5 ways you should be using your branding elements
So you just wrapped up the branding process with your designer and received all of your final files… now what?
You might be feeling overwhelmed with the overload of files and so the option to just update your Instagram profile picture and “call it a day” seems like the most appealing answer.
You’re better than this.
Remember all that money you invested to have your designer create the brand identity of your dreams? It’s time to start seeing some ROI. It’s important to take the time to intentionally integrate all the parts of your new identity into different touch points of your client experience!
Remember: investing into the brand design process is only half the battle. Once everything’s complete, there’s no magic wand that implements your new branding for you (although, this would be ideal.) It’s up to you to use your new files, elements, and resources to create an amazing brand experience for your clients/customers!
But rather than feeling stressed at the thought of everrryyythinggg you need to refresh, take it step by step! Start with what’s most important, where do you see the most traffic? Then slowly work your way down the line until you’ve successfully integrated your new branding at every client touch point!
Here’s some guidance on where to start.
1. Your website
Arguably the most important part of your client experience, let’s start with your website! Refer to your brand guidelines document to seamlessly refresh your fonts and colors while ensuring proper styling and hierarchy.
Pop in your new logos and brand marks throughout your website design.
Don’t forget about your artistic elements! Spruce up your site by creating custom banners and adding creative touches with your new unique design elements.
2. Your Social media
Now it’s time to get your Instagram looking sleek and consistent! Create a unified identity for your business by creating custom social media templates. Upload all of your branding files to your Canva Pro account and update your brand kit accordingly. You can use pre made templates as a starting point, but make sure to add your own unique flair! It’ll keep your brand vibes strong and make posting a breeze. Mix it up with templates for quotes, testimonials, service descriptions, informational carousels, and blog posts!
3. Your Print materials
Despite how dominating the digital world can be, print is not dead! Use your design elements to create printed materials like business cards, personalized note cards, stickers, tissue paper, packaging, etc. You can find common print item sizes on Canva! Bring your brand to life through these tangible touches so you can leave a lasting impression that speaks volumes about your attention to detail.
4. Your digital materials
Don’t forget to update all of those pesky internal facing digital materials! Take some time to refresh your freebies, pricing guides, media kits, on boarding documents, etc. Even if they might not be the most glamorous to work on (how fun can updating the look of your contract actually be?), every little detail contributes to your brand experience as a whole!
5. Your marketing strategy
Stay front and center in your audience’s minds by keeping up with consistent marketing efforts. Use your branding elements to create stunning emails, enticing freebie sequences, engaging blog posts, and more. Let your expertise shine through and establish yourself as the expert in your field!
What’s the best way to do all of this?
Upload all of your branding files into your Canva Pro account (specifically your .PNG file formats, which have a transparent background.)
Update your brand kit with your new fonts, logo files, and colors. Remember— sometimes your brand fonts may need to be purchased separately and uploaded as a custom font into your Canva account!
Use Canva’s suggested file sizing under the “Create a Design” button to create new designs. If you can’t find one you’re looking for, look it up in the search bar or create a new design with a custom size.
If you’re ever feeling lost, Canva has some amazing step-by-step tutorials that will get you better acquainted with all of it’s features.
I hope this helps you feel a little less overwhelmed as you’re slowly integrating your new brand into your business! Remember, not everything has to be done at once and it’s okay to take it step by step!
