6 Signs It’s Time for a Rebrand (Free Brand Audit Workbook)

I often see people online asking ‘how often should I rebrand my business?’, and I couldn’t emphasise more that there really is no formula for this. All that’s certain is it’s a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly, rebranding at random points or ‘just when you feel like a change’ could risk diluting the message of your business, confusing customers and losing revenue in the process. You should only ever rebrand when you need to do it.

But how do you know when you need to rebrand?

Below are some important questions that you should look to be considering every year or so in your business, and I’ve also included a link to download a free 17-page workbook to help you too!

 

Has Your Target Audience Changed?

 

Maybe you had your logo and branding designed when you were just beginning your business journey and now (6 to 12 months down the line, for example) after spending time time working with clients, you’ve gained a much greater understanding of who your target customers are and what appeals to them – the type of insight that’s almost impossible to have when you just started out. If this sounds like you then it’s definitely time to consider updating your branding to suit your customer base more appropriately.

 

Is Your Market Still the Same?

 

A year or two is a long time in the business world, or in the world in general! Opinions change, popular design techniques change, colours, textures, fonts or imagery that were very popular at the time of you branding creation may no be so anymore and you don’t want to get left behind with a website and branding that is outdated or irrelevant. Check out your competitors, does your branding look a bit lacklustre in comparison? Maybe it might be time for an update.

 

Have Your Goals or Vision Changed?

 

For startups and freelancers, it’s completely common for your business vision and goals to change and alter slightly all the time! This is why in my opinion lengthy business plans should be banned…

However, these changes can often affect the message of your overall business, including your visual representation and branding – so make sure you’re clear on these and they fit seamlessly together.

 

Is Your Brand Consistent?

 

We’ve all been there, when you’re just starting out with your business, the last thing you want to be spending every waking hour doing is going through all your collateral (e.g. social media posts/graphics, business cards, posters/flyers, advertising, pdf’s, documents etc.) and ensuring it all looks lovely and consistent. As your business grows however, you’ll absolutely want to appear as professional and established as possible and so consistency couldn’t be more important. There’s nothing worse than inconsistent branding to put off potential customers!

 

Is Your Business Personality Reflected In Your Brand?

 

You may have developed a really strong brand personality over time, and it could be that your visual identity (website, logo, brand marks, colours, fonts etc.) just doesn’t quite portray that personality in the way you want it to. In this case, it could be time to refresh!

 

Are You Excited to Show Off Your Brand?

 

No matter how much has changed you should never forget the number one rule of owning a business, you should be PROUD to show it off and talk about it to absolutely everyone you know until they’re bored to death! Your business is your creation, your passion, if you’re embarrassed by your inconsistent or out-dated brand, there’s no way you’re going to be boasting about it to everyone, and this can be hugely detrimental to your business’ and your well-being in the long run. If you’re not loud and proud about your branding, it might be time to breathe new life into it!