When I stumbled across an article from Canva, a graphic-design website with over 10 million users, that talked about how the Calgary Chamber of Commerce was doing a great job with its branding, I just HAD to write an article about it!!!
Canva is a graphic-design tool website that uses drag-and-drop format used by non-designers as well as professionals to get their graphic-design groove on!
Before we had in-house graphic designers at Spartan Spark, I would play around a lot on Canva and Pic Monkey, and when I'm helping my small-business friends, I always refer them to those two programs. They're fun and easy to use.
(I still use Pic Monkey today when I'm trying to do some brainstorming or quick edits.)
We know that Spartan Spark’s lead generating websites aren’t a fit for every business, so for our lovely entrepreneurs, we’ve compiled a list of branding resources you should know about before you start building that new website.
It’s true that even your nephew can get your website up and running, but what your nephew is missing is the knowledge that a team of experts brings to the table. The difference it makes is how good your website is at converting visitors into leads. (But don’t worry, we’ll show you in a few minutes how to accomplish something similar if you’re willing to do all the leg-work.)
To build a website that brings you leads, you’re going to need the following resources:
But don't worry!! You don't need them all at once. You can go step-by-step until you're ready for the next phase in your business.
What I'm sharing today are the secrets you need to know about your BRAND STRATEGIST.
Most medium-sized business owners are still forced to hire all these experts individually or through an agency or contractor, which is often extremely expensive. But before you bring this team together, as a business owner you’ll want to know the key elements that go into creating a lead-generating website.
As we've mentioned before, it's not just about your logo. It's about your overall presence both online and offline. For the medium-sized business owner who is going to invest in storefront banners, stand-up banners, graphics for their website, graphics for social media, etc., we highly recommend finding a brand strategist to work with.
This is different from a graphic designer in that a brand strategist is highly experienced in creating the perfect brand for you based on your target market—and not based on what your personal preferences are ;)
What if I'm just starting a New Business?
If you choose not to go for a brand strategist, check out our blog about Creating a Mood Board for Your Branding Process for specific ideas on how you can do that.
To give you some inspiration, here's the article I promised from Canva. It shows some examples of how big name brands set up their style guides. (Don't forget to scroll down so you can see how the Calgary Chamber of Commerce set up their brand.)
References: Marketing & Growth Hacking: Growth Story: How Canva acquired 10 million users within 5 years
Written By: Dafne CanalesFounder and CEO of the innovative digital marketing software company, Spartan Spark, Dafne Canales Lees has earned her reputation as the Data-Driven Digital Storyteller. Her 7-Second Trust Formula uses behavioural marketing strategies to create client trust via digital marketing platforms for a more personalized user experience that translates into additional sign-ups, sales and increased profits.
A member of the Neuromarketing Business and Science Association and the Society for the Advancement of Behavioural Economics, Dafne travels monthly to California to attend meetings with her advisory board. A sought-after speaker and facilitator, this creative innovator never stops giving of her time and talent, even teaching corporate in-house marketing teams the latest digital marketing strategies.
