photo by Rachel Claire
If you're a small business owner, you might be wondering if you need a logo or a brand. A logo is a visual representation of your business, made up of symbols, words, or a combination of both. It helps create recognition and is used on things like business cards, websites, and signage. A brand, however, is a bit broader. It includes the logo but also, for example, typography, iconography, messaging, personality, values, and customer experience. This helps build a strong emotional connection with your customers. When deciding if you need a logo or a brand, consider these factors first:
What stage of business you're in
When you're just getting started, a logo might be all you need or what your budget allows. But as your business grows and matures, you may want to consider a more comprehensive brand identity.
Your business's goals
If you want to create a recognizable visual representation of your business, sticking with a logo may be the way to go. If, however, you're looking to build an emotional connection with customers and stand out from the competition, you may want an extensive branded business.
Who your target audience is
If your target audience is highly visual and relies on quick recognition, having a logo might be key. But if your target audience values a strong brand identity and emotional bond with your business, a complete brand identity could be the better option.
Other factors
There are other factors to consider such as what kind of impression and experience you want to give to your customers or if you've seen a pattern of confusion in what your business is or does. I suggest you have a consultation with a brand expert to figure out your unique business's needs and wants, any problems to resolve, and the brand's health.
Whether you decide to go with a logo or a brand identity, it's important to think about your business's goals and needs. A logo may be enough to get you started, but as your business grows you may want to consider a more comprehensive brand identity.
It's still extremely hard to hear people in the roundtable rooms.
Roundtables are literally round tables where one presenter at each talks about one topic. The presentations are occurring simultaneously. Each presentation is supposed to last 15 minutes, and then you switch to another table/topic. You choose whatever topics interest you. As you can imagine, having 10 or more tables in a room with at least 10 presenters talking plus attendees asking questions and general chatter happening, it can get pretty loud. It could be better if each topic was in a different room or spread out in an open outdoor space.
Presentation materials can sometimes be non-accessible.
Due to the internet issues, presenters should be aware that we can't always load their follow-along materials or sign up with their lists immediately during the class. One suggestion would be a list of materials sent out by the summit of the presenters and their materials ahead of time or immediately after the conference. Online summits do this sometimes and it's super helpful!
It's tough to commute back and forth each day to the conference.
The commute did offer financial benefits. However it added to the length of the exhausting day. But seeing very excited dogs at the end of a long day makes it worth it.
The evening meetups are definitely worth going to.
Eating dinner with new connections and friends afterwards is a welcomed bonus!
It was great to have the entire hotel to ourselves.
Moving through the hotel, finding spaces to talk, and grabbing a table for food was so much easier.
When free headshots are available, take the opportunity.
If a new photographer friend offers them too, even better! Even if you happen to not be wearing any makeup and your hair is pulled back into a ponytail, the new connection and showing trust in an expert to do a wonderful job is more important.
Photo by Krista Mason Photography | @kristamasonphotography
Rethink scheduling an important lunch at the end of a long week.
When a client invited me to lunch with their team, I excitedly said yes! However, it was at the tail end of the conference and I was exhausted. My social cup was drained and I was very quiet during the lunch despite honestly having a great time. I'm sure no one thought I was being weird or anti-social, but if I could do it over, I think I would pick a time before the conference started or left myself a day to recharge so I could be fully present to enjoy lunch with a great client.
