Branding for Beginners: Essential Tips for (Re)Creating Your Brand Michelle G. Held MetroNY.com Pintalk.net
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To brand To develop an identity in the minds of consumers, investors, and competitors
Create a recognizable brand!
Types of brands Product Service Business / Corporate Personal
Brands affect: Needs Emotions Perception
Quiz!
How many did you recognize?
Why (re)brand ? New business or product Raise funding Change marketing strategy New markets / customer segment Shift brand messaging Negative image
Who is your market? Why do they buy? What makes your brand valued? Why is it difficult to substitute? How does your brand compete?
Position your brand by defining what makes it unique!
Develop your brand identity Brand name Logo Tagline Signature elements Marketing materials Pricing
Perception is reality! Cheap?
Good value & best brand!
Brand Perception: Overpriced?
Worth buying!
Prestigious!
Case Study
1971 $2.5M in sales! 1972
1980: $307M sales and 500 stores 1986: Gap Kids opens 1987: Gap opens first international store Sales are $1B 1990: Baby Gap opens The Rise
1992: Second largest brand worldwide 1994: First Old Navy store 1997: Gap.com goes online Old Navy sells $1B : BananaRepublic.com & OldNavy.com Gap is the largest clothing retailer in the world!
The Fall 2001: Sales begin to decline > 2007: Five years of uninspired design > 2012: Same store sales down 65 months
Quality declining Design deteriorated Merchandising is poor No definable customer
2010
Brand Name Available? Informative? Offensive?
Offensive! Retardex (toothpaste) i.Beat.blaxx (mp3 player) IKEA Fartfull (kids' workbench) Pee cola (Ghana) Lumia phone (Spanish slang) Pet sweat (water)
Logo Color scheme Font Consistent look Projects a consistent feel Consistent level of quality B&W
Logo Professional Layout Font (UVA)
Quiz 2
Tag lines
Signature elements & marketing materials Service level Packaging Color Sound
Pricing & perception
Rebranding done right!
Website Professional-looking Logo Navigation Current information Up-to-date Pages and keywords
Your domain name is part of your brand! metrony.com MichelleGHeld.com TheNameofMyProduct.com
Social media Customers insight Brand ambassadors Monitoring
Choose well
Brand Ambassadors Brand recognition Customer insights Website traffic
Social media Connect Monitor Provide value!
Use press releases
Monitor, evaluate, and update your brand to stay relevant and credible!
Takeaways Consistent messaging Consistent look Find a mentor / outsource
Michelle G. Held MetroNY.com Pintalk.net metrony