Behind the Branding Process: Step 1 - Brand Strategy Development
Welcome to the first post in my series ‘Behind the Branding Process’ where I share each step of the brand development process so you can see exactly how powerful and impactful brands are brought to life! Last week’s post was A Simple Overview of the Branding Process.
Today, we're taking a deep dive into Step 1 - Developing your Brand Strategy, which is the crucial foundations for your brand to blossom!
What is Brand Strategy?
Before we begin on any design work, it's crucial to lay a solid foundation for your brand. Brand strategy is the process of defining your brand values, understanding your audience, and researching your market to create a roadmap for success.
Why is Brand Strategy Important?
Brand strategy serves as the compass guiding your brand's journey. By starting with brand strategy, we can gain a thorough understanding of your audience, business goals, and how to effectively reach them through intentional brand design.
This approach ensures we craft a unique identity that positions your brand as a market leader. The goal is to stand out from competitors, attract your ideal audience, and propel you towards your most ambitious business goals!
The Brand Strategy Development Process
Strategy Session:
Our journey begins with a collaborative strategy session. We'll hop on a zoom call and sit down together to discuss your vision, goals, and values. This is where I'll ask probing questions, make insightful observations, and listen attentively to your ideas.
Research and Refinement:
Armed with the insights from our strategy session, I'll dive into thorough research. This includes analysing your industry, studying your competitors, and understanding your target audience. I'll then refine this research into actionable insights that will inform our strategy.
Preparation of Brand Strategy Document:
I’ll then prepare a brand strategy guide which acts as an blueprint for your brand, outlining key elements such as brand overview, vision and goals, values, audience profiles, competitor analysis, unique selling proposition (USP), brand voice, and visual direction.
Collaborative Review:
Once the brand strategy document is prepared, we'll review it together. This is an opportunity for you to provide feedback, ask questions, and ensure that the strategy aligns with your vision. We'll collaborate closely to fine-tune the strategy until it accurately reflects your objectives.
Finalisation:
After making any necessary tweaks and updates, the brand strategy document is finalised. This document will now serve as a guiding light for all future branding decisions, ensuring consistency, clarity, and alignment with your brand's goals.
Visual Examples
To give you a glimpse into what a brand strategy document looks like, here are some visual examples from previous projects:
Brand Overview:
A summary of your brand's vision & goals, core values and keywords.
Audience Overview:
Detailed customer personas that represent your target audience, including demographics, preferences, and pain points. An overview of your customer purchase path and keywords that represent your audience.
Competition:
An analysis of your competitors' strengths, weaknesses, and positioning within the market. Your Unique Selling Point and opportunities for your brand.
Messaging:
Your unique brand voice and keywords.
Brand strategy development is the cornerstone of effective branding. By laying a strong foundation through strategic planning and thorough research, we set the stage for your brand's success.
Ready to take the first step towards crafting a powerful brand? Let's connect and start shaping your brand's future today!
Ready to take the first step?
To begin crafting your brand identity, simply reach out to me via my contact page.
We'll kick things off with a friendly chat to discuss your project, goals, and the next steps.
Meet the Designer
Hey there, I'm Joanna! A Freelance Brand Identity Designer, based in Devon, England. With 10+ years in design and marketing, I've worn many hats – from corporate marketing to helping startups thrive. Now, as the driving force behind JK Creative Co. my heart is set on brand identity design. I absolutely love collaborating with like-minded entrepreneurs who aim to make a positive mark on the world. Think female-led businesses, and forward-thinking brands with an ethical and sustainable mission. Learn more about my approach →
