Brand Reveal: Maika Endo Coaching 2.0 Part 2
4 PRACTICAL TIPS TO HELP YOU PREPARE FOR REBRANDING
This is the second part to my blog post Brand Reveal: Maika Endo Coaching 2.0 where I share the journey of my rebrand. In this article, I'm going to share 4 practical tips to help you prepare for (re)branding. Hopefully, this will demystify the process if you plan to start a (re)branding project for your business!
My rebrand project took only two weeks. How was that possible? Well, of course, there’s the fact that Jess - the designer behind Studio Crescent is talented, experienced, and professional, and she was able to deliver promptly after each round of feedback.
But compared to my previous experiences of collaboration with contractors, I noticed that I have also grown myself, and four practices and habits, in particular, had prepared me for this project:
Tip 1: Research and engage to take an empowered decision
Rather than focusing on one designer, I followed several designers for several months to study their work, website, approach, and ethos.
I encourage you to find at least five potential contractors whose work you admire.
Sign up to their newsletters. Engage with their content to see how they follow up and to get a glimpse of their behind-the-scenes, beyond their commercial "window." Does it feel streamlined? Do you enjoy the journey when you engage with the brand?
Little by little, you’ll narrow down your options and unfollow those that aren’t the best fit, and eventually you'll end up with just one.
Tip 2: Foster internal clarity in your business routines
A professional designer who is motivated to work with you will have a questionnaire to help them understand your vision and expectations. I had done the work already through my annual review and personal reflections and already had pages of thoughts in writing. All I needed to do was copy-paste and revise as needed. Jess got the feedback from me in a couple of days.
This reflective work could potentially be the most prolonged phase of the process, and thus, if you’ve done most of it already, everything will be smoother and more time-effective.
Essential questions to consistently and persistently ask yourself:
What do I do?
Who do I serve?
What were the pivotal moments that led me to do what I do today?
How would I describe my brand?
What do my clients say about my brand?
Tip 3: Create a dedicated folder to capture ideas and stay organized
I had created an Evernote notebook a few months before I reached out to Jess, when this was still just a seed in my head (the idea was conceived while I was doing my annual business review).
I saved website pages and Instagram posts that inspired me. Anything related to my brand upgrade would be dragged and dropped into my notebook: ideas for new Canva graphics, lists of where I would deploy my branding, my content pillar reflective process, etc.
My advice? A few months before you plan to start a branding project, create a folder where you can store all the things that may support you in the future in relation to the project. Think of it as developing a curated library of resources for your brand project. Your future self will thank you for it – trust me!
Tip 4: Check your financial capacity for peace of mind
I'm in the phase of my business where my processes are more established, I have a proven track record, I can better project my revenue, and I can see that my business is growing in tangible ways.
This is why I felt comfortable investing in professional services for my branding and my website in May.
Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can go a long way with DIY and low-cost designs – there are plenty of resources and contractors on Fiverr.com (affiliate link) and Creativemarket.com (affiliate link). That's what I did in my first year when I was still figuring things out.
I had my first brand graphics done this way in my first year when I started with a different service scope (website design and templates for wellness business owners).
Logo design
This was my first logo outsourced to a contractor found in Fiverr.com. I still outsource some tasks that way.
Having monetary constraints can push us to be even more creative, but whatever your financial situation, I encourage you to first check in with your finances before you decide to make this investment.
What I’ve observed (to repeat Tip 2) is that it's generally after a year or more of exploration and testing that we reach this clarity about our niche, vision, and offerings.
You don't have to have a professionally designed brand to work with clients. It's more about having the confidence to put yourself out there.
I did not rebrand and then find new clients – I rebranded after I was already doing the work, and I knew I was on the right path. The brand design pairing is the final step in a transformation that has already been happening internally and behind the scenes.
CONCLUSION
I hope this blog post helps you feel more confident about reaching out to a brand designer. This is not something that can be rushed but rather must be implemented methodically.
Don't ever feel pressured to speed up when you need time before rebranding; find solace in pausing and let the energy take you where it wants you to go – let's honor the gestation phase.
And don't feel shy when something doesn't feel right! Your brand is the visual embodiment of the soul of your business and will be deployed throughout your customer journey. You want to make sure it feels good and you're proud to share it with the world.
And if you ever need more support, you can book a Clarity Breakthrough Call with me. This is what I do; I help my clients clarify their vision, explore their whole identity, realign their brand, and structure their offering, and I accompany them throughout the process – meeting them where they are. I look forward to connecting with you.
To read the first of Brand Reveal: Maika Endo Coaching 2.0, click here.
About Maika Endo
Maika is a Business Coach and mentors heart-centered impact-driven entrepreneurs to build the foundations of their coaching & consulting business with her signature Intentional Business Building™ method. Her approach is holistic and integrates the entrepreneur mindset, ready-to-action marketing strategies, and systems to help create sustainable changes and long-lasting results. A lifelong passion for the human psyche, healing arts, and personal growth brought her to coaching. She’s French-born in Japan and currently lives in Istanbul with her family. She enjoys cooking, sparkling wine, and playing with her son outdoors.
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