Advice for Start-ups | Investing in your branding and visual identity

In the lively start-up scene of Melbourne, where new ideas and businesses pop up every day, it might seem like branding is something you can figure out later. But truth be told, it's a big deal, especially for start-ups. Let's keep it simple and talk about why, as a start-up in Melbourne, you should pay attention to your branding right from the get-go.

First impressions matter

Think of your brand as the face of your start-up. It's the first thing people will notice and opinions will form from there. Whether it's your logo or your website, or the sign placed on your shop window having a brand that looks as professional as the services or products you offer can make the difference in a potential customer or client investing more of their time into learning what your start-up is about. If it looks good and fits what your start-up is about, people are more likely to stick around.

Standing out in the crowd

Melbourne has a lot going on, especially in the start-up world. If you want people to notice your start-up among all the others, you need a brand that's different and memorable. A brand that is well presented and aligns with your target demographics ideologies can help you stand out from the competitive crowd.

Building trust and looking the part

People trust businesses that look professional, for example, if you were a start-up software technology company based in Melbourne who had created a new cutting edge software but have a visual identity and logo that looks like it was designed 20 years ago then the story you would be unintentionally selling is that perhaps your new 'cutting edge' technology is potentially a bit outdated.

A good brand can give off a vibe of being trustworthy and legit. This is super important if you want people to believe in your start-up and choose your business over others.

Avoiding a logo and branding headache down the line

Start-ups change a lot as they grow. Your brand needs to keep up. A good brand can evolve with your start-up. It grows with you, so you don't have to start from scratch every time you want to do something new.

At Bluesight Studio we have experienced the pain for businesses who have had to start from scratch with a new brand. Initially your brand may be applied to just a couple of things and that's okay because you think 'we are just starting out, when we are getting more business we will invest in hiring a design studio to make an amazing brand for us'. But as your business grows, you will end up with more and more collateral featuring your brand, and when it comes to updating your brand in future, you are faced with not just the cost of the design studio creating your new brand, but also the headache and cost of getting all your collateral re-printed, your website re-designed and re-developed, vehicles re-wrapped etc.

Trust us, its significantly cheaper to invest now, than 10 years down the line.

Selling your start-up to investors

Investors don't just look at your business idea; they look at how you present it. A strong brand not only looks good and shows investors that you yourself have already put your own capital and risk into the business to get it looking great but also helps investors understand what your start-up is all about.

When you present your business to investors it is important that they can understand what you do with ease. Investors also want to be impressed, if you leave them feeling cold by portraying your start-up as uninspiring and dull using a plain white background with boring copy in Times New Roman, then don't expect for them to be sending capital your way any time soon!

Keeping things consistent

In today's world, your start-up is everywhere – on social media, your website, maybe even in a physical store or office building. If your branding is consistent across all these places, people remember you better and in each location your brand is seen it will help your audience to feel as though everything is interconnected and creates a better experience for those who interact with you. It's like making sure everyone knows it's you, no matter where they come across your business.

As an example, if every McDonalds in Melbourne had a different logo, colours and feel, then yes it may make each one more individual and have more character, but McDonalds have cemented themselves as the king of fast food dining world-wide due to their consistency. A McDonalds in London, is the same as one in Melbourne and customers know exactly what to expect.

Getting help from the pros

Doing your branding right might sound a bit tricky, but that's where the experts come in. There are business that specialise in creating amazing brands, these are called 'branding agencies' or perhaps 'Design Studios' who know how to make your start-up look good. They're like the artists for your brand – making sure it looks and feels just right.

At Bluesight Studio we offer a range of services that fall under marketing, including brand design, logo design and general graphic design and website services. If any of the above rings true to you, then please get in touch and we would be happy to discuss your options.

So, here's the deal – when you're starting a business in Melbourne, don't treat branding like an afterthought. It's not just about looking good; it's about making sure people remember you, trust you, and want to be part of what you're doing. So, get that brand right from the start, and you'll set your start-up up for success in the long run.