This month, we’re delving into the fascinating world of branding. What exactly is branding? How do you go about it? Can a brand be changed? Why are my feet always cold? Oh, and what noise does a penguin make? Fear not. We’ll be tackling most of these burning questions in this month’s edition of the Bayou Bulletin!

Let’s dive right in! Suppose you own or work for a business – as most people do because that’s a very vague statement. How your business is presented to its target audience is the essence of branding. It’s more than just slapping a logo on the side of a building or ironing it onto a shirt! Branding is the lens through which the public recognizes and views your company. It is the overall experience your product or service provides.

Consider Bill, the proud owner of a woodworking shop where he crafts exquisite wooden stools. For years, Bill didn’t have to worry about his logo or whether he had a website because everyone knew Bill made the best wooden stools. Bill had no competition. Out of the blue, an online bookstore called Sahara – or something like that – starts selling wooden stools at a much cheaper price, delivering them straight to the customer’s door! In addition to incorporating shipping into his services, Bill now needs to rebrand his company to stay relevant and at the forefront of people’s minds for the same great product he’s always crafted.

Here’s another analogy you didn’t ask for: think of rebranding like a snake shedding its skin. Your company is the snake, and its brand is the skin. Every so often, the snake sheds its skin because it gets old, worn out, or simply doesn’t fit anymore. Sometimes, refreshing your brand is necessary to keep up with changes within your company and the world in which it operates. Every company rebrands to keep up with the times – it’s all part of the company’s lifecycle.

Now that you have a general understanding of what a brand is and its association with a company, it’s time to assess if your company needs rebranding or perhaps just a course correction in your branding strategy. Rebranding doesn’t necessarily mean a logo redesign, a name change, or even a slight alteration in color! A simple rebrand can involve adopting a new advertising style or strategy that aligns with your company’s new goals.

Oh, and before we move on, let’s tackle the mystery of cold feet. While it can be caused by various factors, the most common culprit is a lack of blood flow to your feet. Consider investing in a cozy pair of compression socks—trust us, your toes will thank you! Alternatively, shoot us an email, and we can hook you up with some personalized ones featuring your logo!

Also, penguins are known to make a honking sound, often described as a ‘gak.’ To truly appreciate this phenomenon, we suggest watching some videos—strictly for academic purposes, of course!

If you or your company is struggling to decipher branding or feeling uncertain about the next steps to take, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about branding, advertising, or marketing in general!