Is your Header Branding Team Wearing the Same Uniform?
When I talk to people about their visual branding they immediately think about their printed sales materials — business cards, letterhead and brochures.
Often the one branding item that is “out there” as the first touch is not even mentioned. The website. And another item that is one of the key selling tools isn’t thought about either: the sales PowerPoint.
I believe that there are four electronic headers that need to visually tie together for strong visual branding:
- Website Header
- PowerPoint Header
- E-Newsletter Header
- Blog Header
Each of these items shouldn’t be the same, but they need to incorporate elements of your branding — color, icon, logo. Each needs to have a consistency in use.
Take a minute today and look at your four electronic headers. Have they been playing on the same team? Or does it look like their uniforms were selected by different coaches?
September 5th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
While I do agree with you in Principle, I would argue that the needs of the website visitor need to be prioritized above the marketing needs of the company. Many websites are so well “branded” that their bandwdth and their usability are not even “on the roster.”
Using just enough branding to create consistency but not enough to create visitor satisfaction is very important to website success?
James Shewmaker
http://rainmakerwebsites.com/
September 19th, 2008 at 8:05 am
I am curious why you did not include email header on this list. I am biased as we provide an “on-the-fly” service to our clients and design email stationery which incorporates their branding into their email banner.
It is still a mystery why so few people see the benefit of branding their email with more than a signature.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Mike:
I didn’t include an email header because I find that so many of the headers companies send me don’t open correctly in the body of the email. Especially I find that people are reading email on their phones and if you’ve ever opened an email header in a phone you’d see why.
E newsletters don’t seem to have that same problem as often. What program do you use to send the “on-the fly” service to your clients? Send me an email with an example, I’d like to see it!
Thanks,
Chris