How to Customize Your Brand (With an Upscale Feeling)

"How to Customize Your Brand (With an Upscale Feeling)" Peron Holding LeadershipGirl Logo Graphic
May 15, 2018
71 / 100

~by Haley Lynn Gray~

Have you been thinking about how to customize your brand? Branding is about more than creating a pretty logo. Many people think that if they create a pretty logo, they are done with their branding. The truth is that branding and brand strategy is much more involved than just creating a unique logo. 

Branding is about the image and message you want to convey to your potential customers. Think about these brands: Starbucks, Tiffany, Jimmy Choo, McDonalds, Target, Wal-Mart. Each one of those companies likely elicits a different reaction and a different image in your mind when you hear their names. 

Consider Wal-Mart and Target. These are two stores that sell very similar items. Clothing, food items, electronics, books, etc. Even the prices are very similar. In fact, if you were to comparison price shop between the two, you’d likely find that prices are nearly identical. Yet, one company probably brings to mind a very different image in your head than the other. For one, it’s ‘Bargain Basement’, ultra cheap, all the time. The other? It’s affordable luxuries, and slightly posh. In fact, people often jokingly refer to Target as “Tarjay” (with a slightly French accent). It’s the brand. 

Think about the insides of each store. In a Wal-Mart store, the lights are all fluorescent, the floors are usually unpainted concrete or plain white, and the colors are industrial grays and blue. In a Target Store, the floors are either carpet or white linoleum. That’s hardly a luxury choice, but the fit and the finish in the store is just a little bit different with the red and white color scheme, and conveys a very different shopping experience. If you are shopping in Wal-Mart, long lines have been the norm. And I confess; I largely avoid the local Wal-Marts in our area because they are crowded and lines are long. Target? Lines are always short. Parking is easy, and the overall atmosphere is one of sophistication. 

Branding is about every aspect of your business. It includes the uniforms that your employees wear, your stationery, even how you bill your clients. Yes, your clients may judge you based on how your invoices look. I’ve had clients in our home care business complain that our invoices didn’t meet their standards and didn’t look “professional enough”. I can’t make this stuff up if I tried. Just be aware that everything you do reflects on your brand whether you want it to or not.

When you’re interacting with potential clients, there are a few things you can do, for very little money, to give the image of an upscale brand.

Here are some easy things you can do to customize your brand and give it a more upscale feeling.

  • Consistently use the same colors and fonts in your graphics. People know who I am on social media because they’re used to seeing the turquoise background with white letters I use on my social media graphics. I use the same font every time, and almost always use the same color of blue so that people recognize it as my brand. The shade of blue comes from my logo and artwork. I am releasing my book soon, and the colors of the book will be the same colors as my logo and the blues on my website. It’s about consistency of look and feel.
  • Order address labels with your logo on them. Having your logo on your return address labels is a nice touch. Your customers will appreciate that tiny bit of customization on your address labels.
  • Use lovely stationery when corresponding with your clients. If you are writing thank you notes, avoid using anything directly with your logo or business name on them. Instead, use attractive thank you notes that fit with the overall theme of your business. This can be tricky, since you want them to appreciate it, but you probably don’t want to spend too much money on notecards. Some business owners may be tempted to use their company logo on a thank you note, but from what I’ve seen and experienced, most clients prefer a note without your logo. Also, including a business card with the note may seem like a good idea, but it reads as tacky, and will make the note seem less genuine. 
  • Use stickers with your logo when wrapping items to ship. Wrap the items you’re shipping in tissue paper or cellophane, and put your custom sticker on the outside with a bit of ribbon. This all can be customized for your business. Just do it consistently.
  • Use the same fonts throughout your website. The fonts, colors, and overall look and feel should be mirrored on all your social media sites: LinkedIn, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, etc. To be truly effective and meaningful, you need to be consistent.
  • Include your logo and an inspirational quote in your email signature. Your email is an excellent opportunity to represent your brand. You can put your logo at the bottom of your email, but why not take an extra measure and include an inspirational quote that matches your brand and what you stand for?

Branding is about how you interact with your customer and every bit of the user experience. It’s not just a pretty website or a lovely little logo. Those are a start, but they are only the tip of the iceberg.



Meet the Author: Haley Lynn Gray

How to Customize Your Brand (With an Upscale Feeling) 1Haley helps female entrepreneurs create a strategy plan for their businesses – so they can make enough money to spend quality time with their family, pay for their children’s dance lessons, pay bills – and not worry about where the next client is coming from.

Haley is a serial entrepreneur and founder of Leadership Girl. She helps other entrepreneurs build their businesses by sharing the benefits of her business education and experience through Business Coaching.

Whether you want to get a new business off the ground or expand an existing business, Haley can assist you.

Connect with Haley:

Categories

More Posts:

Elements That Should Be Part of Your Company Retreat

A company retreat is an excellent opportunity for team-building, learning new skills, and fostering relationships between colleagues. Whether your team is large or small, a well-planned retreat can be an invaluable investment in your company's success. We will explore...

How to Make Employee Health a Priority

Prioritizing employee health is crucial for creating a healthy and productive work environment. By investing in the health and wellbeing of your employees, you can improve morale, reduce absenteeism, and build a positive company culture. Here are some tips on how to...

Ways for Increasing Property Management Lead Generation

Property management is not a simple job, there are multiple tasks that a property manager should complete for various property investors. Marketing is one of the difficult parts, but it’s crucial. You can only attract tenants to your property and gain income after you have generated leads. Therefore, you should try your best to come up with smart and effective strategies to get your company known.

5 Unexpected Industries That Need Social Media Marketing

In today’s digital age, social media has become an essential tool for businesses to connect with their target audience and promote their products or services. While it’s common to see industries like retail, hospitality, and entertainment using social media for marketing, there are several unexpected industries that can also benefit from social media marketing.

How to Create a Professional Image When Building Your Brand

First impressions matter, especially in business. So, let's explore how to create an image that sparks trust, admiration, and success. Dive into the depths of brand-building with determination and drive, blossoming into a professional powerhouse.  Build a Positive...

Why Companies No Longer Give Workers a Pension

Pensions would seem to be a thing of the past. You may hear an older person talk about getting their pension, but it’s not anything almost anyone these days can access. They used to be fairly commonplace, however, so what changed? Why do companies not offer their...

Signs it’s Time to Find a New Office Space

For any business owner, their office space is an essential aspect of success. It's the place where you and your team devote countless hours a day working alongside clients or partners. In some cases, it may be time to relocate to a different workspace. Here are...

Why Now is the Time to Make Your Office Green

Going green has never been more opportune! Now that environmental issues and our contributions to climate change are gaining international recognition, businesses across the world have begun shifting their practices toward sustainability. If you're contemplating...

How to Keep Your Business Safe From Cybersecurity Threats

How to Keep Your Business Safe From Cybersecurity Threats Find more business software and technology tips at Leadership Girl. Cybersecurity is a major concern for businesses big and small. Every year brings a new record number of cyber attacks and by 2025, cybercrime...

Ideas for Setting Up a Non-Profit Organization

Have you always had the desire to make a bigger impact on others, particularly on underrepresented and underserved communities? One great way to do this is to set up a successful non-profit organization.  Here are a few ideas for setting up a non-profit organization. ...
Elements That Should Be Part of Your Company Retreat

Elements That Should Be Part of Your Company Retreat

A company retreat is an excellent opportunity for team-building, learning new skills, and fostering relationships between colleagues. Whether your team is large or small, a well-planned retreat can be an invaluable investment in your company's success. We will explore...

How to Make Employee Health a Priority

How to Make Employee Health a Priority

Prioritizing employee health is crucial for creating a healthy and productive work environment. By investing in the health and wellbeing of your employees, you can improve morale, reduce absenteeism, and build a positive company culture. Here are some tips on how to...

Ways for Increasing Property Management Lead Generation

Ways for Increasing Property Management Lead Generation

Property management is not a simple job, there are multiple tasks that a property manager should complete for various property investors. Marketing is one of the difficult parts, but it’s crucial. You can only attract tenants to your property and gain income after you have generated leads. Therefore, you should try your best to come up with smart and effective strategies to get your company known.

5 Unexpected Industries That Need Social Media Marketing

5 Unexpected Industries That Need Social Media Marketing

In today’s digital age, social media has become an essential tool for businesses to connect with their target audience and promote their products or services. While it’s common to see industries like retail, hospitality, and entertainment using social media for marketing, there are several unexpected industries that can also benefit from social media marketing.

Why Now is the Time to Make Your Office Green

Why Now is the Time to Make Your Office Green

Going green has never been more opportune! Now that environmental issues and our contributions to climate change are gaining international recognition, businesses across the world have begun shifting their practices toward sustainability. If you're contemplating...

All Categories

Business Operations

Entrepreneur Interviews

Marketing, Networking, & Social Media

Self Care & Personal Development

Working Moms

Business Software and Technology

Entrepreneurship & Small Business

Organizing Tips

Sales

Career Building

Family Businesses

Inspiration

Starting Your Own Business

Work-Life Balance

Communication

Hiring Help

Management & Leadership

Time Management & Priorities

Women in Leadership

Recent Posts

Elements That Should Be Part of Your Company Retreat

Elements That Should Be Part of Your Company Retreat

A company retreat is an excellent opportunity for team-building, learning new skills, and fostering relationships between colleagues. Whether your team is large or small, a well-planned retreat can be an invaluable investment in your company's success. We will explore...

How to Make Employee Health a Priority

How to Make Employee Health a Priority

Prioritizing employee health is crucial for creating a healthy and productive work environment. By investing in the health and wellbeing of your employees, you can improve morale, reduce absenteeism, and build a positive company culture. Here are some tips on how to...

Why You Should Run Your Business on the Latest Technology

Why You Should Run Your Business on the Latest Technology

In today's fast-paced business environment, keeping up with technological advancements is essential for success. Implementing the latest technology can offer numerous benefits, such as improved productivity, enhanced data security, and reduced costs.  Improve...

What are local links and how to earn them

What are local links and how to earn them

What local links are and how they might assist local businesses develop an efficient SEO strategy are covered in this article. Local links allow visitors to learn more about a region and its businesses by connecting websites from the same area that are relevant to one another. They must be pertinent to the neighbourhood and offer valuable resources or information. Content marketing, reviews, sponsored content, social media, and directories are all ways to generate local links.

Ways for Increasing Property Management Lead Generation

Ways for Increasing Property Management Lead Generation

Property management is not a simple job, there are multiple tasks that a property manager should complete for various property investors. Marketing is one of the difficult parts, but it’s crucial. You can only attract tenants to your property and gain income after you have generated leads. Therefore, you should try your best to come up with smart and effective strategies to get your company known.