Brand identity is a critical component of any business. After all, it’s what makes a business or company recognizable to customers. A well-crafted name and logo help to make a company stand out from the crowd. Not only that, but it can help in establishing trust, and even resonate with its audience more effectively. With good branding, businesses can support long-term recognition within their client base, as well as engender customer loyalty, and better market positioning. Importantly, branding isn’t just about the visuals, but it also means taking into careful consideration the company’s values, mission, and target positioning as well. In short, businesses need to address all areas in order to build their identity.
Foundations Before the Name: Start With the Core
Before a company begins the naming process or creating a logo or design, it’s important to take a step back. Identifying the brand’s mission, vision, values, and overall tone is the very first step. Groundwork like this ensures that the name and logo of the company are not just aesthetic choices, but actually represent the brand’s goals and overarching personality. This does require careful research into what is popular with the consumers that the company is targeting. However, it’s also essential that the brand doesn’t simply lean into fleeting trends, as overly ‘trendy’ names can also be detrimental to the business as a whole. Instead, the name must match the business and be able to evolve with it as it grows and trends change.
Naming a Brand: Simplicity, Relevance, and Originality
With that in mind, there are some key principles to consider when selecting a brand name. For one, it’s essential that the name is simple. It must be easy to pronounce and not too confusing. As mentioned, it needs to actually align with the brand’s identity, and as such, will be a meaningful name. It’s worth taking the time to check how unique the name is though, as it is not a good idea to select a name that’s overly used within that specific industry.
Alongside this, it’s also a good idea to check out SEO surrounding or relating to this name. Keyword research and searchability is a must as this will ensure clients and customers can actually find the business. During this process, looking at the domain name availability must be at the top of the list, and the relevance the name has in the digital-first world.
Logo Design: A Visual Language for the Brand
With a name in place, the next step is to design a logo. As there are widgets, apps, and browser tab headers, the logo needs to be scalable. This means avoiding overly complex or detailed logos which are unrecognizable in smaller forms. The logo needs to be unique too, and must not be too similar to other logos to avoid any confusion. Finally, it needs to align with the brand’s tone be it playful, minimalist, or professional. Designers should also consider how the logo will look to the user when found across different platforms and formats. This means including digital, merchandise, and print into the overarching design and user experience. Strong logos are instantly recognizable, and can be recalled instantly. Simple, yet timeless symbols and logos like Apple and Nike exemplify this requirement.
Accessing Branding Tools Without Overspending
Creating a brand can be time-consuming and expensive. However, there are plenty of branding tools and online platforms that allow entrepreneurs to create or purchase logos, and register domains efficiently and at minimal cost. Better still, the availability of online coupon codes and discount platforms helps to reduce the costs for these services, particularly for those working in startups on a limited budget. Saving time searching for promo codes is always a great help, and this is where collating sites like Discoup.com come in handy. On sites like this, users can find promo codes for popular branding services. It’s a great way to budget smartly for brand development without compromising on the quality of the output. Choosing quality services at a reduced cost through such verified coupon codes is a strategic plan, and a great option for those launching a new brand, or a side project.
The long-term value of a coherent brand identity cannot be understated. Name and logo choices are the foundation, but work best when married with consistent tone, messaging, and customer experience. Brand trust is built over time, but starts out with thoughtful decisions from the outset.
