“I want to design a logo for my business. How much is it?”
If you’re just starting a business or launching a startup, the first thing you might think of is getting a logo design. You feel that’s the first thing your business needs.
However, wanting a logo design without strategic brand development is like running before you can walk.
You don’t need a logo; You need a Brand Identity. I know that when you hear the term brand identity, it is often thought to be sleek logos and fine designs. While these elements play a role in shaping the brand’s identity, it is just one part of what branding truly is.
In this blog post, you’ll understand why a solid brand identity is needed for the success of your business and not just a logo.
Let’s start with what a logo is.
A logo is a symbol that identifies your business. If designed well, it also tells your company’s story in a way that creates a connection with your target audience. Let’s look at logos from popular brands.
McDonald’s golden arches
Nike’s check
Apple’s icing-bitten apple logo
All these are symbols that help us identify these brands.
However, all these brands have more to their identity than just their logo.
Yes, your logo might be what your target audience or customers see first but branding doesn’t begin with a logo design. Branding begins with understanding your brand’s mission, audience, and unique value proposition.
It’s more about defining who you are as a company, what you stand for, and how you want to be perceived by your audience. This sums up to create a solid brand identity for your business.
So what exactly is a brand identity?
Now that we know what a logo is and its purpose, let’s understand what a solid brand identity is and why it’s so important.
A brand identity is simply how a business presents itself to the world and how people perceive it. It’s like the personality of your business. This includes everything from the logo and colors to the values and even the way you talk to your customers.
It’s like the amalgamation of both tangible and intangible elements.
How do you build a solid brand identity?
1. Create a clear purpose and position for your brand:
What does my brand stand for? What causes does it support? What are my core beliefs? Why am I doing this? Answering all these questions will define the purpose and direction of your brand.
By understanding why your brand exists and who you’re to serve, you lay the groundwork for your brand to accomplish its purpose.
2. Conduct Market Research
It’s very important to understand your market and your target audience. Conducting this market research will help you properly understand what resonates with your target audience, what they need, and how to serve them better. This will allow you to create an identity that your specific audience can relate to.
3. Create a symbol of identification
This is where your logo design comes in. You need a logo as part of your brand’s identity. I’m sure when you hear of a brand, most times you can immediately recall their logos.
- Make your logo memorable
- Make it simple
- Make it versatile
- Make it timeless
4. Create a brand voice and tone
Have you heard the saying “It’s not what you said, it’s how you said it”? Your brand voice is simply the consistent manner in which you express the uniqueness of your business and this includes choice of words, writing style, and emotional tone.
Whether it’s through formal casual, playful, or serious language, consistency in your brand’s tone is very important for building trust and familiarity with your audience.
Popular brands and their brand tones
We must be familiar with the most popular brands and how they communicate on social media and various channels.
a. Duolingo
If you are familiar with the Duolingo app, you’ll know that it’s a language learning app that’s very unique. Its brand voice is a bit humorous and characterful. This is in line with their key values, which is – making learning new languages fun.
b. Netflix.
Netflix wants you to feel like there’s always something exciting to watch. Their brand tone is entertaining, diverse, and binge-worthy and they try to communicate that all through their Channels.
5. Create a consistent visual guide
Your brand colors are often as memorable as your logo design. Consider using colors that are significant to what your brand stands for. Visual elements like color schemes, typography, and graphic elements work together to create a visual language that will communicate your brand’s personality.
6. Create a relatable brand personality
Think of your brand as a person. What kind of person would it be? Friendly, professional, or something else? When you show your brand’s personality, It makes it more relatable to your audience. Whether it’s on your website, social media, or when you talk to customers, let your brand’s personality shine through.
By now, you must have understood that while a logo is important, it’s just one part of your brand identity. To succeed, you need to create a brand identity that includes everything from your logo to your values and personality.
So, before you focus on designing a logo, make sure you’ve laid the groundwork for a strong brand identity that will help your business succeed.
Do you need help designing a solid identity for your brand that conveys your brand message properly? Let us help you out. Clarylife global is a branding agency and we create meaningful brands with lasting impact.