5 unusual ways to maximise your branding
Strong branding has a whole host of practical benefits for your business. It helps customers recognise you, it builds trust, and it allows you to charge more for your products and services. But there’s another, less discussed, benefit of strong branding that we’re particularly passionate about here at Mumfolk: it can also help you feel more confident and motivated in your business. Women in business face a whole array of challenges that their male counterparts generally avoid - inflexible working practices and a lack of suitable childcare solutions are just two examples. We also know that some women can experience feelings of imposter syndrome and low self-belief - and we’ve seen firsthand how beautiful branding can inject you with a dose of confidence.
Branding can be a big investment - so you don’t want it to stop at your website and social media. Here are five unusual ways to get the most out of your branding, so you can take living and breathing your brand to a whole new level.
1. Webinar slides
The past 18 months have shown us the importance of a strong digital brand identity. Without the possibility of meeting face to face in fancy offices or restaurants, we’ve had to communicate our business identity through a screen. And even as things open up, the majority of us will continue to work from afar, thanks to the rise in remote working, and the explosion of digital nomads working from tropical beaches (lucky you…). One great way to maximise your branding is through using branded webinar slides. That way, the next time you host a Zoom workshop or run a client through a proposal, you’ll be giving off an ultra-sleek, professional vibe. If you’re not a designer yourself, consider hiring a professional to create a branded slide deck template that you can edit as necessary.
2. Brand stationery
Who doesn’t love a new notebook? Consider ordering some brand stationery to hand out to clients at meetings. If you’re meeting virtually, you could even send it over in advance, so they’ve got a physical reminder of your business to hand. The key with client keepsakes is to keep them practical: you can’t go wrong with a pen or notepad. And while LinkedIn has taken over as the networking tool of choice, many of us still love exchanging good old-fashioned business cards. This is your chance to really stand out: consider hiring someone to design some really unique business cards that show off your brand’s unique personality. If you’re a product-based business, think about all the different opportunities you’ve got for branded items: packaging, tissue paper, postcards, stickers...
3. Apparel, phone and laptop cases
If you work for a large company, it’s likely you have a bunch of branded promotional items that you use from time to time: hoodies, laptop cases and water bottles are the usual suspects. There’s no reason why you can’t order some branded promotional goodies for yourself if you run your own business… Put that gorgeous branding to good use, and order a branded t-shirt, phone or laptop case. When you put it out at your next meeting, you’ll get a rush of confidence - and your clients will see that you mean business.
4. Email signatures
Every time you send an email to a client or customer, you’re (most likely unknowingly!) adding to their perception of your brand. Whether it’s your tone of voice, your response speed, or your emoji usage, you’re giving subtle signals as to how you want your brand to be interpreted. One of the easiest ways to make a great impression over email is through a snazzy email signature. Ensure it’s in line with your branding, and that it’s optimised for mobile as well as web. The same goes for your newsletters - a branded email header is a great way to make a solid first impression. Need some help? Book in for one of our Design Intensives!
5. Your workspace
There’s something about sitting in an inspiring workspace that makes us feel a whole lot more productive and professional - and if your workspace is in line with your branding, that effect is amplified. You don’t need a private office in the fanciest co-working space, either: a few simple tweaks to your desk at home can already help you get in the zone. Consider a cushion, rug or desk chair in your brand colours. A physical manifestation of your brand can get you excited to sit down to work, and can also give you a boost of motivation. For even simpler tweaks, why not get your logo or tagline printed and framed? Or take things one step further by hiring a designer to create a branded poster for you. It would also make a great gift to send to your clients.
There are endless ways to make the most out of your branding. The very first step is to ensure you’re actually happy with the branding you’ve got, and that it reflects your business’s personality.
