Late last year, both my small business and my daughter turned 13.
Over the years, both had grown, matured and changed a lot. Their personalities, intelligence, strength and skills developed.
At age 13, the time had come for both to embrace a new style and adjust to a new way of approaching the world.
For my business, this meant that stale ideas needed to be pruned from the offering. A new look needed to be trialled, with new colours and accessories.
When I started the business I had a logo designed and I loved it. I have been happy with it forever. But, all of a sudden, I felt the ‘outfit’ didn’t fit anymore. It didn’t reflect the character or essence of my business, or me. Like piggy-wiggy flannel onesies on a teenage girl, my logo just didn’t suit me anymore.
I needed something that was going to project my future aspirations, something that would beckon the clients I hadn’t found yet. Something age-appropriate.
So for the first time I worked through an extended branding and positioning process with a graphic designer I trusted.
I resisted all the urges to say that I loved my logo, and the colour, and the words. Especially the words. I threw myself open to the opportunity to get another point of view.
What I found out was that proper brand and positioning analysis immediately connected me with my original purpose and passion – even some bits I’d forgotten about. I was deeply energised.
The three key things I learnt from rebranding were:
So the key word? FUN! It was thoroughly one of the most enjoyable experiences in my recent business development and the excitement is causing me to embrace new marketing technologies and ideas that I hadn’t dreamed of before. Connections are coming out of the woodwork and people are connecting with my message like never before.
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