Attract More Clients With A Brand Identity

You've probably heard that people buy products and services from people they know, like and trust. And, as I have done, you've probably wondered how you can foster more of this "Know-Like-Trust" factor in your business relationships. Pictures are tied to our emotions in powerful ways, so strategically using your logo and brand identity materials (business cards, letterhead, brochures, website, etc.) to enforce this connection is a great idea.

A brand identity kit contains many of the attributes that contribute to the "Know-Like-Trust" factor, in the following ways:

* Know ? A creatively designed set of materials will make you stand out in your field. Symbolically designed materials, where the graphics are designed to communicate and tell your story, can lead to the prospect feeling that they understand who you are and what you do, helping them to form a connection with you and your business. This contributes to your memorability and breeds a feeling of familiarity.

Through the consistent, repetitive use of a logo and the supporting visual elements in your marketing materials, people will feel as though they "know" you and your business, even if you have never met face-to-face.

* Like ? If you look at a business's materials, and you like their look and feel, you would probably find it easier to like both the business owner and to like doing business with them, as well. A logo with an icon attached to your company name can also make your company seem more approachable, friendly and fun. It can even endear your company name to your potential clients. Cartoon logos are highly effective in this capacity, though not appropriate for all professions.

You can also foster a feeling of compatibility through clear information in your designed materials ? both in the type of information that you provide and the way that it's laid out and presented. People like to read text that is straightforward and well written.

* Trust ? A high-quality, professionally printed brand identity kit can make you look capable, established, and enduring. Professional materials also impart an air of integrity to your business. If your materials look polished and put together, they lead people to believe that working with you will be similarly pleasant.

All of these factors compound to give you ? and your business ? greater credibility, which leads people to trust you with more and bigger projects, sales, or orders.

About the Author

Erin Ferree, Founder and Lead Designer of elf design, is a brand identity and graphic design expert. She has been helping small businesses grow with bold, clean and effective logo and marketing material designs for over a decade. elf design offers the comprehensive graphic and web design services of a large agency, with the one- on-one, personalized attention of an independent design specialist. Erin works closely in partnership with her clients to create designs that are visible, credible and memorable ? and that tell their unique business stories in a clear and consistent way. For more information about elf design, please visit: Logo design at http://www.elf-design.com

In The News:


Kansas City Star

Kraft's new branding provokes plenty of yucks
Cherokee Tribune
Today, Kraft shareholders will decide whether to approve the name for the company's business that sells global snack brands such as Oreos, Fig Newton and Cadbury. The four-month odyssey of how “Mondelez” was picked — and how it was received ...
Kraft's new snack business name faces crucial voteChicago Sun-Times

all 257 news articles »

VentureBeat

Top four global tech brands now worth almost $500B
VentureBeat
Four out of five of the top brands in the world are technology brands, according to a review of the top global brands released Tuesday. The report valued the Apple, IBM, Google, and Microsoft brands at a combined half-trillion dollars.

and more »

IBNLive.com

Top Brands Thrive Despite Economy According to Millward Brown's Latest BrandZ ...
Sacramento Bee
By Millward Brown The world's biggest brands have continued to grow in value during the current economic uncertainty, according to WPP company Millward Brown's annual BrandZ [ TM ] Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands study. The No1 brand for the second ...
Apple, Google and an Aussie bank: World's most valuable brands namedBroker News Australia
Apple Again Ranked as World's Most Valuable BrandMac Rumors

all 209 news articles »

South Africa: ANC Brands Zuma Painting Racist
AllAfrica.com
By Jenni Evans, 21 May 2012 Johannesburg — ANC leaders were still smarting over a painting of its president Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed, branding it racist on Monday as they prepared for a court challenge to have it removed.

and more »

BC-OLY--London 2012-Branding,1st Ld-Writethru, OLY
The Birmingham News - al.com
"It's fine to clamp down on the threat, but where it impacts the individual, it's going to be very difficult for (London organizers) to get it right," said Hugh Tebay, a partner at Sipara, a British law firm that specializes in trademark and branding.

and more »

3 Personal Branding Must-Haves
Business Insider
Personal Branding Blog offers branding and career advice from Dan Schawbel and his team of experts. Fundamentally, the process of personal branding includes taking time to define yourself and then intentionally connecting yourself with others who ...

and more »

Matthews Marking Products Showcases Branding, Traceability Solutions at ...
MarketWatch (press release)
These products aid packagers with branding and traceability solutions for their products, from graphics and trademarks to date codes, batch numbers, and barcoding. Secondary and primary package marking solutions will be on display.

and more »

Cattle branding best deterrent to livestock theft, officer says
Bolivar Herald Free Press
An old-fashioned brand remains the best hedge against cattle theft, rural crime investigators told a gathering of about 125 southwest Missouri beef producers Tuesday, May 15. An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety.
Texas Longhorn cattleMorgan Hill Times

all 2,517 news articles »

Stuff.co.nz

'Branding game' leaves teen in hospital
TVNZ
A young farming student has spent five days in hospital after he and two fellow students pressed red-hot shearing tools on each other as part of a "branding game". Page Gilmour, 17, went to Masterton Hospital after a large burn on his arm became ...
Student treated after 'branding' incidentNewstalk ZB

all 9 news articles »

Branding 'getting sexier by the second' with digital signage (Commentary)
Digital Signage Today
summed up Zoom Media Group Canada CEO Cathy Fernandes, in speaking about the use of digital place-based media to the wide-range of delegates representing brands, agencies, network operators and providers who attended the first day of the Strategy ...

Google News

How to Create Your Own Mail Order Products

Pick up almost any book or report on Mailorder Selling... Read More

Brand Value Plan - Brand Identity Guru

Developing brand value is critical to every organization and when... Read More

Don?t Overlook Your Email When Considering Your Brand Identity

You wouldn't skip letterhead when sending out a sales letter... Read More

Living Your Brand on the Web - Part 2

Now that everyone has conformed to Living Your Brand on... Read More

Co-Branding in Automotive Service Businesses

In a world of co-branding, point of destination strategies and... Read More

Importance of Branding - Whats in a Name?

Branding is perhaps the most important facet of any business--beyond... Read More

Brand Strategy - Brand Value - Brand Identity Guru

Developing brand strategy is extremely critical. The most important asset... Read More

How to Write Classified Ads that Get Results Now.

SELLING DIRECTLY FROM A CLASSIFIED AD Classified ads can be... Read More

Corporate Internet Branding ? Branding Your Business Online

Let me tell you a story about Pete and a... Read More

Whats In A Name? When It Comes To Your Business, Plenty!

Q: How important is the name of a business? Should... Read More

Is Your Logo Helping or Hurting Your Business?

The quality of your logo can mean the difference between... Read More

Clouds Gather Before A Storm: Utilizing The Power Of Brand

How brand management can help utility organisations to create a... Read More

Articles: The Perfect Branding Tool

If you own a web-based business, you're probably aware of... Read More

Branding Your Business To Make More Money

Branding your comapny should be the first thing a company... Read More

Don?t Get Caught In the Trap: The BIG Difference Between Personal and Business Branding

When you're all alone in the privacy of your home... Read More

Quality and Service - Yeah, Right!

One of the critical drivers of business success is having... Read More

Brand Awareness - Brand Identity

About once a month a few of us at the... Read More

Trademark Your Business ? Lessons Learned

Small business owners learn many lessons the hard way -... Read More

Branding Your Radio or TV Campaign With A Musical Identity (aka Audo Logo, aka Jingle)

You don't think twice about a business card and letterhead... Read More

John Deere and NASCAR; Excellent Use of Brand

We should all recognize the marketing efforts of John Deere... Read More

Effective Public Relations Essential for Personal Branding

Move over pop star "Posh Spice" Adams and English soccer... Read More

Build Brand Identity Through Product Branding

Building a product into a brand leader is not easy,... Read More

Build Brand Identity - Brand Identity Guru

Successful Guru marketers have a secret weapon that they use... Read More

Hummer is an Excellent Brand

What size is your Hummer? Hummers Come in All Sizes;... Read More

When Search Engine Marketing and Trademarks Collide

In the world of marketing, branding issues are always an... Read More