Corporate Identity is an effective method to reach out to the world, a method to differentiate yourself from competitors and make your business more attractive to customers. The more distinct, clear and memorable the corporate identity that a business has, the better chance that it will be successful. This article you’ll find out what corporate identity means and how you can create it.
What is corporate identity?
Corporate Identity is the unifiedness of design elements that indicate the connection of all the items that they are put (goods communications tools, goods and messages for communication) to a specific company and differentiate it from rivals.
Corporate identity is the foundation of the company’s communications policy as it ensures visual and semantic unification of services and goods and all information that comes from the company. On one hand, the corporate identity is a way to ensure the consistency of all the products of the company. On the contrary, it does not oppose the company’s products against rivals and their products.
Corporate identity is among the instruments used for forming brands and simultaneously an element of branding. Corporate identity concepts are associated with the idea of image. Corporate identity is a method to create a brand image for the company that distinguishes the business as well as proving the legitimacy of the business.
Corporate style consists of the following fundamental components:
- Trademark;
- Logo;
- Corporate block is a classic often-used combination of various aspects of corporate branding.
- The corporate slogan (slogan) The slogan is used continuously as the corporate motto
- Corporate colors;
- Corporate set of fonts
- Permanent communication device (face image of the business).
Corporate communication tools that incorporate the corporate image elements can be utilized to streamline the internal flow of documents of the business and also in the communications of the company to the external world. Tools for image communication include:
- Letterhead;
- Corporate seal;
- Cards for business and personal contact information;
- Many envelope types;
- Corporate folder for papers;
- Promotional products;
- Souvenir products.
The elements of corporate identity as well as examples of tools for image communication are listed inside an identification guide. Identity guide (a booklet that outlines the components of corporate identity, as well as guidelines for the use of logos and corporate image in different circumstances).
How do you create an identity for a company?
The five steps we have identified are the major steps.
Define your company’s strategy
Before you start, think about what and the purpose of what you’re creating and the goals you’re aiming for.
Goals
Take a look at where your company is at and what objectives you’d like to accomplish in the coming years. Perhaps you’d like to grow into an international company instead of one that is local, then pick a particular niche or, alternatively, increase production. Be aware of these aspects when you are determining a corporate identity. If you choose to make the long-term plan right away it will be simpler to prepare for any changes ahead of time.
Audience
To determine the corporate identity that suits the best for you, it’s essential to be aware of your target market. In the end, you have to define these rules precisely in order to make yourself known to potential customers, and not to please the boss.
Who are your ideal and current customers? What are their gender and age group is their location and what kind of lifestyle are they leading, where are they working for and what do they do with their time? A thorough profile of the customer will aid in determining the essential elements of the corporate identity. Mothers are young, but but students are a different matter.
Every audience requires its individual approach, and each one has their own tastes as well as capabilities and requirements to identify their needs, it is crucial to identify the target audiences. If you have to work with different groups of people, you can create various portraits of clients and pick the best style of communication for all of them.
Strategy
Strategy is the company’s strategy to reach its objectives. Determine it before you begin designing a corporate identity. Then , he can assist you in achieving your goals and effectively communicate your message to your target audience.
Strategy – Does not have to be a comprehensive 10-page plan. You can determine the most important elements and incorporate them into your presentation.
Collect information on the company
Corporate identity can be developed by starting from the ground up. It will come out to be more natural by using as the basis of our identity those elements that the business successfully employs, and then enhance the design, add more elements and modify. The result will be more personal and unique since you can design an image that is based on your personal preferences and traits.
To create a new corporate identity, begin with these points.
Story
The company’s history is the base of the corporate identity. The style of the brand is also influenced by the direction, age and the characteristics associated with the name. If the brand is new and has no past then you’ve probably made up a gorgeous legend. We all know that nobody buys goods and services, they purchase service as well as history and the atmosphere.
At this point, note down the adjectives that define your business, such as trustworthy, stable, experienced or friendly, casual. They can be helpful to you when you are creating corporate identity components regardless of whether or not you create it yourself or leave it to experts.
Values and mission
A clear vision and values can help in creating the ideal image, or assess whether the current one is in line with the vision of your company. To illustrate, in order to communicate a fresh, sustainable image to clients, McDonald’s changed the main color of their logo from green to red. It doesn’t mean everyone instantly saw McDonald’s as eco green. In fact, thanks to this shift in its corporate identity the company was able to draw the attention of its brand new goal.
Survey of customers and employees
To ensure that the entire corporate image of the business operate not only physically, but in the real world You must conduct surveys of your employees and customers. This will help you understand the way they view your brand’s style. Are they aware of the brand has incorporated into it.
Simple surveys are ideal for this. For instance it is possible to create surveys in Google and also an Instagram survey. The other option is more straightforward and therefore, you’re likely to receive more responses from customers using this method. However, don’t miss an opportunity to utilize the questionnaires. You can give a discount or reward to anyone who fills the form. If a letter that contains an electronic URL to the questionnaire is able to be closed more frequently and the request to complete an application in an establishment or salon and then wait for a good reward is a good possibility.
The consideration of the opinions of your customers is not that they should be allowed to choose their own color that your brand’s logo is, though sometimes this is possible. It is essential to know how your customers view the brand, and whether they know the message you wish to convey to them as well as what you intend to convey through your corporate image.
Learn about your competitors
Be different from them! Try not to allow stamps to be used as a substitute. If you’re creating an identity for a company or educational institution, you’ve likely thought it is blue that’s the best color for designing business because it symbolizes trust as well as loyalty, security and many more. Consider how many schools, universities and even courses have already adopted various shades of blue for their primary color. But this isn’t the only option! Perhaps you could think up a new idea something that stands out?
For additional opinions, think about brainstorming. Make sure you invite colleagues from all departments, not only management.
Take all branding components
The most important document regarding the image of the business is the brand book which is the set of rules that establishes the visual language used by the business. It outlines the manner and elements of design to incorporate into the design. It is usually composed of sections about the logo as well as typeface, colors as well as editorial policies communications style, and other distinct aspects.
This document is required to ensure that your corporate style can be properly translated by everyone who works in communications and visual design , from employees to partners , and bloggers, too. You may even organize collaborations. Therefore, you can be certain the layout, documents and handouts are created in accordance with your guidelines and you don’t need to answer any questions from your new employees or assign designers every time, and do a ton of revisions.
Check and update the corporate identity
Corporate identity is a part of the company’s identity This means that it is a living entity which changes with time. This doesn’t mean you are free to forget about the guidelines you have established, but it’s perfectly acceptable to add or modify the rules. For instance for instance, the Instagram feed as well as a component of the corporate image, should not be kept the same for years. In fact for it to be an innovative company and stay up to date it is advisable to keep it updated, maybe even at times during the season.
You might find that certain rules you’ve made up aren’t working. For instance the font you’ve chosen for your logo is unsuitable for headings of text. This is not unusual. Pick a solution that works!
We discussed the corporate identity and how to design it. We hope our tips help you. Best of luck!