{"id":610,"date":"2021-08-30T17:43:52","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T17:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dorotacreates.com\/?p=610"},"modified":"2021-08-30T17:43:53","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T17:43:53","slug":"branding-packages-for-small-businesses-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dorotacreates.com\/branding-packages-for-small-businesses-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Branding Packages For Small Businesses! (Explained)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Having worked with small business owners many times before I know how confusing it can be to pick a branding package for your small business. In this blog post, we\u2019ll therefore explain thoroughly what you can normally expect from the different packages. First a quick answer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general, a small business can select one of two branding packages. The first package is normally a smaller package that includes the basics such as a mood board, logo design, color palettes, font choices, and a brand guidelines. The second package is larger and also includes a favicon, social media post templates, an extensive brand guide, and one or two collaterals such as business cards or e-mail templates.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, that doesn\u2019t tell the whole story. Below we\u2019ll explain in detail what every branding element actually means for you as a small business owner. Furthermore, we\u2019ll also discuss how much these packages normally cost, what fits you best and how long they generally take to be completed. Read on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small Business Starter Package<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let it first be clear that every small business is an entirely different beast. Therefore, there\u2019s never a one-size-fits-all package. For this particular reason, you\u2019ll normally see that brand designers have 1 \u2013 3 packages from which small businesses can choose. Most likely you\u2019ll always find a starter package in there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A starter package is a package for new entrepreneurs who are in the process of setting up their small business. This starter package provides you with a visual identity that serves as the foundation for your business. It will be the branding you will use in the upcoming years to speak and connect with your audience while also providing you with the necessary elements and guidelines to not worry about your branding in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general, a starter package will include the following deliverables: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mood Board<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Every, and I mean every, branding package should start with a proper foundation. This foundation is almost always a proper brand strategy and visual direction. A mood board is, as the name suggests, a visual board with a collection of inspirational elements that serve as the general guideline for the branding process. This works as follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before a brand designer can start working on your brand, he\/she should always have a clear starting point. Normally a brand designer will send you a brand questionnaire with multiple questions about the values of your brand, your target audience, your vision and mission, and visual elements that you find inspiring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, you and the designer will discuss this questionnaire thoroughly so that the designer has a clear image of what you would like your brand to represent. From here on a mood board is created which includes fonts, colors, patterns, and textures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Once the designer is done creating this mood board, you\u2019ll have a thorough talk about it to see if this is indeed the feeling you want your brand to radiate. The mood board is a very important element of a branding package because it serves as a backbone for future branding decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Primary Logo & Logo Alternatives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After the creation of the mood board, the designer will start on the actual brand identity of your small business. One of the first elements that will be created is a logo. For many business owners, this is one of the most important brand elements because it\u2019s the \u2018flag\u2019 of your business that will be seen everywhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, where a great branding package separates itself from an average one is the variety of logo\u2019s that you get. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You see, many new business owners don\u2019t realize that one logo is normally not sufficient. A logo appears on many different platforms and in a large variety of sizes. A logo that\u2019s displayed on the header of your website is going to look a lot different when it\u2019s also displayed as the profile picture of your Instagram. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Normally a brand designer will create three logos for a new small business owner: one primary logo, one alternative logo, and one sub-mark. Besides these logo\u2019s a brand designer should also always give you guidance about how to use each logo in different situations. More on that later in the \u2018style guide\u2019 section. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Color Palette<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A well-thought-out color palette is another important element for any branding package and especially for businesses that are just starting out. The reason for this is that colors are not only a very visual aspect of your brand, they also evoke and represent certain emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s therefore very important that you think about the values you want your small business to represent and what colors match this goal (Don\u2019t worry though! A good brand designer will do this for you). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Besides making sure that the values and colors match each other a brand designer also makes sure that the colors work together as a whole. As a general rule of thumb, a brand designer will provide you with a primary color, secondary colors (which are based on the primary color), and neutral colors (which, for example, are used as background colors). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Font Combination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve got a logo and colors you\u2019ll also need fonts. Most of the time a brand designer will pick the fonts and colors while simultaneously designing the logo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like colors, fonts also express certain emotions and should once again match the values and goals of your new business. Also, a font should simply be readable and understandable in different situations. Therefore, it also serves practical use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Expect a brand designer to deliver three fonts when you opt to go for a \u2018starter branding package\u2019: one font for headings, one for sub-heading, and one for the body of the text. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Branding Style Board<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, a brand designer should always give you a branding style board at the end of the branding process. This board is basically a very practical board with a clear overview of all the deliverables that have been created. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Branding Style Board for Lady Out of Office<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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For example, it will include the fonts and the font names, and the colors with the color codes. This doesn\u2019t only make it easier to create your own branding elements (such as social media posts) in the future. It also allows you to hand it over to somebody else who will immediately know what specific branding should be used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does A Small Business Start Package Cost?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In general, this kind of branding package for a small business will cost anywhere between $500 \u2013 $1,200. Anything lower than that and you\u2019ll most likely not get the results you\u2019re looking for. If the price is higher than this you\u2019re most likely not looking at a starter package anymore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personally, I charge $650 for the starter package which you can check out here.<\/a><\/strong> From my experience, this is a price that allows small businesses to get the results they want while also not breaking the bank!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Small Business Premium Package<\/h2>\n\n\n\n


If the starter package sounds a little too \u2018light\u2019 for you and your small business then you\u2019re most likely looking for a premium package. Premium branding packages are ideal for small business owners who have been around longer and now want to invest more heavily in their brand. It\u2019s also ideal for small business owners who know they need a strong visual identity for their brand from the get-go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we dive into this, let it be clear that this package already includes everything a \u2018starter package\u2019 has. Everything that\u2019s listed below is therefore an add-on to the starter package. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Favicon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Remember that we talked about logos? Well, in a premium package you should also expect to get a favicon. A favicon is a little logo that\u2019s displayed in your browser next to your URL when you visit your website. Since most small business owners that opt for this package have a website a favicon is, therefore, a very needed branding element. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social Media Post Templates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In my blog \u2018How To Rebrand On Instagram\u2019<\/a><\/strong> we already discussed the importance of branding on social media. These days every brand has a presence on social media and at the same time, this is also one of the best places to let your branding come to life.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chances are that your small business does indeed have a presence on social media. Why would you try to figure out how you can best brand your business on these platforms when you can have an experienced brand designer do it for you?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let it be clear that social media templates are not ready-to-post content. Rather, a designer will hand you a template and examples of how to use the colors, fonts and logos in what situations. For example, an Instagram story and an Instagram post could need different branding decisions to make sure they work flawlessly with the format. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, a brand designer can make several different variations of these templates to make sure there\u2019s a select variety of options to choose from while still being \u2018on brand\u2019. However, this depends strongly on your small business and your needs.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pattern Design<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Want to know how to give your brand a unique twist and how to make it stand out from all the other small businesses? Using patterns in your branding is definitely one of the options! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Patterns are an optional part of this branding package but they\u2019re great for small businesses that have actual physical products. These kinds of products look much more visually appealing with a pattern on them. Since people base their decision on whether or not to buy physical products on the way they look this can actually be a very smart business decision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pattern design is an optional part of this branding package and depending on your specific needs you can also swap it out for another marketing collateral. Let\u2019s see what the possibilities are here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One Marketing Collateral<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Marketing collaterals are the flexible part of this premium package. The reason for this is that when it comes to these kind of premium packages there shouldn\u2019t be a one-size-fits-all approach. I mean, a lifestyle coach is going to have different branding needs than a small physical business selling premium handbags. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to read more elaborately about these marketing collaterals, please read a blog I wrote earlier called \u2018What\u2019s Included In A Branding Package?\u2019<\/a><\/strong>. In that blog, I explain all the collaterals in detail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marketing collaterals include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n