They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but we do it anyway. It could be the greatest story ever told, but if the presentation isn’t perfect, no one is going to bother to read it.
The same goes for your small business. People are judging you by your logo, the look of your business cards, the colors you choose … even your fonts.
Fair? Nope. Realistic? Absolutely.
Design can make or break your small business. Here are just a few reasons you may want to consider a makeover.
First Impressions Matter
How much time do you think you have to capture someone’s attention? Ten seconds? Five? Three?
Try 50 … milliseconds, that is. That’s about 1/20th of a second. For reference, the average duration of a blink is 100 milliseconds, meaning your design can make or break you in half the blink of an eye. And if that doesn’t scare you, it should.
Good Design Increases Recognition
Imagine you went to the grocery store and all the words were removed from every product. Which could you recognize immediately?
You’d probably be able to differentiate the Coca-Cola from the Pepsi based on the color of the cans. You’d know Betty Crocker products by the red spoon logo on their boxes. And the cereal aisle would be a breeze, because there’s no mistaking Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam and the Trix Rabbit.
That’s how important design is to your small business. It makes you instantly recognizable and sets you apart from the competition — for better or for worse.
Design Sets the Tone for Your Brand
Done correctly, your business’s design will attract your target audience. Think back to the cereal aisle in our wordless grocery store. Those brightly colored boxes with their cartoon mascots are clearly made for kids. But what about the rest?
Take Kellogg’s All-Bran, for example. The simply designed box with the red Kellogg’s logo across the top features a bowl of — wait for it — bran flakes. Simple, effective, and obviously targeted to people who love bran and/or want to increase their fiber intake.
There’s no confusion about which cereal is meant for the kids (and the kids at heart) and which is destined for Grandma’s pantry. Design has communicated that without saying a word.
Design Determines Trust
Bad news: Uncle Ronald had a few too many (again) last night and took the lawn tractor down to the corner store. The sheriff didn’t take too kindly to that, and he needs a lawyer — stat. Your friend recommends someone who got their family member out of a tough spot last year.
You pull up the law firm’s website. The Contact Us link sends you to their About Us page. There isn’t an inch of white space to be found. Their logo looks straight out of MS Paint. You’re pretty sure they’ve misspelled their own name.
Despite your friend’s glowing recommendation, are you going to let this guy defend Uncle Ronald? Probably not. He could be the real-life embodiment of Perry Mason, but his website screams My Cousin Vinny.
Good design breeds trust in your brand. Bad design makes people question your professionalism and competency.
Don’t Let Shoddy Design Derail Your Small Business!
From your website to your logos to your product packaging, design matters more than you think. What is your design saying about your small business?
Are you ready for a makeover? Let Mischa Communications give your business the royal treatment. It all starts here.