| When you start a new business, you have so many | | | | marketing or advertising people, like copywriters and |
| tasks to accomplish, it can seem like you’ll never | | | | designers. You want to make sure you are sending |
| see the end of the tunnel. To help you out, it’s a | | | | the right message from the beginning so that you |
| good idea to delegate some tasks that you aren’t | | | | don’t have to keep paying copywriters to rewrite |
| an expert on – like marketing and branding | | | | your brochures and other marketing materials. This will |
| strategies. | | | | save you money on catalog, brochure and booklet |
| Your brand is very important to your business. Your | | | | printing among any other kind of print materials you |
| brand is your business’s personality – it’s all | | | | use – you’ll get it right the first time. |
| about your packaging, your advertising, your name, | | | | Who should I choose? |
| your logo – everything that presents your company | | | | The easiest way to choose a branding professional is |
| and products to the world. | | | | to do some research on the Internet. Just Google |
| Branding is not something to take lightly – and hiring | | | | “branding agency” or “public relations |
| a branding professional to help you through the | | | | agency.” Many PR firms offer branding services as |
| process can work wonders for you. Here are some | | | | well as their PR services. You can also check out |
| answers to the questions you probably have about | | | | marketing and advertising firms. Look through their |
| hiring a branding professional: | | | | Web sites for samples of their work, and pick out the |
| Why should I hire a branding pro? | | | | company that impresses you the most. |
| A branding pro can take a look at your business plan | | | | Another way to find a great branding pro or branding |
| (or if you already have a business, evaluate it how | | | | firm is to look at other companies in your industry and |
| your business runs) and assess your industry | | | | pick out the ones you think do the best at |
| marketplace to recommend a brand image. You can | | | | communicating their brands. Call or email them and ask |
| hire someone to just help you with the visual elements | | | | who they used to do their branding. |
| (color palette, logo, font choices), or you can hire | | | | And, how much is this going to cost me? |
| someone who can help you decide not only the visual | | | | Well, it depends on how much branding help you want. |
| elements, but how you package your product and | | | | If you just need help with your visual elements, it’ll |
| how you answer your phone. | | | | probably cost a few thousand dollars. If you need |
| When should I hire a branding pro? | | | | someone to do more, like design your packaging and |
| Anytime you need a brand overhaul, or even when | | | | help you brainstorm exactly what you want your |
| you are just starting your business. Even if you | | | | brand to convey, it could costs tens of thousands of |
| haven’t picked a name for your business, a | | | | dollars. It also depends on who you’re working with. |
| branding pro can help. Your branding pro might even | | | | If you work with senior branding pros, it could cost |
| help you name your business, if you want that input. | | | | upwards of $200 an hour. For junior-level pros, maybe |
| After all, your company name is also a part of your | | | | $50-$100 an hour. Bigger branding companies tend to |
| brand. | | | | charge more than freelance branders. Basically you |
| You should hire a branding pro before you hire other | | | | get what you pay for in the branding arena. |