Creating a brand for your business

When I started on this journey to transform a fabulous hobby into an actual business, I consulted my father, who has owned and run his own businesses as long as I can remember.
His biggest and best suggestion so far has been to create a "brand" for myself.

When all things look similar and continuous, people see professionalism and that's what I was going for. Since Dad owns a printing company, and does this for a living, I knew he was on the right track. His graphic designer made my banner first, based on a rough draft I made on Microsoft Publisher. Here is my banner. (The actual banner is the same color as the postcards and business cards below.)



Wanting to use the banner image on my website, I cropped the image and loaded it on the front page. The web address on the banner had changed, and I felt having the entire bottom of the banner image would be redundant. You can see it here. www.fancyfacesbydiane.com.

Then I ordered some post cards, business cards and window advertisements to promote myself.

Post cards:


Business cards:


And obviously, my window ads:


Keeping the image all the same helps with the idea of creating a brand. (Same lettering, same image, same colors, etc.)
Eventually, I'll see fruits of this campaign.

Article - Creating A Brand

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Wow, Shannon! How exciting to be on the same track as you! Much further behind, but it looks like you thought through this the same way my dad was teaching me. Way cool! Thanks for sharing.

Obviously your dad knows his stuff.

it's not the most unique way of doing it, but using something like vistaprint and keeping consistent on your template themes helps with this. Can't say that I'm perfect in that regard, I like to switch things around too much, but I plaster my clown face on everything and make that my recognizable piece.

Diane and Shannon, thanks so much for the info. Don't know if I'll ever try to make a business out of this thing I love but if I try, I want to do it right! Info like this is invaluable as first impressions in a smaller town will make you or break you!

Very nice! I am trying to do the same thing. This will be our first season with banners and card door magnets so...we will see how it goes. I think it will boost business as it looks so professional. Luck you to have such a talented Dad!

I have issues with this but I am working on it I had T-Shirts made and the font that was on my cards and board did not translate as well to the shirt I went with the closest one I could that still read well. Trying to add a little more to my look and need to redo my display because my board looks so trashy so fast. I want to do a banner than clips to my table but haven't figured out the mechanics yet. I want to set myself apart from the artists in my area and ones who I have to work with once in a while but am trying to get away from. They look like hobbyists compared to me right not but I want to take it further.

Here are my shirts!

Izzy! I love them! Great color selection! I want tee shirts, and will have them eventually, but for now imma have to make do with my embroidered apron.

Good job!

I really want tee shirts also, but haven't wanted to spend the big bucks to have them screen printed. The cheapest local I have found is $25 a pop for under 10, $18 per for 10 and up.
Egads!

I just tie dyed some shirts today for my son, daughter and I to wear so we at least look like a team.
I plan to make a new table runner. The one I have is four years old and looks it.
My displays need work too, but trying find something that is easily changeable like the poster frames I have. But sturdier.
Need new banners, but will wait on those. I don't plan to do a lot of festival type events, so may not be worth it.

zazzle.com has shirts for $15...I made a custom one for my husband and it was really good quality. He wears the shirt at least once a week for about 2 yrs. now. It was a black shirt and has faded some but all the lettering is still in perfect condition. It has white and red lettering, and on a black shirt white can look bad if it's a cheapy...but it looks awesome, even 2 yrs. down the road!

THANKS!!

Oh, my gosh, I am so excited!
My husband has been telling me for at least a year that I needed to get a feather banner, so people could see what my booth is from a distance.
I finally broke down and had my dad's company design me one.
It's freaking expensive, but it is beautiful!
I'll take a picture of it when I get it next week.

That is awesome!