Many business owners think that brand identity design stops at getting a good logo. Although a logo is what will identify your brand, it’s not the end-all-be-all of brand identity. It’s the first step to giving your business a competitive edge. 

What exactly is brand identity, and what does it have to do with business? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what brand identity is and why it is essential. We’ll also give you examples of brand identity designs that conclusively show the values of their companies. 

 

What is Brand Identity? 

Often, brand identity is confused with brand image, interchanging them with one another. These two may seem similar but are entirely different things. Brand identity is all the assets that a company creates to convey the right image to their customers. Brand image is how the consumers and competition perceive your brand. 

Moreover, brand identity design consists of a logo, color, font, or images that a company uses to separate themselves from their competition. But that doesn’t end there. Brand identity is also the message you want to say about your business, your values, and what you want people to experience with your brand. 

Simply put, it’s your overall personality that you want customers and prospects to see. 

 

Why Is Branding Identity Important? 

One mistake small businesses and startups need to avoid is to think that brand identity is only for big companies. They believe that having brand identity designs can cost them a ton of money. In the latter part of this article, we’ll show you how you can get all your brand identity designs for less. 

Aside from differentiating you from all the others, here are the reasons branding identity is a crucial part of your business: 

 

Gives A Perception of Quality 

Why do you think people would rather buy a Rolex than a Timex? Both watches can tell time, right? We all know that a Rolex does more than that. It is perceived as a product that’s made with high-quality and performance in mind. 

Statistics show that 89% of consumers stay loyal to a brand that shares their values. Rolex has created their branding strategy to project an image of superb quality and elegance. This is the reason this company has a competitive edge over their competitors. 

 

Puts a High Price Premium 

Using the same examples above, the two companies compared have a vast difference in their price points. Let’s look at Lexus and Toyota, which is the same when it comes to function. Although Lexus has more to offer in terms of features, they both do the same job of getting you where you want to go. 

Just like the watch comparison, these cars have two distinct ways of brand strategies. A proper brand identity allows you to place a higher price premium. As they say, “you get what you pay for.”

 

Get Recognition and Loyalty 

An effective brand identity design is one that sticks in the minds of consumers and potential customers. Studies show that 43% of consumers spend more money on brands that they are loyal to. This means you need to work hard in your branding strategy to get your customers to recognize and stay with you. 

 A strong brand strategy benefits your business by giving it an excellent reputation as well as creating an impact on sales. 

 

Reliability and Trust 

Brand identity not only makes you memorable, but it also makes you trustworthy and reliable. Apple has established itself as a trustworthy company due mainly to its consistent brand identity design. The same consistency is what makes them authoritative and credible in the eyes of their customers. 

 

How to Develop a Strong Brand Identity 

Before you can create a brand identity that works in getting the sales, you need to make sure you do the following: 

 

Do Your Research 

Understand who your target audience is. Before you embark on your design journey, it’s essential to know who you’re designing for. This is because you need to get a brand identity that resonates well with your target market. Once you do this, the marketing and branding strategies will follow smoothly. 

 

Establish Your Unique Value Proposition 

What do you have in your business that others don’t? This can also mean knowing who the enemies are and learning how they fight the battle. This will help you arm your brand to make it stand out from everyone else. Determine your brand’s USP and identify your core values to help you create a foundation for your brand identity. 

 

Develop Your Brand’s Creative Assets 

You can now develop the look, feel, and voice of your brand that you will use in marketing and advertising. Remember that most successful brands have consistency in their branding strategies. This is why you need to have a killer graphic design team to get your creative assets right the first time. 

 

Do a Brand Audit 

If you already have a brand identity design in place, you can always revise and update it if it’s not working the way you want it to. Knowing your place in the industry and identifying who your customer is can significantly help in redesigning your brand identity. 

 

Create and Implement Your Strategies 

Building brand awareness and establishing your brand can take time. It’s not an overnight endeavor. You need to develop your strategies that can grow over time. Take note of everything to help you learn what to improve on and what to avoid. Take advantage of the myriad of channels you can use to promote your brand to get an online presence. 

 

How Design Doctor Can Help 

Now that we’ve learned the importance of a strong brand identity, how do you get them? What puts off some businesses from having a good brand identity design is the cost. This is where Design Doctor can help you. 

Design Doctor is an on-demand graphic design service that provides unlimited design for a flat monthly rate. For as low as $349 a month, you’ll get access to a professional team of graphic designers ready to take on your brand identity designs. You won’t have to break the bank to get all your brand strategy assets to come to life.