Branding
10 Reasons Why You Need a Rebranding Strategy
September 21, 2022
4 minutes
Rebranding is a term that many business owners tend to dread. Not because you don’t want to rebrand your company but because it takes time and resources to rebrand a business effectively.
Working through a rebranding strategy is actually quite rewarding as it provides a fresh perspective and reminds you why you started your business in the first place. But taking time out of an already busy schedule can definitely be a deterrent.
The wait-and-see approach can also be a costly mistake. If you’re noticing a decrease in traffic and leads, it’s best to act quickly. Otherwise, a minor problem could quickly become a major problem to solve.
Some tangible signs that your business may need to rebrand include a stale visual brand, an outdated logo, and inconsistency in graphic design. Your website and digital presence may also appear dated, and customers may be unable to identify what your company stands for.
In addition to the visible signs, there are other not-so-obvious indicators that it may be time for a rebrand, which we cover below. But before we dive into those details, let’s define rebranding.
What is Rebranding?
Rebranding is the process of updating a company’s image, including its logo, website, and marketing materials. It can also involve changes to a business’s name, target audience, or product offerings.
Rebranding is often necessary when a company has been in business for a while and its original branding no longer accurately reflects its current identity. A rebrand can also be beneficial if a company wants to move into a new market or expand its customer base.
Professional creative agencies can help businesses with rebranding by developing new logos, updating websites, and creating social media strategies that support the new brand identity.
10 Ways to Tell if Your Business Needs a Rebrand
1. You (or your team) are unhappy and want to make a change.
This is a reason that is often dismissed but is actually a really important point to consider. If you (or your team) do not like any aspect of your corporate image—change it! If you’re not proud of the look and feel your company portrays to customers, it will show in your overall enthusiasm and success toward sales and growth.
Some may write this off as a vanity metric, but it really does make a difference. If your website is bugging you—redesign it! If you hate your logo—update it! How you feel about your corporate image will impact the way you and your employees talk about your products and close deals.
Finally, don’t underestimate the feedback from your employees. If everyone is telling you it’s time to make a change, don’t ignore them! A rebrand may be the answer you need to boost morale and increase productivity internally.
2. Your logo is outdated.
Graphic design trends come and go, and if your logo looks like it was made in the 80s or 90s, it might be time for an update.
Another reason to update your logo is that it wasn’t originally created by a professional. Many start-ups try to cut corners on overhead by DIY-ing certain aspects of branding. Just because you can make or get a cheap logo from a third-party site like 99 Designs doesn’t mean you should! Furthermore, a haphazardly created logo is unlikely to carry your corporate identity for the long haul.
Generally speaking, it’s wise to enlist the help of a creative agency to evaluate your logo about every five years. Your business has likely changed and grown since you first designed your logo, so your graphic should reflect that. A professional designer can help you create a new logo that better represents your current business.
3. Your website is not producing leads.
If your website is difficult to navigate and not generating traffic and leads for your business, it may be time to rebrand and redesign your website. Your website is one of the most important tools in your marketing arsenal. If it’s outdated, it could be doing more harm than good. Here are four signs that it’s time to rebrand your website:
- Your website looks dated
- Your competitors have better websites
- You’re not getting any leads from your website
- You’re not ranking well in search results
If any of these sound familiar, then it’s time to take action. The good news is that a new website doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking. With a little planning and the help of a professional web designer, you can have a brand-new website that will help you attract more customers and grow your business.
Read More: 4 Tips to Hiring the Right Web Designer
4. You have a weak digital presence.
In today’s day and age, EVERY business needs a robust online presence. If you don’t have any sort of online presence, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to reach new customers. This goes beyond your website and includes everything from social media to online directory listings and reviews.
But understand that simply having an online presence in all the right places doesn’t automatically mean it’s helping to build your brand. If your brand identity appears inconsistently across digital channels, it will hurt your corporate image, negatively impact search engine optimization (SEO), and confuse potential/new customers.
For more on the topic, check out our post: What’s a Digital Footprint and Why Does It Matter to My Business?
5. Your brand is stale.
A rebrand can breathe new life into your company and make it feel fresh and exciting again. If you feel like your company is in a rut, a rebrand might be just what you need.
Your brand is your identity. It’s how customers perceive you, and it’s how they’ll remember you. But if your brand looks outdated and irrelevant, this can hurt your business in a number of ways.
First, potential customers may conclude that you’re behind the times and not worth their time or money. Second, existing customers will become less loyal as they see that you’re not keeping up with the competition. Finally, it will be harder for you to attract top talent if your brand isn’t seen as modern and professional.
So what can you do to fix a stale brand? The first step is to hire a professional creative agency that can help you modernize your visuals and create a cohesive brand identity. They’ll be able to help you update your logo, design a new website, and develop an overall rebranding strategy. With their help, you can take your business to the next level.
6. You’re not attracting the right kind of attention.
If you’re getting negative attention or no attention at all, it might be time for a rebrand. A well-executed rebrand can help turn things around and get people talking about your company in a positive way.
A rebrand can also help if you want to distance yourself from negative associations with your current brand. If this is your situation, you definitely need to hire a creative team to walk you through the process.
7. Your sales are declining.
If your sales have been slipping, it could be a sign that your brand is no longer resonating with customers. A rebrand can help you connect with new customers and get your sales back on track.
There could be a lot of reasons why sales are declining, but one possibility is that your brand is outdated. If you’re still using the same logo, colors, and visual style that you did when you first started out, it’s time for a rebrand. A new look can make customers take notice of your business again and remind them why they used to love your products or services.
Plus, it shows that you’re staying current and are invested in your business’s future. So if you’re thinking about rebranding, don’t wait until sales have completely tanked–do it now and give your business the boost it needs.
8. You’re not growing.
If your company has been stagnant for a while, a rebrand can help you break out of that rut and start growing again. Here’s an example that may resonate:
Imagine that you have been running your business for a while and things have been going well. You’re making money, you have a few loyal customers, and things are generally stable. But lately, you’ve felt like something is just not right. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you’re starting to wonder if your brand is losing its power in your competitive sphere.
While a rebrand isn’t a silver bullet, it can increase attention in a positive way. Rebranding also presents an opportunity to contact current and past customers to get their feedback. Doing this can help bolster retention and draw former customers into your sales funnel.
9. Your competition is outpacing you.
If you’re being left in the dust by your competition, it’s time to take action and reevaluate your brand. A well-executed rebrand can help you close the gap and even surpass your competition.
It’s not enough to just have a great product or service. You need to be able to communicate how your product or service is going to make your customer’s life better. If your competition is better than that than you are, it may be time for a rebrand.
10. You’re not attracting top talent.
Don’t forget about employee recruitment in your branding process. It’s not just your customers who are checking out your company’s website—prospective employees are, too. If you’re having trouble attracting and retaining top talent, it could be a sign that your brand is outdated or not appealing to the best and brightest in your industry.
A rebrand can help you attract the kind of talent you need to take your company to the next level.
Read More: 6 Ways Digital Marketing Can Help You Recruit New Talent and Employees
Do You Need Help With a Rebranding Strategy?
A company’s brand is its most valuable asset. It’s the promise of what customers can expect from their products or services. When a company rebrands, it’s essential to have a solid strategy to ensure the process is successful. Otherwise, the company risks losing the trust of its customers and damaging its reputation.
A good rebranding strategy will consider the company’s history, competitive landscape, and target market. It will also involve carefully analyzing the company’s existing branding material to ensure that the new brand accurately reflects what the company stands for. By taking the time to develop a strong rebranding strategy, a company can position itself for success and beat the competition.
We’d love to help with your company’s next rebranding effort. If you have questions or want to learn more about our creative process, please email us today to schedule a meeting. We look forward to helping you surpass your goals!