The design of your brand matters. It takes time to develop the right color, style, and sound that match your purpose and values. It’s easy to breathe a sigh of relief once you zero in on your brand’s design. It’s finally something you can check off your to-do list!
Just don’t assume that your design is going to work forever. At some point, you’re probably going to have to work with a design agency to redesign your brand.
Not sure if it’s time for you to consider a redesign? Here are a few signs it’s time for a change.
Your Business Has Changed
Businesses change and evolve. It’s not only normal, it should also be embraced as technology changes, processes change, and employees come and go. Businesses that last in the long run are the ones that are able to keep up with all those changes, and one way they do it is by redesigning their brand when the need arises.
If your business is undergoing a change, whether you’re developing a new product line, expanding into a new space, or scaling back, chances are, your design elements could use a refresh. You might also want to consider a new way of presenting your business if leadership has drastically changed, your purpose has changed, or your location has changed.
Your Current Branding is Inconsistent
Consistent branding is important for a few reasons. It:
- Helps you differentiate your business from others
- Gives your business a distinct personality
- Reinforces your key messaging
- Drives authority in your niche
- Encourages customer loyalty
The problem is that it’s quite easy to have an inconsistent brand. Even if your brand was once consistent, it’s easy to show up in a myriad of ways on the internet and in person with different fonts, different colors, different designs, and different messaging.
If your social media, email newsletters, website, and product packaging all look a little different, it’s time to revisit your brand’s design. Start by listing all of the ways you show up for customers. Then, use that list to create a cohesive brand so everything looks and sounds the same no matter where your messages and products show up.
You’re Lost in a Sea of Sameness
With the internet, customers have access to products and services from all over the world. That means there is more competition than ever before, regardless of what industry you’re in. It’s easy to get lost in the crowd, especially if your brand design is underwhelming.
If your bounce rate is high, it’s a good sign that you aren’t making a positive impact on the potential customers who are visiting your website. Previous customers turning to competitors can also be a sign that your brand needs to be zhooshed up.
You also have to be careful with trends. Although it can help your brand appear more modern, if everyone jumps on the latest design bandwagon, you’ll end up looking like everyone else. That’s why it’s a good idea to lean into what makes you unique when redesigning your brand.
Your Audience Has Changed
Customer expectations change, and they can change quickly. Your audience may care more about shopping with businesses that care about the same social causes, or perhaps you started by serving a young demographic, but your customers have aged with you.
It’s always important to have your finger on the pulse of your customers, but it is especially true when it comes to your brand’s design. If their expectations have changed, if they have gotten older, or if you’re serving a whole different group of people, you need to change up your brand’s appearance.
You Don’t Like It
Sometimes you don’t need an explicit reason why it’s time for a rebrand. It’s always a good idea to revisit your brand’s design when you don’t like it.
Maybe your initial branding was done hastily. Or maybe you hired a bargain designer so everything just looks a little cheap. It could also be that, over time, you’ve come to hate the colors in your logo and you’re just ready for something different.
Your gut is often right. If you just don’t like the way your brand looks or you simply feel like it’s time for something a little different, your intuition is likely tapping into something that needs your attention.
Undergoing a brand redesign can be a lengthy, expensive, and complicated process. It’s not something you want to do if you don’t have to, but there are signs that it’s worth the time and effort.