3 Ways to Reboot Your Brand: Branding Inspiration for 2016

We all know that the start of a new year in our calendars is the time for new things. While you’re thinking of new workouts to try and new clothes to buy, the new year is also a time to give your business a fresh look.

Here are practical ways you can give your brand identity a boost in 2016. These brand reboots will help you start the year with a bang and give you momentum for the next twelve months.

Logo Redesign

A great logo is the centerpiece for great branding. A logo redesign can mean a totally new, or a slight tweak that makes your logo even better than before.

Take some time to evaluate your business’ logo. Is it effective? Do your customers recognize it? Does your logo speak to your company’s values? Let the answers to these questions guide the changes that you make to your brand.

Here are some great examples of effective rebrands from the past year.
Spotify got a new brand look in 2015 that finally matches how “loud” it is as a company. The NY design firm, Collins, created a new look for Spotify that allows them to publish an array of content with a cohesive look.

The redesign works so that Spotify release new music with a streamlined look, using dual-toned photographs of artists with geometric shapes. The logo is now presented in vibrant colors that allow it to stand out when placed over any image or graphic. This consistent look is also noticeable in their playlists.

Another major logo change came from Google. Their update included a simplified look of their logo and a change to certain actions, like Google talk. Great branding utilizes responsive design. This rebrand creates a unified user experience whether it’s from a laptop, smartphone, or desktop.
A lesson to be learned from this example is to explain why your business made changes to your logo. Google announced the changes they made in a detailed blog post, which adds credibility to their brand and demonstrates authenticity. Seize the opportunity to engage with your audience by sharing your motives behind a logo redesign.

New Social Media Platform

Branch out and expand your business’ online avenues.
According to B2C, “Facebook video is now king” for the new year. If you’re planning on spending time and money on marketing efforts in 2016, Facebook can be a great platform when using a targeted strategy. If you don’t already have a Facebook page for your business, make one now. The new year is a perfect time for launching a new social media platform for your business.

If you already have a Facebook page, familiarize yourself with ways to show your brand online. A way to make social media marketing practical is to schedule time in your week to create posts in advance. You can future date posts by utilizing the Publishing tools. Want more tips for using Facebook for business? Social Media Examiner offers tips for Facebook visibility that will help you make sure your posts don’t get lost in the endless Facebook feed but instead get engagement from your audience.

What other social media platforms will be popular in 2016? Social Media Week forecasts that businesses will branch out to Instagram and Snapchat, utilizing them as branding tools. At Designflair, we recommend using the platforms best suit your business. It’s also smart to take a look at your competitors and see how they are reaching out to clients and customers. You want to stay ahead of the game, so branch out in your digital engagement in 2016.

Website Layout

A major player in your brand identity is your website. It’s such an important piece because it utilizes your logo, employs your tone, and features your brand colors. Your website is often the first impression people get of your business and is an ongoing reference point.

This past year contained many web design trends that we are now familiar with. One popular web design trend included the long scroll layout. An article from Awwards on web design trends mentions, “The technique works especially well for sites that want to lure users through storytelling, and you can still mimic a multi-page site by breaking the scroll into clear sections.” Some of the web design trends from 2015 are likely to stay because they are effective for users. While web designs come and go, it’s important to ensure that your web design looks great and is functional.

Just as with your brand’s logo, you can evaluate your website in preparation for the new year. The key is to choose a layout that suits your business and the content you create. Do you have a trade business? Make sure your contact information is very clear and easy to find. Are you a photographer? Showcase your best work in a photo gallery. Is your navigation user-friendly? Consumers and users are very critical of websites today and want them to work for them, which is why businesses must invest in a well-designed site. The new year is a great time to roll out a new website design for your business.

Design, branding and marketing go hand-in-hand. So as you’re thinking about your business goals in the new year, consider what design changes will benefit your business. Branding is very exciting and we hope you feel inspired. How can we strengthen your branding? Take a look at the services we provide, and set up a meeting with us today!