Fleet Maker

Time To Revamp Your Visual Identity?

Look at your company logo. Does it fade into the background against other images you use to promote your company? Has it become dated? Does it still fit with your company vision? Is your message connecting with the customers you want?

Your visual identity is a vital tool in communicating the essence of your business. Before someone even buys a product or service from you, they formulate ideas about the business based on your logo and visual design. Having an identity which works can positively change how your customers perceive your business and put more money in your pocket. Don’t believe me? Think Nike, Apple, Coke, Rolex…the list goes on.

How do you make your visual identity come alive and attract customers to your business?

What is your message?

Businesses change and develop over time, so the message you need to communicate will change too. The first step is to decide what you want to communicate about the changes in your business - maybe the company is more modern in its approach to customers. You can use a new visual identity to communicate this. This can be achieved by a revamp of your logo, design and messaging or a completely new approach to all elements of your identity. Consistency is key when building a brand so when you revamp or change the design of your visual identity you must patiently and continually communicate the changes.

Who are you talking to?

You need to be aware of who your customer base is and if they understand and connect with the current visual identity of the company. Has your audience changed significantly over time? Maybe the current design worked for customers 20 years ago but leaves the new audience cold. Work out who you want to communicate with and what they will respond to.
How do you make it last a lifetime?

If you are going to develop a new design then it needs to stand the test of time. You should work with a good designer, who knows current trends and how to avoid anything ultra fashionable that will look dated in a year. A good design should last 20 years and should be solid enough to take slight adaptations or modernisations during this time.

How do you keep your brand intact?

Building a brand takes a long time and needs consistency, repetition and giving customers the service they expect time and time again. You don’t want to alienate your existing customer base by a radical design change that they can’t relate to. If you want a change, consider using elements already in place such as one main colour or image, think about the changes companies like Pepsi and Coke have made over time. A company with a strong logo and visual identity is taking the first step in building an established and profitable brand.

What you ultimately want to achieve is an identity which can evolve over time without noticeable change allowing you to maintain your core identity.

To find out more about making your visual identity come alive contact sales@trulyace.com

Brand Name Identity in the Oil Business

I submit to you that Brand Name Identity in the Oil Business is just a important today as it was when Mobil Oil and McDonalds were building their brands. Perhaps in the future it may even be more so. I have often seen others using our business name and sought either injunction or stern warning. As a matter of fact I am preparing a lawsuit against the Federal Trade Commission for using one of his Brand Names and Federal Trademark in their Key Words and Meta Tags on the Federal Website, to attract visitors; a lawsuit which would have enough case law behind it to slam down the Federal Trade Commission with the help of the US Patent and Trademark Office.

When picking a name or a company in the Oil Industry you might want to be cognizant of this fact. Usually things can be worked out and only one company is required to change their name or trade dress or perhaps a royalty agreement or non-compete with regards to specific markets can be reached. Check the case law with Mobil Oil Company before you negate the facts presented here in any topic of which might arise in Business Law Class at your University or even in conversation at the local Starbucks. Be sure anyone you do business with has a back-up plan in case of Trademark Infringement.

If you plan on buying a business opportunity or franchise make sure the seller has a trademark on the name. Make sure it is current and there are no disputes which might be cause for non-renewal. Think about it, changing the name once you start can cost you big time.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Corporate Gifts with Logo is Mileage for Money

Corporate gifts with logo are perhaps the most popular and widely used of all corporate gift ideas. Of course,
it makes perfect sense. If your company wants to give its employees or customers a gift, then obviously you want
them to remember you. What better way to make your company stand out in your customers’ memories than to give them
a corporate gift sporting your company’s logo? Corporate gifts with logos are an excellent idea for almost any
occasion, because almost any corporate gift you can think of can be imprinted with your company’s logo.

Common Corporate Gifts With Logo
Some of the most popular corporate gifts with a company logo include pens, note pads, caps, and key chains. But,
there are a lot of other great corporate gifts available such as mugs, t-shirts, flashlights, office supplies of all
kinds, and even computer accessories like mouse pads. All of these are items that can easily be produced with a
company logo, so get creative! What are some items that people need and use daily? These are the best options,
because they’ll be looked at every day, and so will your logo.

Imprinting A Logo
Depending on which corporate gift item you choose, there are some guidelines for the best way to imprint your logo.
Usually, the corporate gift items you choose will already be manufactured, and your company logo is only imprinted
on the quantity you order. So, typically there are some restrictions on the numbers of colors you can use in your
logo and the size at which the logo can be imprinted on the item. The exact guidelines will vary from item to item,
and they will also depend on the company you purchase your corporate gifts from.

In most cases, your logo will be no larger than an inch or two, so you want to choose a version of your company logo
that is simplified enough that it will be very legible at this size. Also, you will probably be limited by the number
of colors you are allowed to use in the logo for your corporate gifts. As a general rule, limit the number of colors
you use in your logo to two. This way, the people to whom you give your corporate gift will know at a glance what is
imprinted on it without having to study it for very long. These colors should also be in contrast with the
predominate color of the corporate gift. For instance, if you decide to give away caps as a corporate gift with
your logo, and the cap is blue, a good color for the logo might be white or yellow. Dark colors like red or black
would be bad choices because they won’t stand out against the blue fabric of the cap.

Giving away corporate gifts with logo is most effective when you’re giving your employees or customers something they
will look at and use on a regular basis. Imprinting your logo large enough to be legible and in colors that stand
out will make your corporate identity more recognizable too. If you follow these guidelines when choosing any
corporate gift with logo, you can’t go wrong.

For more great ideas on corporate gift giving solutions, visit Corporate Gift Ideas Guide