One of the most common inquiries I receive is from the frustrated boss lady who is tired of living with a visual brand that just doesn’t fit anymore. Like a pair of worn out shoes or a too-small top, a tired visual brand can simply suck the life out of you! Many boss ladies reach out to me about breathing new life into their branding, whether that’s a total overhaul or a strategic touch-up, and often times they don’t understand the difference between the two. You’d be amazed at how these seemingly similar concepts have such starkly different applications when it comes to your brand! So today, let’s take a peek at what it means to rebrand vs. refresh your brand, and how these two concepts can totally spiff up your visual brand presence.

Maybe you’re feeling like your logo and coordinating visuals simply aren’t a great fit for you anymore. Maybe your business has grown by leaps and bounds, and consequently has left that beginning logo of yours in the dust. That’s okay! Growth is something to be celebrated, and that frustrating feeling of limitation that comes from wearing a brand that’s a poor representation of your business’s capabilities is something that should be addressed ASAP. If you feel your branding is a poor representation of your business, your services, or your level of skill, then it’s time for a change, friend.

So what options do you have? Well, you can choose to either rebrand or refresh your existing brand! Often times we go for the term “rebrand” without giving it a second thought, when perhaps we don’t intend to totally overhaul our existing color palette, typefaces and more. When a client seeks out a rebrand, they intend to completely redesign their existing materials and start from scratch. This often works best when the previous logo was never a great fit for their business, or if they’re changing focus and moving in a new direction with their business. A full rebrand that involves totally new designs does offer a blank slate, but it also may be confusing for brands with large followings or loyal fan bases who are familiar with an existing visual brand and logo. If that’s the case, then it’s incredibly important to clue your audience in on the big changes ahead! Let them know a redesign is in order, and invite them to be a part of the process through behind-the-scenes photos and posts, as well as sharing the evolution of your new brand from the old. A full rebrand often involves new visuals, a new set of designs, as well as updated messaging. Although the brand’s name will stay the same, little else will.

But brand updates don’t always have to be so drastic! A brand “refresh” looks like making strategic updates here and there to reflect new growth, a shift in company focus or appealing to a more specific target market. This is a great option for the boss lady who loves her current brand, but thinks it could be a little snazzier. In a refresh, colors are often updated, logos are tweaked ever-so-slightly, and new complimentary designs are added to a suite to enhance it’s usability. A brand refresh enables a brand to remain current and easily identifiable to it’s loyal fan base, but with room to grow and keep up with current trends. Although your audience won’t be completely confused by your updated look, it’s still important to educate them on the change and share with them the rationale behind the fresh look.

Could a brand refresh or rebrand be in order for your business? If so, what approach do you think will help you reach the desired result? Sound off in the comments below, or get in touch to chat more about this exciting time for your brand!