There are dozens of options for creating additional branded materials. But, before you run off and pour thousands of dollars into designing everything you might need, consider this list of 4 of the most effective brand kit additions for consultants:

1. A mailing label. Make your mail look more professional with simple Avery labels. Design full pages of them in Microsoft Word and then print a page or two at a time, as needed. You won’t have to pay for envelopes, and changing your address won’t mean throwing a lot of labels out.
2. A presentation folder. If you make a lot of presentations, or mail out information or proposals, then a presentation folder can help make a solid impression. Custom-printing a whole folder can be costly, and the minimum orders are typically high (500 folders). Invest less by finding a colored presentation folder, with a heavy paper weight, at an office supply store or paper warehouse. You can also order them online at a retailer like http://www.blank-folders.com/
3. A thank-you card or general-purpose blank card. Correspond with your clients, thank referral sources and keep the conversation open by sending cards. People still open hand-addressed mail, and the extra effort of sending a real card will be appreciated.
4. A PowerPoint template. If you give talks, host webinars or present proposals in PowerPoint, custom-branding your template extends your brand and shows that you’re not like everyone else in your field.

By: Erin Ferree

How do you design a marketing kit that will make you look professional in your meetings, but not break the bank?

Here are the basics you’ll need:

1. Design a logo. This should be a text logo at the very least – designed in an interesting font whose meaning is tied into your business’s personality. A logo with a graphic and text is best!
2. You’ll need a business card. This is an essential tool for client meetings, networking and marking other opportunities. Who knows when you’ll need to give away a card?
3. A Microsoft Word letterhead. You should design a document header with your logo and contact information. This element can also be imported into Quickbooks to brand your invoices. Keeping it digital cuts costs and allows you to email PDF attachments that are branded as well.
4. A blog or website. A WordPress blog can be more affordable to design – especially if you base your design off of a template like Thesis. And, you’ll be able to add to it and maintain it yourself. You’ll have more control over the design of a standard website. Ask your designer which option will best fit your needs and budget.

That’s it for a perfect “basic” brand kit. Watch this blog for my next post, on a few additional options you can add to your arsenal.

By: Erin Ferree

There are 3 main types of logos that a consultant can choose to use for their business. Each has advantages and disadvantages for the consultant. Here are explanations and samples of each type, to help you choose the best match for your consultancy.

Combination logo: The most effective option for creating a consultant’s logo is to make a logo that contains both a graphic and your company name. This approach is called a combination logo. This type of logo contains both a memorable logo graphic that tells the story of who you are, what you do, and what makes you different as well as spelling out your business name for easy identification. One big advantage of this type of logo is that it combines an image and text – and having both combined will make the logo more memorable for viewers.

Text logo: A logo can be as simple as having your company name typeset in a unique font. The company name can have a small graphic embellishment – like an underline, or it can appear on a colored background. This is a simple approach that can work for many consultants. If you do go this route, you’ll miss out on some of the benefits that you can get by including a graphic in your company name – namely, that your logo won’t have an image in it to help clients remember it. However, if your company name is long, this approach will help you to keep the logo as clean and simple as possible. And, if your consultancy’s services or goals may change over time, there is no danger of your icon becoming inappropriate – since you don’t have one.

Symbol-only logo: You can design a logo that’s a symbol only (think Apple Computers or Nike). This approach is not recommended for consultants, though, because this type of logo takes a big investment in brand education to build up the association of your business name with the logo. Without that association, the logo will not have any meaning to the viewer, and will not help to build your brand.

By: Erin Ferree

A logo is an important tool for a consultant because it gives your business an identity and a face of its’ own. This gives you four major benefits:

1.   Makes your business look established, stable and successful. People want to do business with businesses that have experience, who will be there for them in the future (and in some consulting areas, this translates to just being around and available to complete the project!), and who are good at what they do. Investing in creating a logo can show your prospects that you fill these qualifications.

2. Makes your business look bigger and more official. This is the difference between positioning yourself as a freelancer and a consultant. Without a logo, you’re just a person, working by themselves, in a spare bedroom in your house. With a logo, you suddenly become a business –- and you’ll carry the increased credibility that brings with it. This credibility will help to assure your potential clients that you can handle their project.

3.   Gives you an image to place on your marketing materials. Having an image on your marketing materials instead of just text will make your materials look more visually interesting. More visual interest makes it more likely that your materials will be picked up, read and retained by potential clients. This isn’t to say you should stop at the logo when adding graphics to your materials, but it’s an excellent start.

4.   Contributes to your marketing’s consistency. Starting all of your marketing pieces with your logo will help you to create a consistent set of marketing pieces. Making sure your marketing pieces are consistent will help your clients to recognize each of your pieces as yours. And, as they receive or see more of your marketing, they will see your marketing message repeated again and again. This repetition will help them to remember you when they have a need for your consulting services.

By: Erin Ferree