With many small businesses of necessity reinventing themselves, we thought the most useful approach for us to take at this time in helping small businesses reboot was to highlight certain articles that – when read together – would provide a branding tutorial.  (For those readers just getting started rather than restarted, this collection should provide a helpful shortcut, too.)

Build vs. Buy
https://brandbuildingforsmallbusiness.com/2019/08/28/your-brand-build-vs-buy/
This article considers whether to take a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) approach or to hire some outside expertise to help with your branding efforts.

What’s in a Name?
https://brandbuildingforsmallbusiness.com/2019/08/29/brand-basics-part-i-whats-in-a-name/
This piece examines some of the considerations in selecting the right name for a well-branded operation.  (For those businesses looking to reboot that may or may not need a new name, we suggest you also read “Time to Rebrand?” below.)

Design Your Own Logo
https://brandbuildingforsmallbusiness.com/2019/09/08/brand-basics-part-2-design-your-own-logo/
This tutorial provides a very hands-on approach to building your logo.   Whether you are considering a totally new design or simply looking to adjust, adapt, and tweak an existing one, these tips (including where to find needed tools) should prove useful.

Know Your Audience
https://brandbuildingforsmallbusiness.com/2019/10/15/know-your-audience/
A very basic but essential part of any branding or rebranding exercise should be to make sure you still know your audience and have chosen branding elements that properly reflect their characteristics.  This article reviews some of the basics for you to consider.

How to Create a Mission Statement
https://brandbuildingforsmallbusiness.com/2019/10/16/how-to-create-a-mission-statement-including-definitions-examples-and-a-mission-statement-generator/
Never got around to writing your Mission Statement?  Or, perhaps, your business has changed pretty dramatically and you forgot to review this document at least annually to make sure the message still properly applied to you.  If either of these statements (or several others I can imagine) apply to you, this article should help you get up to speed.

The Role of a Brand Style Guide
https://brandbuildingforsmallbusiness.com/2019/09/17/brand-basics-part-3-the-role-of-a-brand-style-guide/
Once you have completed each of the above activities BUT BEFORE YOU BEGIN BUILDING BASIC TOOLS LIKE BUSINESS CARDS OR LETTERHEAD OR INCORPORATING THE ELEMENTS INTO MARKETING OR ADVERTISING EFFORTS (we’ll provide a refresher on those soon), take the time to create a style guide that puts into writing the most basic rules that must be observed to properly build the visual element of your new brand/rebrand.

Note:  Helpful downloadable tools/templates are provided to add extra value to the pieces described above.

Worth Another Look at this Time

Time to Rebrand?
https://brandbuildingforsmallbusiness.com/2020/04/15/time-to-rebrand/
As the title suggests, the narrative is dedicated to examining some of the indicators that a rebrand is in order. 

Customer Service During Crises
https://brandbuildingforsmallbusiness.com/2020/04/09/customer-service-during-crises/
This blog entry reminds us that branding involves far more than just creating a few recognizable visual elements.  Customer Service is always at the heart of your brand.  Taking a close look at this time helps identify those branding qualities that will resonate with your audience.

Branding and the Pandemic
https://brandbuildingforsmallbusiness.com/2020/03/31/branding-and-the-pandemic/
Specifically, the second half of this article includes some information on the importance of self-reflection.

In Search of the Holy Grail (of Branding)
https://brandbuildingforsmallbusiness.com/2020/02/13/in-search-of-the-holy-grail-of-branding/
Why does branding matter?  Why do we invest the time, effort, and resources to launch a branding campaign?  This article tries to answer that question!

In upcoming posts, we plan to prepare similar recaps on:

• Building essential branding tools such as letterhead, business cards, etc.
• Incorporating branding to marketing and advertising sales campaigns.
• Maintaining your brand.