There’s a lot more to branding than a pretty logo. It’s one of the most crucial components of any successful business- now more so than ever. And while it can be entirely manageable to maintain consistent branding when your business is a certain size, the chances are that, eventually, you’ll want to consider outsourcing.
But how do you know when it’s time to get some help? In today’s blog, we’re breaking down seven signs you need to outsource your branding.
Your logo isn’t flexible enough
A great logo needs to be versatile. It’s about more than just looking good; it needs to look good everywhere. So, your logo might look great in the header of your website, but is it still easily discernible as your business’s profile picture on Instagram? Or as a favicon (your website’s icon that shows up on a browser tab)? And that’s before even considering how your branding translates to print.
A third party design company like Designtastic can help ensure your branding works in every context – and with minimal compromise.
You don’t have a style guide for your branding
As your organisation expands into multiple departments, it can be a lot harder to keep your branding consistent. Across the board, your marketing material should be using consistently using the same colour scheme, fonts, and so forth, but without a definitive style guide, inconsistencies are inevitable. A branding agency will have the tools, and the expertise, to put together a comprehensive style guide that ensures uniformity across all of your marketing material.
Your business is expanding into new markets
Expansion can be an exciting time for a business, but it can come with entirely new challenges. If you’re venturing out of your comfort zone into new markets, for example, there’s no guarantee that your branding will resonate quite as effectively. Outsourcing allows you to make sure your brand strategy is actually scalable for new markets.
Engagement is low (AKA your marketing isn’t working!)
Low traffic on your website, low social media engagement, and minimal referrals can often be traced back to ineffective marketing. And if your branding simply isn’t resonating with your target market anymore, it can be hard to find a way back without a fresh pair of eyes (eg. a branding agency).
You’re stretched too thin
If you’re the owner of a business – any kind of business – you’re probably spinning a lot of plates. If you’re getting to the stage where your branding can’t really be a priority anymore, you might want to think about outsourcing, to ensure your marketing efforts don’t completely fall by the wayside.
Your branding is outdated
On the one hand, your branding can be literally outdated (a website that still looks like it was designed in the noughties, for example), in which case a branding agency can help bring your business’s visual identity into the current decade. But your branding can also be outdated when it comes to the channels you’re exploiting. For example, if you don’t have any sort of social media presence, you could be missing out on a huge potential market, depending on the type of business you have.
You need help with a big project
When you’re working on a particular project for your business (launching a new product, for example, or a new website), the marketing demand can be a whole different ball game. A design company like Designtastic can provide you with the support your project needs, and ensure you don’t get overwhelmed.
Conclusion: 7 signs you need to outsource your branding
If you want your business to have sustained success, you need to know your limits. Outsourcing your branding, and knowing the right time to do so, can be absolutely crucial for the future of your organisation.
