Need A Fast Brand? Choose Wisely
Here’s a new web?site that my friend Darryl Ohrt pointed out called IncSpring. IncSpring is a site where you can buy a logo, name and in some cases a URL. It’s an?alternative to hiring a branding company?especially if you don’t have a lot of cash to hire someone like, say…us! The Brand Identity Guru.
Some things to keep in mind. Building a brand can not be done fast, but for those who have a limited budget and no time a site like this may be helpful. When developing a brand identity you must determine how you want to be perceived prior to developing a name, logo etc. So for instance if you want your company’s brand identity to be “Innovative” this service only works if you can find an innovative name, logo etc. Otherwise your brand identity will be confusing.
Here’s a good example of how it could be done. Here is the name and logo for “Exclusive Lounge”
If you had an upscale bar/nightclub where a dress code was required and you served $1000 bottles of champagne this could be a good name and identity. You would be excluding those that didn’t want to dress up and couldn’t afford the $30 cover charge, hence “exclusive”.
This is just one step in the branding process but if you just don’t have the budget or know how to do it on your own you could start here.
Developing a brand identity is the most crucial thing you’ll do so take it seriously and invest wisely. Changing it later will be very costly.
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September 22nd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Interesting…I didn’t know you could buy a brand. And, there’s nothing fast about branding. This site is just another cheap $99 online logo factory, right?. Good for some companies, but not for companies that truly value long-term, effective branding. Perfect for someone dipping their toe into their business with no real passion or commitment. Just my thoughts…surprised to see it pop up on a branding blog.
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Oh, I agree with you 100%. I just thought it was interesting especially for a mom and pop business. Which is why I said “Choose wisely”.
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Really? Buy someone’s passed-over logo? Online?
You call that branding? Seriously?
We must be using different glossaries.
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Heck no, I don’t call that branding. Maybe I need to rewrite this post? Not everyone can afford the cost of a professionally designed logo or well crafted name. This is for them and that market.
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I’d recommend you rewrite/retitle the post. “Need a fast brand image/logo? Choose wisely” might be one idea. I think your intent is not reading as posted. You’re talking here about brand image development - not branding, per se. I’m sure you know the difference too!
And personally, I can’t imagine buying a logo online from a logo factory. But that’s just me. IncSping truly needs an education on what the word “brand” means.
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Yea, this is one where I didn’t communicate what my brain was saying and what I was writing. Anyway, I’ll take the heat!
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Ugh. Isn’t taking short cuts at critical moments (even if unknowingly) the worst practice in business? For this service to work a brand image would have to be redefined as “an arbitrary hodge podge of shapes and type that anyone can stick meaning to.”
I would use this service as an idea generator maybe, but how lazy or lost does a business owner have to be to need this service? In fact, if anyone were so out to lunch on marketing I highly doubt they could get so far with their business to necessitate a brand image.
Has anyone notices that most of the comments have !!!!!!! in them
But not mine! damn it!