How to Know When It’s Time for a Brand Refresh
Every brand needs a refresh at some point. Whether it’s staying relevant, appealing to a new audience, or adapting to a changing market, updating your brand helps keep you competitive and memorable.
How do you know it’s time for a brand refresh?
1. Your brand feels outdated
Design trends change, and so does your audience’s taste. If your logo, colors, or website look like they belong to a previous era, it’s likely time to refresh.
2. You DIY’ed your initial logo / branding
There’s nothing wrong with a little DIY moment if investing in visual branding isn’t in the budget from the jump. But as your business grows, so does your need to come across as the best in your industry. Investing in a brand refresh may be the right call to make sure you’re showing up consistently.
3. Your audience or market has shifted
If your audience or market has evolved, your branding should reflect that change. For example, a shift from local to national to global customers might mean modernizing visuals and adding more accessible design elements.
4. You have inconsistent branding across platforms
Inconsistent branding makes a business seem disjointed. Updating your branding to look cohesive across all channels (print and digital) can strengthen customer trust and recognition.
5. You need to differentiate between competitors
It’s unfortunate, but most people do judge books by their covers. Personally, if I’m trying to decide between two companies who offer the same product or service, I judge them based on how “put together” they look from the outside (on top of reviews, apparent customer service, communication, etc.).
6. Your business is going through a merger
If two or forces are becoming one through a business merger, sometimes things can get lost in translation. Is your name changing? What about your lineup of services or products? Maybe you now offer something you didn’t before — that could become part of your visual branding toolkit!
Benefits of a Brand Refresh
- Improved Engagement: Fresh visuals capture attention.
- Increased Trust: Consistent, modern branding boosts credibility.
- Easier Marketing: Clear branding makes campaigns more effective.