The startup phase is one of my favourite phases of doing business. It’s exciting to create the new branding for a business and help a client get started with a new website. All sorts of challenges come along and I’ll be honest, working with the client could be the biggest challenge however being able to build a relationship, figure them out and figure their business ideas out is probably the most rewarding aspect of my job.
This doesn’t mean that the whole process is easy. Brick walls are usually hit when the business owner tries too hard to mimic other brands or in some cases they try too hard not to change anything ta all.
This leads to flaws in the project, it’s success and even your business idea. To give your business and project the best chance of success take these three truths on board about how to avoid flawing your own project.
1. Don’t have ideas of grandeur
A lot of the time clients come to me thinking that the branding along with a website will be enough to kickstart their business into stardom. It won’t and I do try to tell them that without being pessimistic.
Brand design and a web site are tools to help run the business and are not necessarily the business itself. To make these tools work for you, you need to create and use them with the intention of attracting and serving your clients, not as a vanity project for yourself.
As a startup it’s wise to think big but do it with reason.
2. We are our worst enemies!
The biggest challenger to your business is not your competition, it’s you! On so many occasions I’ve seen clients mess up their own branding and websites through a lack of pace and direction.
When it comes to your design project, don’t draw out the project for too long as that’s when a lack of direction and morale start to cloud issues, making projects and their outcome messy. On the flipside don’t rush it either. A quick solution is not the best solution.
Set the direction of the project but be ready to adapt. In a design project, plans and ideas always change as that’s the nature of the creative industry but remain focused and make progress by keeping the basic end goal clear. Keep your potential clients at the heart of the project not your own personal desires.
3. Trusted Expert Support
I’ve seen brand designs and web designs fall apart due to third party inference. If you hire an expert designer like myself then you’d do well to trust me, listen to me and most importantly use me.
Bringing in your third party friend who’s an interior designer to handle your branding and website project won’t do you any favours, it will only waste your own time and money. This will have a knock on effect with your marketing which will be un-targeted, your website maintenance which won’t be done and your creative support which you won’t have but you’ll soon realise you’ll need.
From experience we’ve found that this is when the client will come back to us and start to listen and at the same time when the business will start to take off.
Don’t just hire a designer to take on your project, invest in them.
Each of the above mistakes are typical with a clear lesson to be learnt: When branding your business and creating a website don’t focus on yourself, focus on your clients.
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