The logo is your first step!
A friend of mine is setting up a new business. Like anyone in the same situation, his budget – or lack thereof – is guiding most of his decisions. Coming from a financial background, he’s got the business plan and finance under control, but he came to me for advice on branding and the website.
He sent through an email that said ‘I’ve got the name but haven’t figured out the font yet’. I think you could have heard the alarm bells ringing in my head from a block away. His business is a physical shopfront with an online sales component.
He was planning on designing the logo himself. That same logo would be on his signage, business cards and website. It would shape the design of his website and marketing collateral. He was starting a new venture by shooting himself in the foot.
I started my reply by telling him that if he had any budget whatsoever to spend, on marketing or branding, that it should be spent working with a professional designer to create a custom logo. I told him that a designer will ask him to profile his ideal customer and create something that speaks to them.
THIS IN EFFECT IS THE REAL BUSINESS PLAN BECAUSE IT IS BASED ON THE CUSTOMER - YOU ARE WORKING WITH AN END IN MIND!
This forced him to sit down and think about exactly who that person is - also a vital element to effective web design. Once he had a logo that appealed to his target audience, he could afford to start off with a basic web design that continued the branding shaped by his logo.
You might be thinking – shouldn’t your first website have all the bells and whistles? It depends.
While you want to launch with a website that looks professional, starting off with a basic website allows you to work in phases and improve your website according to feedback. You should be participating in social media regardless, which if done correctly, will give you a goldmine of insights into your customers wants and needs.
This is good news for your budget and will allow you to create an effective website later based on real data. Say you’ve been operating offline and you’re taking the first steps to get online. You may already know your customer thoroughly, however, I can guarantee you that there will be unforeseen opportunities that present themselves that you’ll want to take advantage of quickly.
In summary;
• Professionals save you time and therefore money.
• The business logo is part of the marketing plan.
• Set some of the budget aside for a logo and website.
• Your first website should be simple and fast.
WE SPECIALISE IN DESIGN, PRINT AND WEB SOLUTIONS. EMAIL US TODAY! WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THE RIGHT STRATEGY AND ACCESS TO THE BEST PROJECT TEAM.
