Rebranding Is Not An Ending; It's a Rebirth (Part One)

​Sometimes starting over can be a huge benefit to your company. Today, we are going to be talking about rebranding, when it's time to rebrand, and some of the best ways to go about doing so!

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Today, we are going to be talking about rebranding. This might sound like a scary term to apply to any business, and we understand your hesitation. However, this doesn't mean throwing out your business and starting from square one. It means that after you accept the fact that while yes, this can be scary, it is well worth the effort and it can give new life to your company. Rebranding leaves the heart of your company and its products or services alone while you decide to change your image. This could mean changing the brand logo, the colors, your name, the symbols you use, or going in for a totally new design overhaul. It's a refresh of what you had and taking it to a new and improved level to catch a new audience, compete with your competitors, grow with the times, and become bigger than you ever were before.

It can be scary to totally change and edit the identity of a company and let go of all the time and effort you spent putting into your current brand, but please believe us when we say that it can take your company to a whole new level of success if you trust the process. In the first part of this two-part blog, we are going to be talking about red flag moments that will let you know that it might be time to rebrand. In the second part of this blog, we will be talking about successful steps and things to make the rebranding process as pain-free and successful as possible.

TIME TO REBRAND
We have new clients come work with us who already have a website and a social media presence. They've hit a wall and they aren't getting any response, customers, sales, and it seems like no one knows who they are or what their business does. In these situations, we do a few things to jumpstart these companies again including blog work, SEO, a new approach to their advertisement plan, new ideas when it comes to the social media pages, and so much more. One of the biggest things we do is help rebrand these companies. We redesign logos, change the color schemes and layouts of their website, and are consistent in what their social media posts look like. This helps create a consistent flow that allows audience members to remember their brand, connect images and layout to their brand, and entice people to check out and understand what this particular company does just by looking at their logo and branding. What are some other examples of when it might be time to start rebranding? Just like everything else in the business world, your company will change and evolve. This is the perfect time to start the rebranding process.

REASON ONE: Growing Pains
Over time, your company can begin to offer new services, new products, and can even change the focus of what is important for the company and what they want to provide to their customers. When this happens, your original logo might not incorporate all of these new ideas or what all you're now offering to your clientele. You want everyone who comes across your logo and branding to know exactly all there is to know about your company or, be inspired to find out more just by looking at it. If your original logo isn't providing this, then it's time to start thinking about rebranding to something that does explain all of these things for you. This can save you a ton of time in the long run, because there will be less confusion to clean up, fewer questions about what you do, and you can get directly to selling your services and products without hesitation.

REASON TWO: A Bad Day
It's something we hope never happens to your company or any future companies you might come to own in the future; but, once a company has a palpable and recognized bad reputation, it might be time to rebrand. A company can still have so much to offer even if it has hit a wall of a bad reputation. Their product still might have something important to offer its consumers. Everything can change if new management and new owners come into the picture, and with a refreshing rebrand from head to toe, this can be a total rebirth and survival of a company. Along with that, it can also help slowly remove the negative connotation associated with it. This can help your audience and a new audience see you in a brand new light with a new understanding.

REASON THREE: Getting In Your Own Way
Rebranding doesn't mean that you're failing or doing something wrong. It can simply mean your original logo and brand is getting in the way of your current success. For example, say you started your company 15 or 20 years ago. While your products are still popular and necessary, your font, brand, and color choices can make you feel dated and old fashioned. The fonts and colors you're using might have been popular all those years ago, but they might be tired and very out of style now. This can turn people away from your brand when they see it for the first time and make them choose your competitors instead. All because of your branding! Don't let this happen. Many businesses, no matter their success, know it's a smart move to rebrand because they've "outgrown their original mission" according to Entrepreneur. Also, once this rebrand happens, it's a great opportunity to put your logo on even more products! Have you had pens with your logo on them? Maybe try mini flash drives, portable phone batters, or mini hand sanitizer bottles! New products that people will use with your new brand on it is a double win!

REASON FOUR: Beyond the Competition
This is one of the most popular reasons why companies rebrand. If your brand is similar to your competitors or even a company that does something different than yours, it's time to shake it up. You want your logo to stand out and be remembered, not questioned, or confused with another company that could potentially take your business! Also, if your competition has a better brand than what you currently have, it's time to step it up and go one step further with a better brand than what they have. This can be pricey, but it will be worth it. Also, please avoid using anything overtly generic and never use stock images or art as part of your brand or logo. Sure, these can be used in other parts of your company, but not for who are!

REASON FIVE: The Cool Kid On The Block
Another very popular reason companies rebrand is to reach a whole new level of customers and a new demographic. Does your product or service offer something for people of all ages, but for some reason your demographic is only reaching a certain age group? It might be your brand. Subconsciously thanks to our culture and how we associate different colors, shapes, pictures, and fonts we connect who a product is for, even if we are incorrect in these assumptions. Rebranding to attract everyone instead of limiting your reach can bring you more business and a wider reach. A new rebrand can introduce you to a whole new generation of customers who might have been looking for your product for years and they never even knew you existed!

How do you feel about rebranding so far? There are multiple reasons why it might be time or extremely necessary to do so. While it might not be an easy experience, it can save your company and prolong its lifespan. We are here to help you through the process and to help make it as pain-free as possible. In our next blog, we will be discussing some of the best tips, suggestions, and steps to take to make your branding process as successful as possible. Until then, stay safe and caffeinated Summerville!