Do you want to refresh your brand without pulling everything down? A simple brand makeover may do wonders for your business, sprucing it up and making it feel more modern.
Make a new beginning with our 9 expert ideas for resetting your brand and starting again.
Rebranding vs. brand refresh
If your branding appears to be out of date, consider whether you need to renew it or go for a complete redesign. A brand refresh can be thought of as an upgrade to your existing identity. It could entail making changes to your logo, changing typefaces, or evaluating your colour scheme. A rebrand, on the other hand, entails starting from scratch to create a new identity for your company.
Before you start planning your brand refresh project, make sure you understand the differences between the two concepts. If your firm has undergone significant changes and your brand identity no longer reflects the company’s values and mission, simply renewing your logo will not be enough. A brand refresh, on the other hand, maybe exactly what you need to stay current with market trends and maintain your competitive advantage.
Determine what needs to be changed.
Assessing your strengths and shortcomings is the first step in a successful brand update. It may seem simple, but a refresh can mean a variety of things, so it’s crucial to figure out what needs to be updated and what doesn’t. Begin by observing your competition to determine how they feel, look, and sound.
Then take a look at your brand guidelines – logo, colour palette, fonts, tone of voice, and so on. Do they each distinguish themselves from the competition? Is it possible to recognise them right away? Is it possible for someone unfamiliar with the company to comprehend what you’re offering – or, at the absolute least, what industry you’re in? Make a list of your weakest brand attributes, as these are the ones that will require your attention.
It’s all about the timing.
Refreshing your brand should be a well-thought-out decision. Your brand makeover may be long overdue, but timing is everything when it comes to getting the best outcomes. When your firm is approaching a new milestone, a brand refresh is a great way to keep things moving forward. Are you preparing to introduce a new product next year? You might want to time it to coincide with your brand update announcement so that when your product is finally available, all eyes will be on you.
Consider your audience’s perspective.
Empathy is the foundation of each successful brand revamp. You’re probably considering a brand refresh because you feel like you’ve lost touch with your target market. To put together a successful brand refresh project plan, use the principles of design thinking by focusing your approach on people – specifically your present and potential customers.
Every step of the journey, keep your target audience in mind. To have a better understanding of where you stand, start by asking your clients for comments. A surveyor focus group with your target audience, depending on your resources, can help you determine the symbols, tone of voice, colours, and typefaces that effectively convey your message while resonating with them.
Look into the history of your company.
Resetting your brand does not imply abandoning your past or basic principles. On the contrary, the goal is to show them more compellingly – removing the unnecessary to allow your true identity to shine through. That’s why, for a successful brand makeover, remembering where you came from is crucial.
Take a look back at your brand’s history. What was the beginning of your company? What was your goal back then, and what is your goal now? What do you believe to be your company’s most significant milestones and accomplishments? These questions will assist you in refining your brand identity and identifying your areas of uniqueness. You’ll be able to create more unified and meaningful assets that represent your brand while maintaining your integrity if you do so.
It’s perfect
Research your competitors. When it comes to your brand refresh, don’t go too small or too huge. If you do too little, your hard work will go undetected. It can also have an impact on consistency, which is important because you want your branding to feel consistent and communicate a consistent message. If you’re updating your logo, for example, think about how it will work with the rest of your assets, such as colours and fonts.
If you’re too huge, you might as well rebrand. A successful brand update should feel natural and unobtrusive. It’s a business that’s naturally growing to the next step, and it should make sense to your audience – and hopefully be helpful. Changing your brand’s entire identity necessitates a significant increase in communication to explain your new identity and reassure your customers.
Consistency is key.
When it comes to branding, consistency and adaptability are crucial. Every aspect of your business should reflect your new branding. Don’t overlook any channel — your brand renewal checklist should include both digital and print assets. From social media posts to newsletters and business cards, your updated assets should let your brand shine the brightest.
It’s also crucial to think about your internal communications and how the brand refresh might – or should – affect them. If your employees don’t believe anything has changed internally, it will be tough to persuade them to spread the word.
Get the word out!
You’ve put in time and money to make your brand refresh a success, so don’t forget to tell everyone about it! Begin with your team, ensuring that every individual in the company is on board with the plan and knows your corporate decision. Because your staff are your ultimate brand ambassadors, they must be on board with the update.
Working with your social media and PR teams to spread the word about your brand reset can be beneficial, especially if you’re launching it in advance of your next business milestone. To share your story and reach out to potential new customers, prepare materials such as blog pieces, social postings, and press releases. You can also print Flyers and Posters to distribute the information on paper.
Make it a habit.
A great brand makeover should survive longer than the initial buzz surrounding it. Communicate a clear plan to your team and provide valuable tools and instructions – this is the best approach to avoid confusing the new charter with the old one after the first few weeks.
Make sure everyone in the company understands where to locate your tone of voice standards and graphic charter, which includes real-life branding dos and don’ts. You can appoint brand guardians to ensure that the proper assets are used for internal and external communications throughout the company.
Use business cards and flyers to spread the news about your brand renewal.




