Here are some of our top tips when considering Brand Design.
1. Who, What, Why, Where and How.
In other words your target market. Who are your customers? Where are they and what are you offering them. How do you intend getting them to choose your business? Know your market.
2. Suitability of Brand Choice.
How do you want to be perceived by your customers? Are you vibrant, of the moment, funky and fresh? Or is your business more traditional and needs to be seen as classic, conservative even. Firstly, you need to know your Company’s Persona, then brand accordingly. If you don’t know who you are, how can you expect your customers to relate to, or have loyalty to your brand.
3. Don’t Deviate!
You’ve put a lot of effort into getting the Brand correct so use it! Don’t dilute it’s impact by ‘phasing in’ or combining brands. Be brave and consistent, it will pay off.
4. Use Your Logo Everywhere!
Your logo applied at every opportunity is the most effective way to gain brand recognition and establish loyalty. This can really help build a ‘brand relationship’ with your customers. Don’t leave anything unbranded, put it on business cards, letterheads and envelopes, website, blog, twitter page and Facebook page, emails, Invoices, signage, clothing… I could go on.
5. Value for Money.
A cheap logo will always look cheap, so unless that’s your intention, invest well. Remember your logo is the major part of the brand and as such, says so much about you, so get it right. A DIY job is definitely not the way to go. Would you wear a suit to a meeting that you had made yourself? Probably not, so approach your logo design and branding in the same way.
We hope you find these tips useful and of course we are always available to discuss re-branding or new brands with you. So just give us a call 01785 246 472.
]]>When we ‘follow’ on Twitter, or become ‘fans’ on the Facebook pages of charities, our own followers and fans see we’re doing it. Unlike in the consumer world where our choices might be approved of, or perhaps disliked, no one judges the ‘Like’ of a worthy cause. This is a good thing don’t you think. After all, people can’t be criticised for being charitable can they! So for the Followers and Fans it’s a good place to be, a win win situation.
Using Social Media is a great way for charities to measure their success too. Numbers of followers and fans can be seen, and those numbers will turn into donations. Making it easy to link to donation sites via the Fan page or with links from tweets on Twitter really does make giving ‘as easy as peas’.
Another major benefits of Twitter is the number of celebrities with accounts, some having thousands even millions of followers, who are willing to support charities via their Tweets and Retweets. Time and again we have experienced celebrities who gladly do this. We’ve also had Direct Messages from new followers who say they are following as a direct result of a Tweet from a celebrity who encouraged them to follow the cause.
Social Media is a huge platform on which charities can really show what they are all about. The available audience is bigger than any television channel can ever hope to offer. It’s available 24/7, on demand. Social Media can take advantage of sites such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Flickr. And it’s easy for the viewer, just a click away.
Everyone wants to be ‘liked’ and in these times of hardship one thing is certain, it’s better to be seen as a giver than a taker. Charity is cool and now it’s so easy to be part the cause.
]]>Well, it looks like a lowercase l or a capital I doesn’t it. Fine if you’re just using it in telephone numbers, we know people can work that ‘one’ out. But what about in the address, in tables, on signs and stuff; when the numbers and the letters are mixed? It can be very frustrating and not in the least bit confusing.
Here at Creative First, when designing using Gill Sans we often substitute the number 1 with another version from a different Sans Serif typeface. One that’s been designed with a ‘flag’. But it isn’t ideal… The weight can be an issue. The size never matches the height of the Gill Sans letters, so all sorts of fiddling needs to go on. Plus, don’t forget, the kerning needs careful consideration too. Then of course, you have to cut and paste them all over the place!!
Well thankfully you can now get a ‘flagged’ number one as part of the Gill Sans Pro font. Happy days, just another typeface to buy then. But it is a classic, so worth the investment.
To buy Gill Sans Pro visit www.monotypefonts.com
]]>So let’s take this opportunity to say welcome to Creative First, we hope you like what you see. Our brand new site is the product of years of creative work in graphic design, website design, branding and marketing. We’re really happy to be working in Staffordshire, the Creative County but we travel, the world is one big open place.
If you want to get in touch we offer a FREE consultation worth £400! Click the orange tab on the right for more information. Creative First are the solution to all your design needs, your own ‘Creative Department’. See us as an extension to your business with as much dedication and enthusiasm as the rest of your team.
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The implications are huge and the prizes are enormous for those businesses with the wisdom and foresight to get involved – properly – right now.
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