In my nearly ten years of running a wedding planning and design company, I've rebranded an official three times. The first two were under the name I started my company with in 2009 and the latter, and most recent, was a complete name change to the current brand my team of three works under. All three branding experiences were exciting and necessary for different seasons I was experiencing in my career. The branding process can be a timely, in depth and expensive process that many mistakenly view as the fix to any and every business snag. And while every business can benefit from a professional branding experience and industry change requires us to revaluate when rebranding is necessary, often times there are other steps you can take first to refine you brand and business in big ways.
Here are four easy ways to refine your brand without undergoing a complete overhaul – an especially helpful approach before wedding season gets underway!
1. Updating the verbiage on your website, social media channels, and in the literature and messages you send to both clients and colleagues, can be an easy way to revamp your brand without committing to a full branding overhaul. In addition to the photos that highlight what your brand stands for, the things you write about yourself, your team and employees, services you offer, and what sets you apart, and then of course how you present yourself to others, there are numerous areas you can edit or tweak within the operations of your business to refine it as a whole.
2. While social media has become a dominating force in the wedding industry, and especially so for newer professionals, I'm still a big believer in the power of the blog. After all, it's the one tool and platform I feel I can most credit my beginning bookings and successes to! Use your blog as a tool for your business and a platform to refine your brand's message when needed. Whenever you have updates to share about your company (new hires, added services, exciting features, etc) share those not only on social media but on your blog too. Your blog is an extension of your business and can serve as a powerful tool in furthering your company culture and brand value in a way that quick firing social media cannot. If you don't have time or an interest in maintaining a blog then don't have an outdated one on your site for no reason. An ignored blog can hinder your brand more than a company without one. Or if you don't want to bid farewell to the content you DO have, consider removing dates from posts so older dates don't give the illusion of a brand and company that neglects certain areas.
3. Just like a fresh coat of paint can drastically improve the look and feel of a home, updated headshots can work wonders for refining the visual identity of your brand. The same holds true for fresh photos of your work or studio space; if there's an area of your brand that could stand to be refreshed or renewed look at how that small change can impact the brand as a whole. What sometimes feels like a need for a brand new website, logo and brand identity is sometimes a simple change.
4. Finally, ask a trustworthy professional, mentor or colleague to assess your brand for you. Avoid asking a friend or family member (someone who will tell you all the positive things you want to hear!) and be open to constructive feedback if that's what you receive. Many times we see things one way when our peers (and clients) see things differently so a brand assess can be a valuable evaluation to better our business in potential blind spots.
A couple other bonus points to consider:
I myself can sometimes get caught up with 'Shiny Object' syndrome, also known as comparing my business and brand to others. In a saturated market where it seems like someone I know or admire is always rebranding their company and professional image, I can easily start to doubt my own brand and wonder if perhaps I too, need to undergo a massive brand overhaul to 'keep up'. But staying in my own lane, walking through the above-mentioned five tips, and trusting my brand is unique and relevant, is key to focusing my energies in other important areas of business ownership and operation; like serving my clients well and executing new ideas!
And finally!
If you do find a new brand is in order for your company, congratulations! Make sure you do your research on companies that offer what you're looking for and compare and contrast options before settling on your final pick. A nice portfolio is only half of the equation when looking for a branding specialist. Customer service, pricing, turn around time, collateral inclusions, what platforms each specialist works with, and so much more are all things you should consider when making your selection. Just like your clients take time to find out if you’re the best fit for them, take time to explore which professional is best for you and the future successes of your soon to be new brand!
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