Changing brand perceptions and how they can impact your business

While COVID-19 has been an incredibly difficult experience, it’s given many businesses the time to evaluate where they sit in the market. Has that happened for you?

At the risk of sounding clichéd, this is the silver lining among the clouds. There’s a real opportunity to plan, innovate and make changes while it’s quiet – so when things are fully back in action, you’re ready to go.

 

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BUT WHERE TO START?

We strongly believe that brand perception should be an initial focus of any forward planning you’re doing. We’re definitely entering a new phase and nobody is sure what the future holds. What your business has stood for over decades may not be as relevant for tomorrow as things are changing rapidly and new trends are constantly emerging. This has been particularly apparent over recent months. In daily life we’ve all noticed things like, for example, a surge in home cooking, online purchasing and demand for exercise equipment. These and other changes affect different businesses in different ways.

 

WITH A LOT OF COMPETITION OUT THERE, BRAND LOYALTY IS CRUCIAL.

In a nutshell, brand loyalty means that your customers know you, trust you and want to continue to do business with you. To retain the loyalty you’ve already built up, it’s important that you make sure your existing customers understand the direction of your business. And to attract new customers, it’s important that you let potential customers know exactly what they are buying into. To ensure you stay relevant and connected in the minds of your customers, you should keep them informed about what you offer and about any changes in your products or services.

An example of this is our own studio. Around 15 years ago digital design became just as important as print design, which had been our core business for many years. We had to adjust our business so that we employed the right people with the necessary skills and developed the skills of our existing staff. Then we had to communicate to our clients that we had strong expertise in the digital field so that we didn’t miss opportunities as their businesses evolved to incorporate digital requirements.

 

 

HAS YOUR OFFER CHANGED?

If it has, you need to ask yourself some questions so that you can be confident that you’re heading in the right direction.

• Is your target market still the same? Think about who is most likely to use your product or service today and into the future. If you can, do some research to confirm your opinions, because changing your customer base isn’t easy. You need to make sure you have the evidence to warrant the time and effort it might take you to plan and implement that change. Note that it might not be a complete change, but a slight refocus to meet demand.

• Is your brand identity still relevant? Does your brand accurately reflect what your business stands for? Staying relevant in a constantly changing environment can be a challenge. Your brand needs to look right, have the right feel and speak to people in a way that is engaging and emotive. It determines how your customers see you.

• If your target market has changed, should your brand speak to your market in a different way? Does your tone of voice need to change? Language is just as important as the visuals. You need a consistent message and voice when you communicate.

• Are there new challenges to your brand that you may not have considered before? For example, do you need to overcome negative perceptions that may have been brought on by, say, COVID-19? Are people confused by your messaging? All your communications need to be focused and clear about the benefits that dealing with your business can offer.

• Does a rival have an identity which is more compelling than yours? That could be a sign that your brand needs a review.

 




SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT NEED A TOTAL BRAND REINVENTION TO STAY RELEVANT.

You may have been the leader in your field once, but competitors may have superseded your status by evolving to ensure their relevance to customer needs. But it’s important to keep in mind that any reinvention of a brand shouldn’t be right just for today – you’ll need to ‘stretch’ your brand so that it’s relevant in the future as well. Time and resources are precious, so you won’t want to undertake the same process again in a few years’ time.

As we’re all so busy on a daily basis just getting the job done, it takes something like the current situation to make us step back and evaluate our businesses. If COVID-19 has had an impact on your business, maybe now is the best time – before business is back in full swing – to look at where you sit in the market and your relevance in today’s market.

At our studio, we’ve already been working with businesses over the last few months to redefine their offer and become more relevant. And what we’ve found is a real energy and commitment to move forward, even in what might well be a new playing field. If this sounds like you, get in touch. We can help you work out what you need to do to give your business relevance for the next decade and beyond.

         






 

REMINDER: WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST IN YOUR BRAND

Your brand should make it clear to a customer that they’ll benefit from dealing with your business rather than that of a competitor. Developing a well-considered brand and strategy is a key part in building your business. From the colours, typography and graphic elements used through to the language and tone of voice you choose to adopt for your collateral, these all tell your customers who you are and what you represent.

When it’s done well, a brand identity can help you hit the ground running. And contrary to popular belief, it’s more than just a logo (although a logo is important). It’s about creating visual guidelines that cover fonts and colour – and it’s also about creating emotional parameters for copywriting, social media, advertising campaigns and more. It’s strategic, it’s planned well and it’s designed to continually connect with your target markets.

 

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Need design answers?
We’d love to hear from you.

We understand that each business and brand is different,
and that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. So let’s chat.

Fill out the form and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible.
Alternatively, give us a call or send us an email.

Level 2, 66 Albert Road
South Melbourne, Victoria 3205
+61(3) 9696 4116
info@wattsdesign.com.au

 






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