QUICK BITES

Maintain Visual Consistency 🎨

Maintain a consistent color palette, fonts, and imagery style across all platforms to build trust and recognition. People spend a significant amount of time scrolling through their phones each day, so consistent visuals help your brand stay top-of-mind. 

Save Time with Templates ⏱️

Use templates to efficiently create on-brand graphics to streamline your content creation process. This not only saves time but also ensures that your graphics are consistent with your brand's aesthetic.

Add Your Logo or Watermark 🔒

Adding your logo or watermark to your images serves two purposes: it reinforces your brand identity and helps prevent others from using your content without permission.

BRAND BUILDING

Crafting A Visual Brand Identity That Resonates

Your brand is more than just a logo – it's the FEELING your audience gets when they interact with your content 🤗 So how do you stand out amid a sea of scrolling while leaving a memorable impression? With a well-thought out visual branding strategy. 

👤 Conveying Your Brand Personality And Values

Your visuals should reflect the feeling you want to evoke in your audience. Think of your brand as a person – what kind of personality would they have? Are they fun and playful, or serious and sophisticated? Your visuals should reflect this personality. 

For example, if your brand is all about wellness and tranquility, you might use calming colors like blues and greens, and images of nature. If your brand is bold and energetic, you might use bright colors and dynamic imagery.

📘 Defining Your Brand Aesthetic And Guidelines

Create a clear brand aesthetic and guidelines to ensure consistency across all your visual content. Your brand aesthetic should encompass everything from your color palette and fonts to your imagery style and overall vibe. 

Once you've defined your aesthetic, create a set of brand guidelines that outline how to use these elements consistently. This will ensure that all your visual content looks and feels like it belongs to the same brand, no matter who creates it.

💡 Tips For Creating Visuals That Align With Your Brand

• Invest in a Brand Photoshoot: A professional brand photoshoot can provide you with a library of high-quality, on-brand images that you can use across all your social media platforms. When planning your photoshoot, consider the services or products you offer, the emotions you want to evoke, and the overall aesthetic of your brand.

• Explore Free Stock Photo Websites: If a photoshoot isn't in your budget, there are plenty of free stock photo websites like Pexels and Unsplash where you can find beautiful images that align with your brand. 

• Create a Visual Library: Gather all the visual elements that represent your brand, such as your logo, color palette, fonts, and preferred image styles, in one place. This will make it easier for you to create consistent, on-brand content quickly and efficiently. I like to use a “Whiteboard” on Canva to collect all of my brand assets in one place. 

• Incorporate Textures and Elements: Don't limit yourself to just photos of your products or services. Incorporate textures, patterns, and other visual elements that reflect your brand's personality and values. For example, if your brand is rustic and earthy, you might use images of wood, stone, or plants. If your brand is modern and minimalist, you might use clean lines, geometric shapes, and negative space.

IN RELATED NEWS

📸 TikTok Now Prioritizes Photo Posts Over Videos

The platform recently updated its algorithm to favor still images over videos, aiming to give users a more balanced experience. Consider how this shift could impact your visual content strategy on TikTok. While no official announcement has been made, many users and social media experts have observed this shift in the algorithm.

 🟦 Will the Blue Check Influence Brand Aesthetics? 

With Meta's expansion of its paid verification service to Instagram, brands are now faced with a new visual element – the blue checkmark. How will this badge impact brand aesthetics and the overall visual identity on profiles? Will brands need to adjust their profile layouts or color palettes to accommodate this new symbol of authenticity?

⚠ AI-Generated Images Are Everywhere (But Proceed With Caution)

AI image generators like DALL-E and Midjourney are making a splash, creating visually stunning images from text prompts. Brands are experimenting with these tools to generate unique visuals for social media. However, it's important to be aware of the potential copyright issues and ethical considerations surrounding AI-generated art.

TOOL TIME

Why I ❤ Canva & ChatGPT

Canva: Your Design BFF

Canva is a game-changer for small businesses. It's like having a professional designer on your team, without the hefty price tag. I use it to create everything from social media posts and stories to presentations and even print materials. Its drag-and-drop interface and extensive library of templates make it a must-have for any brand looking to elevate their visual content. 

ChatGPT: Your Branding Buddy

I have experimented with using ChatGPT to generate an outline for brand guidelines. Input your mission, vision, and values, and ask for a brand voice and tone that embodies your messaging. This will help you maintain consistency in your communication and create a cohesive brand experience. 

For example, you can prompt ChatGPT with, "My brand is a wellness company focused on holistic health and mindfulness. Our mission is to empower individuals to live their healthiest and happiest lives. Can you help me create a brand voice and tone that reflects our values and resonates with our target audience?"

You can ask follow-up questions, like “What colors and imagery should I use to visually reflect the voice and tone?” 

JOIN THE SOCIAL CLUB

Want to learn how to use Canva templates like a pro? Join The Social Club and gain access to exclusive tutorials, resources, and a supportive community of fellow brand builders. 

This DIY club gives you custom daily captions to post on your social media platforms AND daily Canva templates that you can easily customize with your brand colors.

Yes, please! 

PS — If DIY isn’t your thing, I’m officially accepting social clients again, so head over and book a discovery call! ☎️