4 Signs It’s Time for a Rebrand
Not to be dramatic, but is your brand having an identity crisis?
Symptoms include:
Nothing seems to fit right
You’re using your brand but it doesn’t feel cohesive
Things are feeling…unaligned
And overall, it’s just not working.
So after sitting on it, you’re considering a rebrand. Before we chat about four signs that now might…probably…possibly be the time for your very own branding refresh, let’s take a look at why you might NOT be quite ready to take the leap:
You’re not sure what you want to offer.
If you’re feeling iffy about your service offerings or product line, nail that down first. It’s important. Design might be the fun part, but your business offerings, audience, and messaging come first.
You’re not sure what makes you different.
I’m just going to say it…you don’t want to base your branding around mountains like every other service provider in Colorado (or wherever you live—though we can definitely incorporate local elements, intentionally). You don’t want your brand to look like what everyone else is doing, you want to weave in the things that make you and your business unique and stand out. Whether that’s your love for baking French desserts, your knack for thoughtful details, or your favorite movie references.
When we work with clients, we want to know what sets them apart as a person, and how their service offering or products are unique. This helps us design a logo and supporting visual elements that have a deeper meaning and impression. It's something that represents the brand on every level.
You’re not completely on board with updating your brand collateral.
One option is to consider a brand refresh instead of a full rebrand. In this scenario we may expand your original color palette and typography (adding a new accent color or headline style for example) with your original (or slightly updated) logo. A brand refresh could also include additional variations of your existing logo, more brand icons and submarks, and more patterns or other supporting graphic elements to give your brand a fresh, elevated look. Just enough change to breathe new inspiration into your business, while keeping the original recognizable-ness.
4 Signs It IS Time for a Rebrand
1. You avoid telling people about your business
Feeling reluctant to hand out your business card or share your marketing materials? Do you find yourself saying, “Just ignore my logo/packaging/web site, I’m going to get around to updating it soon.” If it feels like your brand identity doesn’t really represent your business or organization, of course you’re not going to shout it from the rooftops! Don’t let a misaligned brand hold you back from sharing about your service and product offerings—a well done brand should be one of your best marketing tools, and you deserve to have clear brand guidelines so your web site, email signature, and social media pages look like they belong to the same professional, savvy business owner.
2. You’re evolving from solopreneur to leader of a team
If you notice your branding doesn’t reflect where you’ve grown to or want to go in the future, it might be time to reevaluate.
We see this a lot with business owners, freelancers, and artists who started out working by themselves, and a few years later, have hired a small team and expanded their vision for the future of their business (so exciting!). Maybe your business started under your own name but now you need something broader to reflect your team of subcontractors or employees.
You now operate your business or organization at a higher level, so your branding should reflect that.
3. You’re changing up your service or product offerings
Maybe you’re pivoting from coaching to offering courses and workshops. Maybe your business is becoming more of a lifestyle brand, or maybe you’re stepping back from being the face of the product.
As businesses evolve, there is often a natural shift in your service and product offerings, the company values, and how you market your business. Many folks start with a DIY or Fiverr logo to get things going but at some point realize it isn’t serving their business well any more. Whatever it is, a rebrand can support your growing mission or the next evolution of your business.
(Also, we’re proud of you. It can be scary to shift your products and services, but we know you’re going to absolutely crush this next version of the business).
4. It’s been a minute
Is your branding feeling…very 2012? Like you’re over the outdated script font and you’ve never had a set color palette? Or you’ve been stuck with an unremarkable logo that blends in with everyone else in your industry for years?
We get it. Design trends are often short-lived, which is why we focus on beautiful, clean, and timeless branding for our clients. Save the trends for Instagram reels (if you dare).
If the resolution of that *mini* identity crisis results in rebranding (or a brand refresh)…I know someone who can help. At Due West Design, we combine strategy and aesthetics for visuals that represent your business now and as you grow. And match your style – we always want you to have a logo that feels like YOU, resonates with your target customers, and helps you stand out so that you can stay fully booked or sell more products!
Want to chat about a potential rebrand? Book a free discovery Zoom (or call) or check out our most popular brand package here.
