Time To Revamp Your Visual Identity?Written by Amanda Vlahakis
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How do you make it last a lifetime? If you are going to develop a new design then it needs to stand test of time. You should work with a good designer, who knows current trends and how to avoid anything ultra fashionable that will look dated in a year. A good design should last 20 years and should be solid enough to take slight adaptations or modernisations during this time. How do you keep your brand intact? Building a brand takes a long time and needs consistency, repetition and giving customers service they expect time and time again. You don’t want to alienate your existing customer base by a radical design change that they can’t relate to. If you want a change, consider using elements already in place such as one main colour or image, think about changes companies like Pepsi and Coke have made over time. A company with a strong logo and visual identity is taking first step in building an established and profitable brand. What you ultimately want to achieve is an identity which can evolve over time without noticeable change allowing you to maintain your core identity.
Truly Ace offers creative unique and cost effective logo design, commercial illustration, graphic design, and web design services.
| | Building Trust in Your Business Relationships - Ten TipsWritten by Martin Haworth
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Have No Favourites
Treat all of your people equally and show no favourites. I know this is tough - I found it tough, but it needs to be right. Have agreed principles and standards that everyone works to - sorry, but no exceptions.
Challenge Behaviour - Not Person
People make mistakes, do things wrong and need to be told. It's thing they did, not person they are. "You're useless", is not a good way to build trust, but, "That wasn't what I would expect of you usually, tell me more about what happened", works better.
Follow Through
If you say you are going to do something. Do it! Your people will love that you do what you say (or apologise at least if you find you can't). And it sets a great example.
Listen Attentively
There's a whole piece about this, but safe to say if you don't pay attention to people fully, they will not trust you. It's rude and it diminishes relationship.
Forgive Mistakes
Be generous. It is a value-creating action. People hate to get things wrong - they expect a 'bollocking' (as they say!). Help them with a learning from mistake. "What might you do next time?", is far more valuable.
Don't Talk Behind Backs
If you do this with anyone, they will always wonder what you say about them when they aren't there - and what are they saying about you - it's a bad habit. Building trust is vital if you, your people and your business are going to excel. Working on it is just a discipline. These points will help you.
© 2005 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com. (Note to editors. Feel free to use this article, wherever you think it might be of value - with a live link if you can).
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