brand or looking for a consultant to help decide if you need a rebrand, we can help you go further. Contact us today.