Design

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CategoriesBranding Design
byHeir Media

The Need For Branding

The business landscape is constantly changing; and, in the flurry of different advertisements and jingles, how are businesses supposed to gain (and maintain) new clients? The answer to that question is, usually, marketing. A strong and well-aimed marketing campaign can be the difference between client acquisition, and a hot lead turning cold. Marketing tells all potential clients why they need your help and expertise over all others.

Say you have your marketing push planned— one-sheets, advertisements, business cards. You have the entire arsenal ready, and are ready to give them out. People receive them well, but there was one problem: after a week, no one remembered much about your services or products, nor did they remember who you were. You sent out advertisement materials of various types, but there was one thing that you forgot to ask about each of them: “Were any of these memorable?”

For each client, they see a plethora of ads everyday from different sources, all aiming to do the same thing you do— gaining them as a client or customer. When your advertisement (or even just your product) catches the eye of a potential client, how will they know who to go to? Easy, customized brand branding should be at the forefront of all your products and marketing materials.

Not sure how to do that on your own? Or maybe you just don’t have the time. This is where we come in. We’ll help you create personalized (and recognizable) branding that fits your mission, vision, and aesthetics.

Utilizing personalized branding will help your customers and clients connect all the products that they see to your company; and, if they like what they see, they will know who to go to. Simple steps, like using consistent brand colors, will help build brand recognition (allowing your audience to better know and recognize your products at from distance). This will allow your brand to cut through the noise of every other businesses. When branding, we must always remember that the point of branding is to create a unique voice for your company, in order to ensure that people can separate your brand from the rest— and remember it.

So, what would go into creating a strong cohesive brand that would be able to get the attention of your next client? Here are three points that you should consider (and that we will do for you when helping you design your brand’s visual touchpoints):

  1. Consistency. A strong brand will a consistent feel across every digital and physical place that their brand exists. If you walk into a Nike store in London, it will be consistent with how the brand represents itself on its social media and website as well.
  2. Color. The color that you choose to represent your brand matters just as much as the message you are trying to convey to your customers and clients. Take your time in better understanding what your brand is and isn’t; then understand what color schemes (palettes) work the best with your message.
  3. Voice. How you talk to your customers and clients will matter in how your brand is perceived. Chick-fil-a got to where it is today, by understanding this.

Branding is a necessary part of the business development and marketing lifecycle— it is essentially the heart and soul of a company/brand. Understanding what your brand is, and how to represent it are key to standing out from the competition and achieving longevity.

Feel free to contact us at contactus@hrminc.net or 443-221-2876 to let us help you elevate your branding today.

CategoriesBusiness Development Consultancy Design Filmmaking Game Development Publishing
byHeir Media

Bridging the Gap: Creatives and Clients

Bridging the Gap: Creatives and Clients

Let’s be on honest, we all have heard potential clients say, “your packages are too expensive”, “do you have a discount?”, or “I can find someone who can do it cheaper.”

 

This can be frustrating especially for freelancers, start-ups, and small businesses because we have to make a profit in order to keep the lights on and food on our tables. However, clients (potential and actual) have the right to control where they spend their money just like anyone else.

 

And if we are completely honest, you probably could find someone to do it cheaper, but the question that clients really should be asking is, “if I choose to invest my money into your services or product, then can you guarantee that your work will reach my expectations?” And I mean reasonable expectations of course.

Portfolio

Early on, creatives will want to ensure that potential clients have seen at least one example of your previous works, so they can have realistic expectations for the project that they are hiring you for since we all know that there are clients that want Hollywood level quality for little to no budget.

 

This is why creatives need to build a quality portfolio, and why clients need to view them— because portfolios are the best way to gauge the quality or value that the creative will bring to each project. This also allows clients to know what look the creative generally gravitates towards and whether that look and feel is one that the client is interested in.

However, if you are just starting out, then your client may still have some questions, fears, or, in the worst case, ask for a discount.

So, how can you minimize a client’s questions, fears, and desire for a discount?

 

The Right Package For You

Let’s be honest, there is no one answer that I could give that would stop every potential client from questioning your pricing; but, through clear communication, you can reassure your client by setting clear expectations for what the project entails and what it doesn’t.

 

Every freelancer, start-up, and small business should have a list of packages that gives a rough outline of what each package entails, so potential clients can see if there is a package that works for their needs.

There will be clients that ask for audio, video, and photo coverage of an event or project, despite the package they paid for only including video. You need to ensure that they know that adding onto their chosen package will increase the price, as it may require more help (boom operator, photo editor, audio engineer, etc.), and it will undoubtedly require more time.

However, there will always be clients that want to pick-and-choose various parts of your different packages.

This should lead the creative to one question: “Should you allow custom packages?”

That’s a question you have to ask yourself: “Does this improve my brand?” and “Can I output consistent quality for each client, if they all asked for custom packages?”

Some of you will answer “yes,” while others will say, “no.” And that’s okay. All that matters is that you know your own limitations— whether based on ability, brand, reliable helpers, or something else.

There is a saying that I have been hearing a lot recently and that is, “Under promise, over deliver”.

Whether you are a freelancer, owner of a start-up, or small company president, these four words could be integral to your success (as you recognize that you do not have access to the same budget as a large company for each project that you are hired to create), but you will still reach and surpass expectations by giving clients more value than they expected— given the limitations.

Your Vision Starts Here

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