In the world of digital marketing, quite a lot of catchwords are thrown around quite frequently. Some of these are branding and design. But what do these words actually mean?
Branding and design is when a product or business makes itself known to the public, distinguishing itself from competitors. This is to say, it is the process where a business creates a visual representation of itself by creating a unique system of design elements: colors, illustrations, logos, photos, phrases, and designs that project the values, personality, and purpose of the brand in a unique way. An outstanding branding design identity can help build recognition, trust, and loyalty among customers and ultimately drive up sales and conversions for that brand.
Usually, the branding and design agency sits with the business owner, gets a feel for what they want, and understands all that the brand needs. It is a two-way thing, the designer is there to help the business and guide them on the journey. Every business is different, and it is typically not a one-size-fits-all type of thing.
Branding isn’t just a logo
You may have probably worked out part or the whole ideology behind the product you intend to put out, and all that remains is just creating a visual identity. You have to communicate what the product is about, what it stands to achieve, and, more importantly, who it’s for. Think about it; that is what great branding and design do for you.
Put Your Product Out to the World
Do you have a nice product that you intend to put out, or do you intend to rebrand an existing product? Brands do rebrand all the time, and it’s expected that you might want to tweak elements as the business grows. Well, cool. Better have a great story to go with it; otherwise, no one will care. This is what Beach TV provides for your brand.
Delivering Results
At the core of our services, we at Beach TV, as a branding and design agency in Lekki, are a group of tight-knitted, highly functional units who work with your business/product objectives to create, plan, measure, and manage branding strategies for clients, including support in advertising and other forms of promotion. You do not have to worry about whether things are working; milestones and timelines are set to measure various marketing campaigns, which enables you to see what works for your business and how to make it even better for your target audience.
How Do You Execute Branding Designs
As a leading branding and design agency in Lekki, we conduct sufficient market research on your brand objectives to come up with a brand strategy that creates an alignment between what you put out and what your target audience thinks of you. From advertising campaigns, social media management, web design, graphic design, digital marketing, public relations video productions, and lots more, there is a robust team of talented individuals who are ready to bring your business ideas to life. Below are a few pointers for creating a branding design for any business.
1. Stand for Something
A brand is what an entity stands for. It’s a materialization of collective morals, ambitions, a strong will to succeed, and desires. Brands that are at the top of their game have clear, unique, and well-detailed goals and dreams. If there’s alignment between what you put out and what your customers think of you, then you have a successful branding strategy. That’s why you have to have your product and your target market figured out first. For example, MTN, the telecommunications network, wants customers to know that it is available everywhere you go, and customers all around the country seem to reflect that. Without standing for something, a clear goal, or a mission, there is nothing to communicate; you are just styling.
2. There Is Meaning to Everything You Say or Do
It is a belief for some that the tiniest of details do not actually matter and that there isn’t any consequence for some of the minutest of tasks that they carry out. Take, for example, the way you’d dress, Some people believe that their sense of fashion isn’t being paid attention to, that it does not project anything onto the minds of the people who see them in this clothing. Whether you choose to wear a t-shirt, jeans, and hair dyed green, or you wear a designer suit that screams corporate, you are making a statement. Whether you mean to or not, you are actually projecting an image onto viewers.
3. Content is King, Care For Your Copy
As much as you are creating an image for the intended brand, you are also creating a voice, one that you have to be conscious of in terms of how it sounds, or, better put, how it is heard. Creating fantastic visuals and designs for poor content is equivalent to leaving pearls with pigs. You can try all day to convince it about the importance of the precious stone, but it’s in its nature to not care about it. So it is important that you get a grasp of good content to go along with your already fantastic visuals. After all, content is king!
Work with the owner of the businesses and also do as much research as humanly possible, understand the different voices, and try to understand nuances in speaking patterns and voices that are most suitable for the intended audience. The best brand designers have to be good writers, or at least have a good one in their corner.
- The Right Story Does The Trick: Similar to the aforementioned, which solidifies that content is king, telling the right story keeps the audience glued and piques their curiosity. While facts are a welcome addition, they tend to be boring, and only a few people are interested in them. What makes things more interesting and makes your viewers concentrate and listen to you is when you tell a story. Not just any story, a good story. This brings us back to saying why a good brand designer must be a prolific writer, or at least have one in their corner.
Stories make us believe and create a clear image of scenarios in our heads. Think about a book that you must have read. When a character is described so well that you have
A good story is told.
A picture of them in your head—that’s what good storytelling does for you. We as individuals want experiences that whisk us away from our present predicament and issues, something that makes us know that our feelings and worries are seen and heard, that we are not alone, and that someone can procure a solution for us. Facts aren’t experiences, but the art of good storytelling is. Knowing that your choice of clothing material is 30 percent better than that of a direct competitor might be useful information for the brand, but to a customer, chances are this might not be the most relatable information. It isn’t inspiring. Customers just want beautiful and durable clothing for their use that makes them stand out uniquely. That’s a story you should craft for your customers.
How To Brand a Business in Nigeria
In a saturated market of products and services rendered, branding is a must to stand out from the competition. People, organizations, and brands are coming up with new designs, techniques, and in-trend ways to gain new customers and also register the loyalty of existing customers. The importance of branding your business cannot be overemphasized
While the concepts of branding a business have common rudiments, building a brand for a business in Nigeria might require a few tweaks. This is because of many factors that come into play: Location, religion, cultural values, ethnicity, etc. Here are a few tips on how to brand a business in Nigeria.
1. Define Your Brand
This, as the title suggests, is pretty obvious. You have to define your brand by stating your unique selling idea, values, voice, and mission. Your brand is actually more than just a logo or color combination; it is the entirety of the way customers perceive the services you render. In a bid to define your brand, you must know what you seek to offer, the demographic or target audience’s needs, and pain points, and how you intend to tackle them or how you intend to offer solutions that solve them.
2. Give Your Brand a Look
As it is popularly said, dress the way you want to be addressed. Looks can be the basis upon which we are judged. In a country like Nigeria, where the right looks can be different depending on which demographic, religious belief, ethnicity, and gender you encounter, the same is true for brands.
Your brand should have a feel and view that communicates with the viewers, these can include color, scheme, image fonts, and a logo. That’s not all; you should aim to be consistent everywhere so that customers do not, at any point, mix up your brand identity. Your logo, being one of the most common ways customers see you, should be easy to spot, have your brand colors, and explain what your brand is and stands for.
A good website – Branding and Design
As well as coming up with brand guidelines that help create a consistent and familiar feel across all channels and platforms, giving your brand a look also involves having a website. A website is one of the ways that customers will contact you. It should carry your brand color, embody your brand guidelines and logo, and also have very good content that is capable of converting leads and keeping customers loyal.
1. Give Your Brand Your Preferred Voice:
Now here comes the fun part: how do you intend to be heard? Are you a funny brand, a serious one, a corporate one, or are you a narrator? It is important to keep a consistent voice across all platforms that your brand is on. Coupled with the tone and style, you should be mindful of the language that you use. Ensure to only use language that is acceptable to the creed of people that you intend to reach: the ethnic group, gender, region, or demographic that your product intends to solve their problem.
2. Build Brand Loyalty
This crucial step is fundamental for businesses aiming to foster trust and customer loyalty. The essence of a uniform brand experience lies in how customers perceive your brand, encompassing the quality of your products or services, the efficacy of your customer service, and the overall ambiance of your business.
Delivering a seamless brand experience
To deliver a seamless brand experience to your customers, it’s imperative to embed your brand’s identity and values into every interaction point. Whether it’s your website, social media presence, the ambiance of your physical store or office, or the overall customer-business interaction, consistency is key. Ensure that all these touchpoints harmonize effectively, conveying the inherent value and benefits of your brand.
Beyond the tangible aspects of brand experience, maintaining a steadfast commitment to providing top-notch products or services coupled with outstanding customer service is paramount. Equip your employees with a clear understanding of the brand’s values and service standards, enabling them to articulate the worth of your products or services to customers.
Customers feedback
Addressing customer feedback forms another pivotal aspect of ensuring a uniform brand experience. Regularly assess and gauge the effectiveness of your branding strategy, and be open to adjustments based on customer input. This proactive approach ensures that your brand experience consistently aligns with the evolving wants and needs of your customers, thereby ultimately building customer loyalty..
Who Needs a Branding Agency
To be bluntly said, any business that wants to make a profit from patronizing consumers or customers is in need of a branding agency. There are various entities that can benefit from the services of a branding agency.
Ultimately, any entity that recognizes the importance of a strong and consistent brand image and understands the value of professional expertise in crafting and maintaining that image can benefit from the services of a branding agency.
Here are some groups that might find value in engaging with a branding agency:
1. Startups and New Businesses: New businesses often require assistance in establishing a strong and memorable brand identity from the outset.
2. Small Businesses: Small businesses seeking to differentiate themselves in competitive markets can benefit from a branding agency’s expertise to enhance their visibility and credibility.
3. Rebranding Initiatives: Companies looking to undergo a rebranding process to revitalize their image, reach a new target audience, or adapt to market changes.
4. Companies Expanding Globally: Businesses expanding into new markets may need to adapt their brand strategy to resonate with diverse audiences.
5. Product Launches: Launching a new product often involves creating a brand strategy specific to that product, and a branding agency can provide valuable insights and support.
6. Established Companies: Even well-established companies may engage a branding agency to stay relevant, refresh their image, or explore new market opportunities.
7. Nonprofit Organizations: Nonprofits can benefit from branding to effectively communicate their mission, values, and impact to a broader audience.
8. Individuals and Personal Brands: Professionals, influencers, or individuals looking to build and promote their personal brand can also seek the services of a branding agency.
9. Events and Conferences: Organizers of events or conferences may hire a branding agency to create a cohesive and impactful brand experience.
10. Government Agencies: Government entities looking to communicate effectively, build trust, or promote specific initiatives may engage branding agencies.
Benefits Of A Branding and Design Agency
While you might argue that the ultimate benefit of having a branding agency is the fact that it attracts leads and potential customers, which thereby helps a business generate profit, there are multiple benefits in the build-up to that. Let’s take a look at some of these benefits.
- Branding helps build customer loyalty: A strong brand helps create an emotional connection with customers, which can lead to repeat business and customer loyalty.
- Branding helps establish trust: A consistent and professional brand image can help build trust with customers and make them more likely to do business with you.
- Branding helps differentiate your business: A strong, unique brand can help your business stand out from competitors and make it more memorable to potential customers.
- Branding helps build value: A well-established brand can add value to your business and make it more attractive to potential investors or buyers.
- Branding helps drive business growth: A strong brand can help attract new customers and drive business growth, as customers are more likely to choose a business that they know and trust.
