Why Consistent Branding Matters
Why Consistent Branding Matters
Brand
‘Branding’ doesn’t mean just one graphic item, like a logo, and you’re done; branding means something much more complex. As Forbes.com explains, “in one sense, a brand is a promise… you know what you’re going to get with a well-branded product or service. In another sense, a brand is a combination of logo, words, type font, design, colors, personality, price, service, etc. But it’s also a bundle of attributes. (Think of Volvo, for instance, and your first thoughts are probably going to be something like ‘well built, comfortable, Swedish’ and, most of all, ‘safety.’)” A brand is the whole combination of the promise, look, personality and attributes of an organization or product.
Consistency
Consistency is one of the most important factors in branding. Your brand should be visually recognizable across all of the different platforms you use to communicate.
As electricputty.co.uk puts it, “People might not engage with your organization the first time they encounter you, so it’s important your brand is easy to recognize and consistent across all mediums. For example, a potential client might receive a direct mail campaign and then a month later access your Facebook page.”
In addition to simply appealing to your customers visually, there is a lot of research to show that being consistent with your branding across all platforms is key.
By maintaining the same branding across all your resources – both online and offline – your customers will be able to recognize you much faster and will, hopefully, start to show loyalty to your brand.
And according to digitalmarketingmagazine.co.uk, “it is vital that you marry consistency with an attractive design in order to fully reap the benefits. The more visually appealing, the more attention your branding will attract and therefore the more potential customers you’re likely to receive.”
The Halo Effect
This is called the ‘Halo Effect.’ There is a cognitive bias where an observer (potential client) will have an overall impression that’s based entirely on the character or properties of the thing which they are observing (your marketing).
“In layman’s terms that means that people can love, hate or feel indifferent towards your company based solely on their initial impressions from your branding. That’s an extremely powerful tool when used to your advantage, although it can be hazardous if it goes against you” (digitalmarketingmagazine.co.uk).
So you need to make sure that your branding is something that your potential clients react positively to.
As this is science, however, there is no need to guess at what your clients want to see: there are many studies that prove what colors work best, which fonts people pay most attention to, and what type of imagery works best in your industry.
Voice
And finally, your content needs to align with your brand’s voice and personality, so that your company presents a cohesive mission and theme.
According to conceptdrop.com, “the brand must imply a related look and feel, as well as carry a similar voice.” Voice means that any place the brand is displayed – presentations, websites, social media sites, press releases, etc – needs to convey the same ‘persona.’
For example, if you have a quirky brand with funky language, then use that voice and be consistent when presenting all your content. When the brand is consistent, consumers trust the product or service, recognize the company, and attach a certain meaning that will give your brand significance, adding to your ‘halo effect.’
All the industry leaders agree: consistency in branding across all forms of media and marketing is the key in today’s online world. Make the effort to create that branding and apply it consistently, and over time, your business will acquire that necessary ‘halo’ of trustworthiness and respect that will make more and more clients seek you out.?
Being consistent in your branding and creating that known persona is what will put you above your competitors, and a good design or marketing team can help you find an attractive design with a clear voice, so you can build your own ‘halo effect.’
Be Unique
Conversely, though, all the experts also urge you to be unique, so that your brand stands out. As forbes.com states, “If you’re going to develop your brand, the last thing you want to do is follow the beaten path. You want to head down your own road. Your brand has to plant itself in the hearts and minds (especially hearts) of prospects and customers.”
But how do you do that, while also following all the research on colors, fonts, and graphics – that is also available to your competitors?
Being consistent in your branding and creating that known persona is what will put you above your competitors, and a good design or marketing team can help you find an attractive design with a clear voice, so you can build your own ‘halo effect.’
Need Help?
If you would like Blue Zoo Creative to help you with branding, consistency and/or voice, please give us a call today or fill out our online contact form. We’ve done all the research for you, studied the reports, and have years of experience in creating effective branding that gets your business noticed, across all media, in the right way.
Branding Projects by Blue Zoo
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Do you know the three R’s of successful project management?
They are real time, relationship and responsibility. These three R’s of project management can transform an idea into a successfully completed project. When planning a project it is important to give real time schedules in which a project can be finished. To do this, it’s important to make a plan of action. You want to include when will the project start, how long it will take, review points, due date and finalizing with the client.
Maintaining a positive, cooperative relationship with co-workers and clients is also essential to quality project management. Good communication is the key to these relationships. Take a few minutes to email, call and keep the other team members and the client informed about the current project stage.
Assigning individual responsibilities for the tasks and taking responsibilty for the overall project can be the difference between success and failure! Your name is on you work. Do a job that you want to stand behind. Not all projects succeed, but they do teach us about our weaknesses, strengths and where to improve. Practicing the three R’s of project management is your stepping stone to success.
Project management is a dynamic and multifaceted discipline that requires skillful navigation in a variety of domains. From time management to relationship building and taking on leadership roles, the foundational pillars of project management are rooted in the ability to balance and coordinate tasks to ensure a project’s success. Whether you’re a seasoned project manager or new to the field, understanding the complexities of time, relationships, and responsibilities is essential in any project’s execution. In this article, we will explore some key insights and strategies to help you excel in these three critical areas of project management.
As a project manager, one of the most important responsibilities you have is managing time expectations. With time being one of the most limited resources we have, it's essential that projects are completed on time and within budget. This can be a challenge, but with proper planning, it's possible to give realistic schedules in which a project can be finished. Planning a project is a key part of managing time expectations. You want to make sure you have a clear understanding of what the project entails, who will be involved, and what resources will be needed. Once you have a good understanding of the project, you can begin to develop a plan of action. Your plan should include when the project will start, how long it will take, review points, due dates, and finalizing with the client. It's important to break the project down into manageable tasks and assign responsibilities to team members. This ensures that everyone knows what they are responsible for and can work towards a common goal. When developing your plan, it's important to take into account potential roadblocks that could arise during the project. It's unrealistic to expect everything to go smoothly, so be sure to build in some flexibility into your schedule. This will allow you to adapt to unforeseen circumstances and still keep the project on track. Regular review points throughout the project are crucial to managing time expectations. This allows you to keep track of progress, identify any areas where things are falling behind, and make adjustments as needed. By staying on top of the project throughout its lifecycle, you can avoid any surprises that could impact the timeline. Another important step to managing time expectations is to set due dates and communicate them clearly. Make sure all team members know when their tasks are due, and build in ample time for review and feedback. By setting due dates, you can ensure that the project stays on track and that everyone is working towards the same deadlines. Finally, it's important to finalize the project with the client. This is when you will deliver the finished product or service and get feedback. Make sure that the client understands the timeline and is on board with the schedule. If there are any changes or delays, be sure to communicate them clearly. In conclusion, managing time expectations in project management is a critical task. By planning the project properly, breaking it down into manageable tasks, building in flexibility, setting due dates, and communicating clearly with the client, you can ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget. Remember to stay on top of progress and make adjustments as needed. By doing so, you'll be able to deliver successful projects that meet or exceed customer expectations.
Maintaining a positive, cooperative relationship with co-workers and clients is essential to quality project management. Successful project management cannot be achieved without effective communication, and strong communication skills are the key to building solid professional relationships. To be successful in any project management endeavor, project managers must put in the effort to maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders involved, including fellow team members and clients. First and foremost, good communication is fundamental to building cooperative relationships. Communication is more than just exchanging information; it is about connecting with others. Effective communication is about understanding the emotions and intentions behind the information being shared. When communication is practiced adequately, it is possible to build strong relationships with team members and clients. There are many ways to build good communication with co-workers and clients. One way is to take a few minutes to send an email, give a call or send a text with updates about the project. Keeping the other team members and clients in the loop about the current project stage not only helps maintain a positive relationship but is essential to effective project management. In addition to keeping team members informed, it is equally important to listen actively when communicating with them. Active listening means making a conscious effort to hear and interpret what the speaker is saying. It is an essential tool for fostering open communication and building robust professional relationships. Another way to establish a cooperative relationship with co-workers and clients is to practice empathy. By putting yourself in the other peoples' shoes and understanding their point of view, it is possible to build trust and establish a rapport that leads to effective communication. Empathy is also an important trait to have when working on projects, and it can be essential for identifying and addressing any concerns the team may have. Setting realistic expectations and following through on commitments is another key to maintaining strong professional relationships. Establishing clear timelines and keeping the team and clients informed of the progress of the project can help to prevent misunderstandings and miscommunications. Furthermore, it shows that the project management team is committed to delivering quality work on time. In conclusion, maintaining positive and cooperative relationships with co-workers and clients is essential to quality project management. Good communication is the key to building these relationships, and communicating through various channels, such as emails, texts, and phone calls, is necessary to keep all stakeholders informed. Active listening, empathy, setting expectations and following through on commitments are all essential skills that can help to establish and maintain strong professional relationships. Remember, effective project management is about more than just getting the job done; it is also about building and maintaining relationships that enable everyone to work efficiently and effectively.
As a project manager, your reputation is on the line with every project you oversee. To ensure that you are consistently delivering quality work, it is essential to create an atmosphere of responsibility in your team. Whether you're just beginning your career as a project manager or are a seasoned professional, the following tips will help you achieve this goal. Firstly, it is important to establish clear roles and expectations for each member of your team. This will help everyone understand their individual responsibilities and what is expected of them in terms of contributing to the project's success. Being transparent with your team members will give them a sense of ownership to execute their tasks with care and consideration. Secondly, it's important to conduct periodic check-ins with individual team members to evaluate their progress and provide them with feedback. Frequent communication will allow for any issues to be addressed promptly, and it will also ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding the project's progress. Another key aspect of creating responsibility in project management is to lead by example. As the project manager, your actions will significantly impact your team's behavior. When your team sees that you are taking responsibility for your work, they will be more likely to do the same. It's also essential to demonstrate integrity and honesty in all of your dealings. Additionally, making sure that everyone has access to project-related data is important. This equates to having a clear understanding of what is happening on the project in real-time. Evidently, regular updates, progress reports and status updates will work best for all stakeholders. Finally, the most crucial element of ensuring responsibility in project management is developing a team culture based on accountability. To achieve this, you should strive to create an environment that encourages your team members to take ownership of their work, hold themselves accountable for their actions, and commit to doing their best to achieve excellent results. In conclusion, project management is not easy, and it requires an excellent level of commitment and responsibility. It is vital to establish clear goals and expectations, monitor progress consistently, take responsibility for your own work, and lead by example. By doing this, you will cultivate a team culture of responsibility that will lead to successful projects and a successful career as a project manager. Remember, ultimately your name is on your work, and your reputation hangs on your ability to be a responsible and capable project manager.
In conclusion, mastering the three R's of Project Management (time, relationships, and responsibility) is essential to ensure project success. Time management skills ensure timely delivery of the project, developing positive relationships with team members and stakeholders improve collaboration and communication, and taking responsibility can foster a sense of ownership and accountability. These skills also translate well into other areas of life. Remember, managing projects can be challenging, but developing these skills can go a long way in making the process smoother for everyone involved. So, start mastering these R's today and take your projects to the next level!
