Hey there! So you’ve probably heard the saying, “Your brand is NOT just your logo,” and boy, is that true, especially in today’s online world. If you want to stand out, be recognizable, and be remembered, you need more than just a logo. You need a cohesive brand strategy. But don’t worry, creating a cohesive brand can be a fun and exciting process, and I’m here to guide you through it with my foolproof steps.
Step 1: Let's discover your brand's purpose and get inspired!
To start off, we need to dig deep and understand why your business exists and how it can add value to others. It’s not just about selling products or services; it’s about the value you provide. For example, if you’re a life coach, your purpose should be to inspire people to live healthier and happier lives, offering them solutions and support.
Now, let’s think about how people will interact with your brand and the feelings you want to evoke in them. Are they visiting your website, seeing your products in a store, or encountering your brand in a digital marketplace? This will help determine the design choices you make.
Next, what sets you apart from others? What’s your unique selling proposition? Maybe it’s your outstanding customer service, your expertise, or your affordable prices. Figure out what makes you special and deliver on that consistently to create loyal brand fans.
Lastly, think about your ideal client or reader. Who are they? What do they like? Where do they hang out online? Knowing your target audience will guide your brand and marketing strategies.
Step 2: Let's get visual with Pinterest and colour palettes!
Now comes the fun part! We’re going to create a Pinterest board for inspiration. Search for terms related to your brand and niche, such as “feminine brand board” or “modern branding.” Explore different styles, colors, and textures. Don’t be too careful at first—just save what catches your eye.
After a break, go back to your board and see which pins truly resonate with you. Get rid of any that don’t fit your brand’s vibe. Focus on the ones that keep drawing your attention. This will help you narrow down your aesthetic.
From there, create a mood board using the chosen images. Identify the colours that stand out and create a colour palette for your brand. Use tools like Coolors.co to extract colours from your inspiration pictures.
Pro tip: Consider the types of images you’ll need for your website, products, and marketing materials. Collect a few stock photos that align with your brand style. It’ll save you time later on!
Ready to design a stunning mood board for your brand? Follow these simple steps in Canva and let your creativity soar! It’s time to bring your vision to life. Get started now!
To create a mood board in Canva for your brand, follow these steps:
- Sign in to Canva or create a free account.
- Click “Create a design” and select “Custom dimensions.”
- Set the dimensions for your mood board.
- Access the Elements tab and add a background.
- Upload images or search for inspiration within the Elements tab.
- Drag and drop images onto the canvas.
- Customize and edit images as desired.
- Add text or descriptive elements if needed.
- Save the mood board to your computer or share it directly from Canva.
Enjoy creating a visually captivating mood board that represents your brand!
Step 3: Let's design your main logo and choose fonts!
Now it’s time to design your main logo—the one you’ll use most frequently. Think about where people will interact with your brand and choose a logo shape and font style that works well in those spaces. Make sure the font is readable and suits different types of content you’ll create.
Pro tip: Use tools that let you see your own text in a font before purchasing it. This helps you find the perfect font for your brand.
Pro Tip:
Looking for the perfect font to jumpstart your design? Look no further! Canva offers a wide range of free fonts for you to explore. Remember to test your chosen font not only in your logo but also across your social media headlines to ensure it looks fantastic in all your brand elements, nothing worse than choosing a font and finding out down the road that it doesn’t work for you’re across all your marketing collateral. Save yourself the headache now, trust me you’ll thank me later!
Step 4: Let's create alternate logos, submarks, and brand collateral!
Alternate logos are variations of your main logo that fit different spaces. They ensure your brand remains recognizable across various platforms. Submarks, on the other hand, are smaller versions of your logo used for social media icons or email signatures. Creating these will come in handy as your brand grows. But for now let me show you how you might use them.
Alternate Logo
An alternate logo is like a redesign of your main logo. It’s a cool variation that comes in handy when your main logo just doesn’t fit or look right in certain places. Having an alternate logo gives you the flexibility to adapt your brand to different platforms and materials.
You need an alternate logo because it helps your brand stay consistent and recognizable in various situations. It’s like having a secret weapon to make sure your message gets across effectively.
Imagine using your alternate logo as your profile picture on social media, or as an icon for your app. It’s also great for watermarking your images, putting it on merchandise, or using it in promotional materials. Basically, anywhere your main logo wouldn’t quite work, your alternate logo steps in to save the day and keep your brand looking awesome.
Submark
A submark logo can be used in various places such as social media profiles, website favicons, watermarking images, or as a small branding element on promotional merchandise.
A submark logo is important because it provides a versatile and compact representation of your brand. It allows for consistent branding across different platforms and materials, ensuring recognition even in limited spaces or small-scale applications. Having a submark logo enhances brand visibility and helps maintain a cohesive and professional image.
Sometimes your main logo just doesn’t fit everywhere. That’s where the submark logo swoops in to save the day!
It’s like having a cool sidekick that perfectly matches different spaces and materials. Your brand’s essence shines through, and people will instantly recognize and love it.
No more awkwardly squeezing your main logo into places it doesn’t belong. Continuously building brand trust and brand recognition. Make sense Right?
Brand Collateral
Don’t forget to design additional brand collateral like patterns, social media icons, and business cards. You can easily create these using your existing logos and brand colours.
So how do create all three, and restore your sanity, save time without spending a fortune I hear you ask? Luckily I can help you out with my Easy-to-Edit Branding Canva Templates to create a logo in minutes. Use it across your business/personal brand effortlessly. Includes extra characters and video training for Canva newbies.
STEP 5: The Final Puzzle Piece: Crafting Your Perfect Brand Board
Alright, we’ve reached the final step: creating your cohesive Brand Board. Don’t worry, this part is a breeze! You’ve already gathered all the essential elements, and now it’s time to bring them together. Lucky for you, I’ve got just the tool you need: a FREE Canva Mood Board.
With this handy tool, you can effortlessly compile your entire visual brand experience into one convenient place. It’s like having your brand’s essence at your fingertips, ready to inspire you time and time again!
Oh, and here’s a tip: hold onto the answers you’ve collected during the brand discovery process. They’ll serve as valuable guidance for any future business decisions you make.
So go ahead, grab your FREE Canva Mood Board and start crafting your visual brand journey in minutes. You’ve got this!
Keep the momentum going!
You should be super motivated to create a cohesive brand that lights you up! I’ve dished out loads of valuable insights, and I bet you’re totally on board now. Crafting a cohesive brand should be at the tippy-top of your business priorities. And guess what? It’s a journey that keeps evolving over time, which is super exciting! It means you’re gaining wisdom and can laser-focus your brand’s purpose to deliver even more awesomeness.
Oh, and remember to share your journey and the process of creating your brand, just like you want your ideal customers to connect and convert when they land on your website and socials. If you have any questions or need help just reach out.
