To brand or not to brand...

This is really one of those not why but why not sort of questions.

Why would a company spend money on a brand? It’s simple really, obvious or not brand is the reputation of the company. This is why a personal brand is so important; guys like The Donald Trump and Sir Richard Branson are huge brands in themselves and have massive effects on the companies as a whole. Why would the Don have his name on everything if brand was not important, you may say... well he has the money, but really his brand helps generate the money.
So whether your a small one man band or a larger organisation brand is the most important part of the business – this always makes me chuckle when I hear the first budget to be cut is always the marketing – in my humble opinion if a company is wanting to make sales or acquire more business then really they should shoot the bean counters and amp up the marketing and advertising, you don’t have to spend big dollars to have great results some of the best campaigns are done on the cheap!

So coming back to the start of this rant – branding also starts at the very basic level – yes that’s right my humble reader the very text you use on letters, emails, website or any form of communication is where your brand starts, not just your logo and colours but right from the basics, this also flows through to what you write how your staff interact with customers, all in all every touch point with clients should tie in and represent the brand.

So how does all this waffle and tangent discussion relate to Red?? That’s easy email is a touch point that is largely left to the staff to brand, what I do is bring the corporate style to each and every email, all branded consistently from the text to the logos!


Concerned about personal style and taste?
You’re kidding right? If you’re not then why not have the staff do their own thing for business cards and letter head etc? While you’re at it fire the marketing team as I’m positive if you adopt this approach they will have a heart attack any way!!

Below is a great example of before I came along and after I had enhanced the day to day emails also a good example of why its not best for staff to do it, also note: each stuff member had a different sign off - not exactly brand consistent!!

So summing up why Brand! Simple, consistency is key; a well designed and executed brand will deliver higher results as the reputation of the company comes from the brand!

Check these guys out as a good example – touch cast next – you would not think the company is only a team of 3!!