HOW TO CREATE A TIMELESS VISUAL BRAND FOR YOUR BUSINESS
My background is 100% creative. As a result, the creative process is critical to my brand identity.
But what is brand identity?
It is a combination of a variety of things related to your business.
From your company name and logo, to the tone of all your communications and colours you use in the aesthetics of your images on your website - all these elements form your brand identity. They help to create a recognizable personality that people associate with your brand. The trick is creating a timeless visual brand with a recognizable foundation and adaptable elements that allow you to remain relevant.
The Concept of Brand Identity
Brand identity might be a complex concept to wrap your head around. But I like to think of it as an extension of who I am.
As an interior designer, I am all about visuals. I cannot help it; it is in my nature. So I focused on creating a brand that shows my creativity and desire to make the world beautiful. When we surround ourselves with things that bring us joy, we instinctively share that joy with the world. It makes us kinder.
7 TIPS TO DESIGN YOUR WEBSITE FOR CONVERSION VS. TRAFFIC
Is your website designed with conversion in mind, or is it designed just for the purpose of traffic? Getting traffic to your website is a great start but not so great if it does not convert into customers or clients. Optimizing the design of your website can have a considerable impact on how much traffic converts into business and an overall positive user experience.
When designing your website for conversion, you should always keep your customers and target audience in mind. The purpose of websites is to help you sell a product or service and connect with your customers, but if your website visitors do not have a good experience, they will likely leave the website and not make a purchase or inquiry. Therefore, you need to be clear on your target audience, what the most important elements are on each page of your website, and how to make the website experience better for your visitors. When you are clear on those things, you can get into how your website should function, how it will be used and how it should be designed to maximize your results.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A
BUSINESS PLAN
When I was first introduced to a business plan, I found it overwhelming, confusing and intimidating. Once I was able to break down sections and understand elements, I uncovered its value.
Business planning allows you to have a complete in-detail overview of your business. It is a document that states all internal and external goals alongside strategies on how to accomplish them. Business plans are not set in stone and can be changed or adapted at any time. With that being said, please do not feel pressured to make it perfect the first time you write it. Before jumping into a business plan, consider starting with a Business Model Canvas (BMC). A Business Model Canvas is a one-page document that goes over the fundamentals of a potential business or product. It is a simple, straightforward, structured document that helps give a clear overview of your concept. Business models cover cost structure, customer relations, revenue streams and key resources (Free templates can be found on google). As entrepreneurs, we know there is always room for improvement. Having a clear, detailed overview allows us to make amendments based on social, economic, or personal changes. Think of it as a working guide to your business.
But what makes an image stand out in a world of carefully curated newsfeeds and websites? How do you create imagery that draws potential clients in, maintaining their engaged and curious attention?
To begin, step out of the tightly packed box of clean-backdropped, folded-arm headshots and explore the area of personal branding sessions. Attracting your ideal client with personalized and exclusive insight into what you do and how you do it will provide a more authentic brand experience than a generic headshot alone. Thinking outside the “headshot box” leaves space to creatively tell the story of your business through “lifestyle,” “behind the scenes,” and “detail” images. Potential clients will feel part of the action, having insight into your creative process and method. You will position yourself as a professional in your area of expertise while potential clients and customers get a sense of you as a business owner.
PHOTOGRAPHY & BRAND YOU
Art is subjective. This we know to be true.
Photography, arguably one of the most predominant artistic genres (especially in the world of social media and online selling), has the ability to attract and maintain your target market within seconds.
PODCASTING:
A POWERFUL BUSINESS TOOL
Have you ever dreamed of starting a podcast? In this period of rapid growth for online businesses, many entrepreneurs are joining the podcasting industry to grow their businesses. Podcasting is a powerful form of communication and an excellent opportunity to share your message and network with other entrepreneurs.
Here are four tips for using a podcast as a business tool.
1. It starts with branding. What is your business about? What solutions or results does it provide for others, and how can your messaging be clear and unique to your business. I decided on the title, Own Your Choices Own Your Life because the words ownership and choice literally changed my life and completely describe my journey. Think of your podcast as an umbrella and make sure it encompasses all potential aspects of your business.
SETTING BUSINESS GOALS & SUCCEEDING THROUGH FAILURE
I started buying all types of gemstones, metals, pearls, beads, and jewelry findings to create something beautiful. I signed up for a jewelry training class with a local jewelry school and trained for two months. After the training, I felt I was ready to go.
I did not set any branding or advertising goals, learn how to make sales, differentiate my niche, organize my finances, or fix my price. I was buying, creating, selling, and enjoying the flow, and in the space of a year, Hadash Jewelries collapsed.
When the business collapsed, I did not know what to do. I remember taking a step back and consulting a friend who was a brand strategist. The questions she asked me were, “What are your SMART goals? What do you hope to achieve? What are your priorities?” Then it dawned on me that I never actually set any goals for my business. I was going with the flow. Getting your business priorities clear and written down from the beginning is particularly important. Recorded SMART goals give you, the business owner, a clear picture of where you want to see your business in a given timescale. It also provides clarity about what your priorities are.