3 simple steps to navigate the blending of marketing & design roles

canva

Over the past few years, we’ve seen the boundaries blurring between marketing roles & design roles. More & more we’re seeing designers, traditionally tasked with bringing creative visions to life, now being pressured to measure their work’s ROI. Meanwhile, marketers are turning to DIY design tools like Canva or Adobe Express, blurring the line between … Read more

How to write an effective rebrand RFP

In this guide, we’ll explore how you can create an effective rebrand request for proposal (RFP). Whether you’re an in-house brand manager or a CTO, our guide to developing an effective RFP document will give you the information you need to create the perfect request document.  What Is A Rebranding Request For Proposal? A Rebranding … Read more

Co-working Space Birmingham

Welcome to the vibrant city of Birmingham, where collaboration and creativity thrive!  We’re biased, but we love the city of Birmingham, and we’ve even switched our office for a co-working space in the heart of the city! If you’re an entrepreneur or a small team looking for a dynamic and inspiring workspace we’ve compiled a … Read more

What Are Brand Guidelines?

What Are Brand Guidelines? A Comprehensive Guide to Crafting and Implementing Brand Consistency. In today’s fierce business landscape, consistent branding is paramount for success. This definitive guide unravels brand guidelines’ intricacies and central importance, serving as your steadfast compass in a world oversaturated with competing messages. These guidelines are the backbone of your brand’s public … Read more

Crafting a compelling value proposition

Crafting a compelling value proposition Words like ‘innovation’ and ‘differentiation’ are often thrown around. But at the core of these ideas that’s where the concept of the value proposition comes into play. It’s the promise of the value your product or service will deliver to customers. Essentially, it’s the primary reason a customer should buy … Read more

Navigating the Fields of UX, Graphic Design, and Web Design

Are you eager to dive into a career in UX, graphic design, or web design? Let’s delve into a thorough guide that unravels the career avenues in these dynamic domains, offering insights that might be your stepping stone to success. The surge of adept professionals in these areas is ever-growing, so there’s a whole world … Read more

How Digital Marketing Affects Consumer Behavior

The Digital Dance: Consumer Behaviour’s Evolution In our transformative digital age, the steps and rhythm of our dance with technology become more intricate. The relationship between digital marketing and today’s consumer is like a complex and enthralling waltz. Understanding this relationship is akin to mastering the steps of a dance. We find ourselves amidst a … Read more

The Importance of UI & UX in B2B Sales

Oh, the glitzy world of B2B sales! Every detail matters, and guess what’s at the forefront? Yup, the design and user-friendliness of digital platforms. Dive into this digital rabbit hole and discover why an ace User Interface (UI) and a slick User Experience (UX) can be your sales magic wand. 1. UI and UX: The … Read more

B2B Logo Design: Crafting A Powerful Brand Identity for Success

In the complex maze of the contemporary B2B marketplace, establishing a unique presence is imperative. A remarkable logo acts as a brand’s beacon, drawing attention and aiding retention. It’s been shown that individuals form a first impression of a logo in a mere 10 seconds. Furthermore, a logo often requires 5-7 distinct impressions to be … Read more

How to Develop a Lead Generation Strategy and Drive Business Growth

Ensuring a consistent stream of potential customers is more crucial than ever and lead generation plays a crucial role in driving growth and success. It’s not merely about identifying possible interests; it’s about nurturing that connection into a meaningful business relationship and, eventually, a loyal client. Let’s delve into lead generation in a detailed yet accessible … Read more

Why Connecting Your Brand Online and Offline is Critical for Consistent Experiences

Introduction: In today’s intricate business landscape, brand consistency remains at the heart of every successful enterprise. With its vast platforms and tools, the digital age demands a seamless representation of brands. Yet, the physical offline channels have retained their relevance. To truly thrive, businesses must orchestrate a symphony of consistency across both realms. The Foundations … Read more

An eCommerce Website Launch Checklist for Online Success

Ready to take the leap into the online marketplace? Setting up an eCommerce website is your gateway to the vast world of digital retailing. A well-tailored website paves the way for attracting and retaining customers and lays the groundwork for achieving business success. A successful eCommerce venture requires thorough preparation, intricate design, secure operations, and … Read more

Free Brand Strategy Toolkit: Empowering Your Brand for Success

Welcome to the Free Brand Strategy Toolkit: an essential resource designed to empower your brand for success. In this comprehensive toolkit, you’ll find everything you need to develop a strong brand strategy that will shape the direction and perception of your brand, leading to increased business success. Let’s explore the key components and features of … Read more

Developing an Effective Brand Strategy: Building a Strong Foundation for Success

A clear-cut brand strategy is vital for success. It acts as the driving force shaping every facet of your business, from pivotal decisions to how customers perceive you. This article dives into the essentials of building a strong and efficient brand strategy, offering keen insights and advice to lay a robust foundation for enduring success. … Read more

The Importance of Branding: Building a Strong Identity and Competitive Advantage

A clear-cut brand strategy is vital for success. It acts as the driving force shaping every facet of your business, from pivotal decisions to how customers perceive you. This article dives into the essentials of devising an efficient brand strategy, offering keen insights and advice to lay a robust foundation for enduring success. Understanding Brand … Read more

Understanding Brand Accountability: Building Trust and Responsibility

Brand accountability has emerged as a significant element of trust establishment and an essential component of portraying a conscientious corporate image. This article will dissect the notion of brand accountability, stressing its pivotal role in upholding brand reputation and winning over customer allegiance. I. Defining Brand Accountability Exploring the Concept of Brand Accountability At its … Read more

How to Create Brand Sustainability Online: Building a Strong and Resilient Digital Presence

Where a brand’s longevity is at stake, brand sustainability has emerged as a linchpin for enduring success. So, what is brand sustainability in this context? And how does one foster it amidst the ever-shifting sands of online dynamics? Understanding the Digital Landscape and Brand Sustainability At its core, brand sustainability encapsulates its prowess in maintaining … Read more

The Squibble Rebrand Checklist: A Step-by-Step Guide to a Successful Brand Transformation

Welcome to the Squibble Rebrand Checklist, a comprehensive guide to help you navigate through the process of a successful brand transformation. In this guide, we’ll provide you with a systematic approach to ensure a smooth and effective rebranding process. I. Assessing the Need for a Rebrand Before diving into a rebrand, it’s crucial to assess … Read more

Successfully Launching a Rebrand: Strategies for a Smooth Transition

Rebranding has emerged as a vital strategy for companies aiming to stay relevant and seize fresh opportunities. A rebrand marks a significant shift in a company’s journey. It presents a chance to reshape its identity, values, and market stance. However, an effective rebrand involves more than merely introducing a new logo or visual theme. It … Read more

The Core Principles of a Rebrand: Revitalising Your Brand for Success

The definition and importance of a rebrand must be balanced. A rebranding effort involves reshaping and repositioning your brand to adapt to changing market dynamics and ensure longevity. Staying relevant and competitive in the market is crucial for sustained success and growth. I. Understanding the Need for a Rebrand Recognising the Signals for a Rebrand … Read more

How to Conduct a Brand Audit: A Comprehensive Guide for Businesses

Understanding the Importance of a Brand Audit In today’s competitive business landscape, a strong and well-defined brand is crucial for success. However, as market trends and consumer preferences evolve, it’s essential for businesses to periodically evaluate and fine-tune their brand strategies. This is where a brand audit comes into play. A brand audit is a … Read more

How to Conduct a Brand Audit: A Comprehensive Guide for Businesses

Understanding the Importance of a Brand Audit In today’s competitive business landscape, a strong and well-defined brand is crucial for success. However, as market trends and consumer preferences evolve, it’s essential for businesses to periodically evaluate and fine-tune their brand strategies. This is where a brand audit comes into play. A brand audit is a systematic evaluation of your … Read more

How to Measure the Success of Your Rebrand

A rebrand can be a tricky beast to navigate. When done correctly, it can make a big difference in your sales, brand awareness and so much more, but tracking and measuring the true impact of a rebranding project can be a difficult task in itself. In this guide, we give you all the information on … Read more

User Experience vs User Interface

User Experience vs User Interface Dropping the terms UX or UI into a casual conversation is a surefire way to stop it in its tracks, but if you’re a business owner, you ignore these two design principals at your peril. User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design are critical components of successful digital product … Read more

How to Build Brand Consistency into Your Digital Design

From managing budgets to researching competitors, marketing managers do it all. With so much on your plate, it’s easy to forget the basics, but brand consistency should never be overlooked. 

According to the 2022 Consumer Research Report, companies with established brand consistency could expect customers to pay a whopping 46% more for a brand they trust. This trend is growing exponentially because they also report that the stat has increased from 30% in 2021. Sounds like a ride most marketing managers would want to get on!

Revisiting the brand consistency in your website design will save you a lot of time and headaches down the road. Not only will it make your brand more recognizable and trustworthy, but it will also boost your long-term sales and strengthen your pricing power

Read on for essential tips on how to build brand consistency into your current website design.

A desktop computer with a web page is sitting on a wooden desk. In front of the larger screen sits a smaller laptop, with its screen depicting another web page from the same website, illustrating the use of consistent branding and colors for websites.

Photo byDomenico Loia onUnsplash

What is Brand Consistency?

We throw the words “brand consistency” around like they’re going out of style, but what do they really mean? At its simplest, brand consistency ensures that your company’s visual identity is applied consistently across all touchpoints. This includes (but is not limited to) your website, social media channels, marketing collateral, and even physical products.

When done right, brand consistency creates a cohesive experience for your customers and helps them quickly understand your product, service, and message. It also makes life as a business owner or brand manager much easier because you don’t have to constantly reinvent the wheel whenever you create new marketing collateral.

Benefits of Brand Consistency

As a business looking to scale, it’s essential to have consistent branding across all platforms. Your customers should be able to identify your company no matter where they see your name or logo. Brand consistency helps build trust and recognition, leading to more sales and loyal customers. In fact, companies that focus on brand consistency can increase their profits by up to 20%!

Below are other benefits you’ll experience when focusing on your brand consistency.

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First impressions matter

First-time visitors to your website will make snap judgments about your company based on your design. If your plan is consistent with your brand, visitors will get a positive first impression that will motivate them to stay on your site and learn more about your company. 

Brand recognition

A consistent design across all of your digital channels will help build recognition for your brand. Visitors who see a consistent strategy will be able to remember and recognize your brand in the future.

Trust and credibility

A consistent design conveys to potential customers that you’re a credible and trustworthy company.

Higher conversion rates

With increased name recognition comes increased conversion rates – that is, leads who are familiar with your brand are more likely to do business with you.

Reduced marketing costs

A consistent design means less time and money spent on marketing and advertising initiatives and less on rebranding or redesigns down the road.

Photo depicts a mountainous scene with a quaint village and a beautiful blue sky. The colors are in muted earth tones and there are colorful hot air balloons rising into the sky.

This a perfect example of using natural, grounded colors to complement the image and purpose of the brand. Photo courtesy of Visme.co

The Importance of Color in Visual Brand Consistency

One of the pivotal aspects of building brand consistency is using colors that represent your company in a positive light. Colors can grab attention, create an emotional response, and even convey information. When choosing colors for a website re-design or new app, consider the message you want to send your users.

One way to ensure consistency is to utilize color theory in your digital platforms. Color theory studies how colors interact with each other and can be used to create a cohesive color palette for your site. 

Check out these tips on using color theory to create a consistent brand identity when re-branding or reassessing your current site design.

Pick a color scheme that represents your brand

Your color palette should be representative of your brand identity. If you want your site to feel warm and welcoming, use colors like red, orange, and yellow. For a more modern look, go with cool colors like blue and green. You can also use neutrals like black, white, and gray to create a versatile palette that can be used for any type of design. 

Use your colors consistently throughout your site

Once you’ve chosen your colors, use them consistently throughout your site. This means using the same colors for links, buttons, and other elements. If you want to add some variation, try experimenting with shading and hues of your primary color or create a contrasting color scheme.

Make sure your colors are legible

When it comes to digital design, legibility is key. You need your audience to be able to read the text on your website easily, and that means using colors that provide good contrast. Try reading the text on your website with different color combinations to see which is easiest on the eyes.

A white screen has the word AIR written across it in bold black letters. A MacBook Air computer has been horizontally placed across the letters, cutting them in half and becoming the middle bar in the A, demonstrating how to effectively use whitespace and still get the message across about the product being light and compact.

A unique and creative example of how to effectively use whitespace from Apple. Photo courtesy of impactplus.com.

Embrace Whitespace

With the market as volatile as it is, marketing managers have to move fast and embrace change. But when it comes to design, there’s one thing you need to be consistent about: whitespace. Whitespace is the empty space around elements on a page. It’s an integral part of any design but often overlooked because it contains no “content.”

However, whitespace is crucial for creating your designs’ clean, modern look. It also makes your content easier to consume; in fact, studies have shown that when people are given too much information at once, they tend to feel overwhelmed and have difficulty processing it all. 

This is where whitespace comes in to help you create a more cohesive design. You can help reduce eye strain and improve attention spans by including plenty of whitespace in your digital designs. 

So how do you go about incorporating whitespace into your designs? Here are a few tips: 

  • Use margins and padding to create whitespace around elements 

  • Group related elements together with negative space in between 

  • Use empty space to break up long blocks of text 

  • Use whitespace to highlight important elements 

Keep your designs clean and uncluttered by following these tips, and it will help you create digital designs that are both visually appealing and easy to navigate.

What the Font?

Established businesses must continuously evolve in order to keep up with their competitors, which keeps the marketing team on its toes. One crucial but often overlooked aspect is font choice in web design. Your website is usually the initial interaction potential customers have with your company, so the content needs to look great and be easy to understand.

So, when was the last time you took a good, hard look at the font on your website? When you do, you want to ensure the font is legible and easy to read. Next, the font should be appropriate for the tone of your website. And lastly, the font should be consistent with the rest of your branding. 

Here are a few tips for choosing new fonts that will help build brand consistency into your digital design:

  • Use two or three fonts max. Your web design should use two or three fonts at the most. This will help create a consistent look and feel across your website, making it appear more professional. Too many fonts can make your site look cluttered and unprofessional. 

  • Use easy-to-read fonts. The fonts you use on your website should be easy to read, which is especially important for body text. You want people to read your content easily without straining their eyes. 

  • Stick to common fonts. There are thousands of fonts, but you should stick to standard fonts pre-installed on most computers. This will ensure that your website looks the same for everyone who visits it. 

  • Use font sizes that don’t cause eyestrain. The font size you use on your website should be large enough to be easily readable (without needing to grab bifocals). Body text should be around 16px or larger. Headings can be a bit smaller but still need to be legible.

Your font choice says a lot about your brand and should convey the tone of your business. For example, a playful font might not be appropriate for a law firm or a funeral home. Also, you might be tempted to choose a custom font, but using a widely available font ensures that your site will render correctly for everyone who visits it.

 

Pictures is a YouTube Thumbnail depicting a red background with white block writing saying "HubSpot: About Us, Our Story." There is an older gentleman wearing a brown jacket on the right side of the frame.Video is a great way to share your story and get personal with your customers. Picture courtesy of HubSpot.com.

Make it Personal

Your customers want to know the face behind your name. When they feel they have a personal connection to you, they are likelier to remain loyal to your brand. So don’t be afraid to show some personality on your website! 

A mission statement is a great starting point to introduce yourself to customers, but keep it brief, to the point, and focused on what you can do for them. Does your company have a mission statement? 

If you do, when was the last time you revisited it? Goals change over time, and people come and go. It’s your job as a marketing manager always to update the company image to better connect with your customers.

There are many ways you can then express your core values to your customers on your website, including: 

  • Using first-person pronouns such as “we” or “our” 

  • Including a personalized message from the founder on the homepage 

  • Engagingly telling your brand story throughout the site 

  • Featuring customer testimonials and case studies prominently 

All these elements will help give your website visitors a sense of what it would be like to do business with you. If they can see themselves reflected in your brand, they’re more likely to become customers. 

A webpage for Eurostock investment business is covered with a background of a blue-grey sea and grey sky. There is a luxury sailboat sailing on the sea in the middle of the screen. Widgets discussing the features of the business are spaced throughout the page.

Not only does the picture fit the brand colors, but the image of the luxury sailboat shows the lifestyle you can attain by using their service. Image courtesy of webfx.com.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words in Digital Design

Images are great for grabbing attention and making your content visually appealing. But they can also emphasize your message and help users understand your brand. Do the pictures on your site reflect the current state of your brand, or are they outdated? 

Use imagery consistent with your brand’s style and messaging, and be sure to use alt text to describe the image for users who cannot see it. It goes without saying you should always use high-quality, professional-looking images to create a positive impression of your brand.

Don’t be afraid to experiment, either. Using just the right image in your backgrounds, headers and footers can give more appeal to your website design by adding an element of fun or playfulness, reinforcing the mood you want to create, or enhancing the professionalism of your design.

Putting Your Logo in the Right Place

A company logo is one of any business’s most important branding tools. It is the first thing customers will see when encountering your brand, and it should visually represent what your company represents. A strong logo will help customers remember your brand, and it can help to build brand recognition and loyalty.

When it comes to website design, where you put your logo is as important as having a logo in the first place. Your logo is the face of your brand and needs to be front and center on your website. Why? Because people need to know who they’re doing business with. 

Think about it this way: when you see a familiar logo, you instantly associate positively with that company. But if you need help finding the logo, or it’s hidden in the footer, you might not trust the company as much. That’s why it’s essential to have a consistent logo placement on your website. 

This is especially important for websites with a lot of page content. If your visitors have to scroll down to see your logo, they might not even notice it.

The top left corner of your site is optimal for your logo because it’s the first thing people see when they visit your site. People tend to scan websites in an “F” pattern, so their eyes will likely first hit that top left corner. If your logo appears in another area, there is a chance visitors could miss it entirely.

When it comes to user-friendliness, it also makes sense to group your logo and the navigation bar together simply to make everything accessible and easy to spot for your customers.

Focus on Consistency for Success

 The takeaway for marketers and businesses looking to scale is clear: building brand consistency is critical to success. By aligning your website with your overall branding or re-branding strategy, you can create a cohesive experience that resonates with your target audience and sets you apart from the competition. So what are you waiting for? Incorporate brand consistency into your marketing strategy today!

 

How to talk to multiple target audiences

BIG or small, traditional and stuffy or bold and exciting; clients can come in all shapes and sizes, especially in b2b marketing. It’s unlikely you’re targeting one singular persona. I’m definitely envious if you are! So how do you appeal to them both? At Squibble we target small and large companies, up to 1 million or up … Read more

Customer Touch Points

customer-touch-points

Customer touchpoints play a critical role in shaping the customer experience and can have a significant impact on customer satisfaction and loyalty. By optimizing these touchpoints, businesses can create a seamless and positive customer journey that improves their overall experience with the brand and help influence the outcome of your marketing strategy. Understanding customer touchpoints … Read more

3 Common Branding Mistakes To Avoid

branding-mistakes

Your brand is your promise, and it’s important that you build it thoughtfully and deliberately. Branding is more than creating a good looking logo, creating a Facebook business page and uploading it all over social media with a catchy tagline. To create a real brand identity, you have to invest a lot of time and … Read more

The Importance Of Your Logo

importance-of-a-logo

Whether you’re starting a business or have an existing business, your logo is your opportunity to create an instant and lasting impression that will resonate with your potential customers.  Whilst it’s not so easy to measure the overall impact of your logo it is important that you make sure that your logo tells the right … Read more

Mobile First Design: What Is It & Why Is It Important?

mobile-first

With over 50% of website traffic coming from mobile devices, it’s no surprise that businesses are beginning to put more emphasis on the mobile design of their websites. Users want to easily access information at their fingertips, that’s easy to digest, clear on the next steps and simple to convert.  This means that mobile designs … Read more

The Value Of Trademarks

trademarks

Branding is the key to any new business venture, and with branding comes the brand name itself.  The most common way to protect your brand name is to have it trademarked, as trademarking can allow you to release merchandise, market and operate in numerous markets (as long as you select those in your trademark application). … Read more

The Weirdest Trademarks in the World

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Trademarks are a legal way to ensure other people can’t profit off of your original idea or phrase, though the rules for what can and cannot be trademarked are not exactly clear-cut and simple. They can be used to protect your business name against others from registering the same, so are key to your branding. … Read more

3 Reasons Why Most Web Designs Fail

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If you invest in a website surely you would want it to perform at its absolute best? Oddly though there seems to be some unwritten rule that having a website, no matter how bad it looks, is better than nothing because “nobody really looks at it”. Obviously my view on this is going to be … Read more

What Are The 4 Types of Logos?

logo-designs

Logos can be exciting. For many new businesses, a logo is the first thing they think about – something about having an ident makes a business seem more real.  On the other hand, designing a logo can be overwhelming – for many of the same reasons that business owners often find the process so attractive. … Read more

Which Web Language Is Right For Your Business?

web-language

Forgive us: we might get a bit techy in this one. Imagine you’re in one of those scenes from Star Trek where Spock gets all logical. That’s us, right now – because web languages really do matter, even if they seem a bit esoteric to most of us. A web language is the code your … Read more

Do Websites Need Maintenance?

web-maintenance

Building and launching a website is a huge achievement for any business. But it’s also the start of something – an ongoing relationship with a new digital asset, and one which requires constantly attention. Few things can survive unscathed without some TLC every now and then: we clear our cars, dust our houses, update our … Read more

Why Is Packaging Design So Important?

packaging-design

Packaging is how a product presents itself. It’s also how it will stand out in a crowded marketplace. Whether on the supermarket shelves, in a promotional video or an online product shot, the box is an important part of the product – and the better it is, the more likely it is to encourage sales. … Read more

What Makes Good Packaging Design?

Good packaging design catches the eye – but also the imagination. Artwork, shape, material and size all make a big difference when it comes to packaging, and achieving harmony in your design between all of these elements – and your brand – is key to achieve an effective package. We’ve written elsewhere about why packaging … Read more

What Makes A Bad Website Design?

bad-website-design

Bad website design is confused web design – and we all know a muddled webpage when we see one. Our grandmothers might have told us that, if we’ve nothing nice to say, we should say nothing at all; but the truth is we can learn from the negative – it teaches us what to avoid. … Read more

How Much Should A Website Design Cost?

man-holding-card

It can feel like the most important question of all when it comes to web design: how much will it cost? Price, of course, is critical to all business decisions. The truth, though, is that websites are not so much expenses as they are investments – and how much a website should cost very much … Read more

Why Graphic Design Is Important for Any Business

top-view-graphic-designer-working-with-graphic-tablet-laptop

Graphic design is the art of appearances. Graphic designers craft how something looks so that it appeals to the target market, is appropriate to the function of an item, and projects the correct values and messages. Businesses need to achieve all of this in every single piece of communication they produce. That’s why graphic design … Read more

What Is The Purpose of Rebranding?

rebranding

Rebranding: It’s not just about throwing out the old and bringing in the new willy-nilly. It’s akin to taking a trusted old wardrobe, recognising its essence, and then updating it to strut down today’s catwalk with flair. Delving into rebranding isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s akin to recalibrating your brand compass, making sure it points … Read more

Graphic Design: What’s It All About?

graphic-design

Graphic design isn’t magic, but it can be mysterious. It’s easy to think it’s mostly about logos and Hollywood posters – but actually graphic design is all around us. Anything that has been designed visually to evoke a mood or a message has had some element of graphic design applied to it. In our digital … Read more

What Are User Metrics?

user-metrics

User experience matters. It’s why we focus so squarely on achieving great UX design at Squibble. We’re evangelists for the approach. But one of the questions we get asked a lot – understandably – is, “How can you measure UX?” The answer is through user metrics. It’s critical that businesses are able to measure user … Read more

Why Is User Experience So Important?

Why-Is-User-Experience-So-Important

Business owners and marketing managers alike hear a lot about ‘user experience’ when it comes to websites and other digital assets. It sounds important, and that isn’t hype: ‘UX’, as it’s sometimes known, very much is crucial to making the most of digital communications. But what is user experience, and how can it be measured … Read more

The 3 Most Powerful KPIs To Help Your Business Grow

chess-players

From conversations I’ve had with local business owners recently most have told me that they have had to revaluate their business goals and sales targets. For some COVID-19 has wiped their pipeline out and for others they’ve seen growth in new areas that they hadn’t considered before. Most of this growth is fuelled through online … Read more

Why Branding Matters

branding

Understanding why branding matters can seem a lower-order priority. Running any kind of organisation, considering its logos or typefaces can feel like a distraction from the nuts and bolts of making it a success. But branding matters because it gives a company an identity that its clients can connect with. And those relationships power sales. … Read more

What Are The 5 Characteristics of A Logo?

logo-design-on-paper

Like most things of a certain type, logos share certain characteristics – or at least the good ones do. It might be true that all bad logos are bad in different ways; but the best logos each share a set of five characteristics that make them work. Understanding these basic design fundamentals when embarking on … Read more

3 Ways To Build More Trust In a Digital World

build-trust

In today’s market-place, trust is everything. As a nation though, according to the Express, almost one in five people don’t trust anyone at all! Yet the key to selling is trust. We all know and love the old cliche “people buy from people” and that’s all well and good when you’re at a sales meeting … Read more

3 New Years Resolutions You Should Consider

writing-on-paper

Don’t groan, I know New Years resolutions are overrated but we’re moving even further into uncharted waters. I think it’s safe to say that 2021 will be another huge year of change for B2B and B2C e-commerce.  2020 saw some huge giants succumb to the pandemic and at the time of writing this I am … Read more

How Do I Choose A Brand Name? | Advice For Startups

choosing-domain-name

Perhaps one of the most challenging decisions a new business will make is the name of the company. This will be a decision that will stay with you for years to come and changing it down the line can be costly in more ways than one.  Basic considerations when choosing a name for your company  … Read more

3 Ways Your B2B Brand Can Power Through This Crisis

maple-leaf

Your brand is the key to your companies success, especially during these unprecedented times. It has, therefore, never been more important to lead with clear and concise messaging.  Whether you have a small or large team they and your customers need leadership. Your team and customers alike will be looking to you to help them … Read more

Does a new business need a website?

website-design

Is a website necessary for a business that is only just starting out? Before you begin to make sales and generate a large amount of business, is there any point in spending money on a website? Will anyone find your site? In this blog post, I hope to answer this question and explain why a … Read more

Are face to face meetings necessary?

face-to-face-meeting

Emails, phone calls, letters, social media… today there are so many ways of getting in touch with people that we can sometimes forget how important it is to meet face to face. It can sometimes be hard to meet all your clients and contacts in person in the business world, is it still worth trying? … Read more

What is WooCommerce & Who Should Use It?

online-shopping

Key discussion points: Podcast Transcribe James Gurd [00:00:05] Hello and welcome to Episode 28 of the Replatform podcast. Thanks, as always for listening in. It’s myself, James. I’m joined, as always by co-host Paul Rogers. How’s it going tonight?  Paul Rogers [00:00:16] Yeah, good. Thank you. No bit tired, a little bit more tired than … Read more

You Should (Probably) Carry out a Brand Audit. Here’s How,

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Your branding – getting to grips with what works and what doesn’t is every bit as important as analysis in other areas of your business. But don’t mistake this for an airy-fairy process of colour, design and styles. We want to be clear – a successful brand audit absolutely relies on data. If you’re thinking … Read more

3 reasons you should stop posting on social media

social-media-networks

Social media is the beast that never sleeps. On average we spend nearly 2 hours per day scrolling. Surely it makes sense to utilise this readily available audience, right?! I disagree, I think that businesses need to go back to basics. When I first started out in business, I learnt to ‘talk less, listen more’. … Read more

Digitally Delivering our Discovery Session

discovery-session

A big part of what we do, at the beginning of any web or branding project, is project discovery. We hold face to face session with key stakeholders to understand how the business operates and how they interact with customers. We do this to make sure we understand how the website should work and where … Read more

How To Convert Users Into Customers Online

working-together

There’s a reason that the adjective “animated” is most often used in a positive sense: it suggests excitement and inspiration, energy and motion. To be animated is to attract attention, to have something extra or beyond the ordinary. It’s to stand out. Needless to say, businesses should be aiming to have all those qualities. You don’t need us to say that, in the online space, websites proliferate – and many fail to make their mark.

Site Speed Is Everything

site-speed

There are so many design agencies out there that it can be difficult to know where to start. From smaller to larger, all-service to web specialists, design agencies come in many shapes and sizes. Given how important a website is to a business, choosing the right one is critical. But how should organisations choose?

The importance of knowing your Strengths and Weaknesses

strenghts-weaknesses

SWOT Grow your business and dodge threats by writing a SWOT. What it is A SWOT Analysis helps you to discover your business’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Strengths and weaknesses can be found internally, whereas opportunities and threats are external to your company. How its helpful Assessing your business’ strengths and weaknesses can help … Read more

Why Animation Isn’t Mickey-mouse Design

animation

There’s a reason that the adjective “animated” is most often used in a positive sense: it suggests excitement and inspiration, energy and motion. To be animated is to attract attention, to have something extra or beyond the ordinary. It’s to stand out. Needless to say, businesses should be aiming to have all those qualities. You don’t need us to say that, in the online space, websites proliferate – and many fail to make their mark.

Crafting Creative Content Marketing

icream-cone-cloud

“Content marketing” is one of those industry phrases that can sound a bit meaningless at first glance: doesn’t all marketing use content in some way to make a point? Of course, that’s true: we’re surrounded by content all the time, from billboard posters to online ads, that are seeking to market some product or service. But content marketing as a is a little different – and a little more specific.

Why The Culture Of An Agency Matters

team-culture

“Culture” can seem a very abstract concept. The dictionary definition of the word – “the ideas, customs and social behaviour of a particular people” – might not seem to help: ideas, customs and behaviours can also sound like pretty vague terms.

4 Signs That You Need to Update Your Logo Design

designing-a-logo

There are so many design agencies out there that it can be difficult to know where to start. From smaller to larger, all-service to web specialists, design agencies come in many shapes and sizes. Given how important a website is to a business, choosing the right one is critical. But how should organisations choose?

How to Choose the Best Ecommerce Platform For Your Business

shopping-on-phone

Once an optional extra, ecommerce is for many businesses now the default. As online shopping and purchasing becomes ever more widespread – and increasingly trusted by customers – companies are increasingly expected to offer direct access to the products and services via online payment gateways.

Overwhelmed By All The Design Agencies?

searching-for-a-design-agency

There are so many design agencies out there that it can be difficult to know where to start. From smaller to larger, all-service to web specialists, design agencies come in many shapes and sizes. Given how important a website is to a business, choosing the right one is critical. But how should organisations choose?

How to Write a High Quality Logo Brief

logo-brief

We all know that logos matter: at their best, they are an instantly recognisable motif – a short-hand for your company, its products and values. They’re invaluable calling cards, and often central to a marketing strategy. Something so important, of course, doesn’t happen by accident. Distilling an organisation’s brand into a single graphical element takes … Read more

When Did You Last Ask Someone Impartial for Website Feedback?

getting-feedback

Can you see the wood for the trees? Are you being a bit short-sighted? Perhaps you’re experiencing tunnel vision? These clichés all exist to describe the familiar scenario in which a person is too close to something to understand it fully. This is a risk in any project, and web design is no different: anyone … Read more

Security vs. convenience in the payment experience

online-security

What matters most to online shoppers? Accepting payments online has become a fact of life for many businesses. Visitors to many kinds of websites now often expect to be able to purchase goods and services direct from the web – and businesses must meet that need to retain their custom. Engaging with ecommerce makes demands … Read more

Why WordPress is great for SEO

wordpress-for-seo

According to W3techs, WordPress powers 60% of all the websites (with a known content management system) on the internet. A service doesn’t reach that kind of market share on usability and good advertising alone. WordPress works, and it works well. We’re going to focus on the SEO benefits that come with using WordPress, and why … Read more

Why UX Is Important for Your Website

importance-of-user-experience

News flash for those not in the know: UX is not the latest Star Wars droid (who can improve on BB-8 anyway?). In web design, UX – or user experience – is all about usability. It provides a focus on function, not just form. How easy is your site to use? How relevant is its content? … Read more

Why have a blog?

why-have-a-blog

What does a blog add to your website? Is it really necessary or just an optional addition? In this post, I am going to put forward some strong points for the addition of a blog to every website. The figures Statistics show that a blog can really help your business to grow. Businesses with blogs … Read more

It’s the bout of the year – Squibble fights to retain its title

squibble-wall

It’s official – on the 11th October we’ll be defending our title as holders of the Creative and Digital Agency of the year and fighting to protect our position. In the orange corner – it’s a new, expanded and more determined Squibble team (that’s 1 member up on last year), and in the blue corner, … Read more

What is SEO and do I need it?

importance-of-seo

‘Google it’ is the answer to every question these days. A few clicks and you have you answer. But not many of us search through the pages and pages of results we are presented with, instead putting our faith in the top results and never looking much further than the first page. So how can … Read more

Kim nominated for Businesswomen of the Year 2018

Nominated-Badge

Award season is upon us and our very own MD, Kim, has been nominated for Businesswomen of the Year at the esteemed and ever popular Birmingham Awards. Shortlisted nominees will be announced on 28th Sept, so watch this space…..

Squibble Nominated for Creative and Digital Agency of the year 2018

On the 11th October we’ll be defending our title as holders of the Creative and Digital Agency of the year and fighting to protect our position. In the orange corner – it’s a new, expanded and more determined Squibble team (that’s 1 member up on last year), and in the blue corner, we’re facing off … Read more

SEO and all it’s complexities

seo

Search Engines are complex machines. They sweep through millions of web pages and rank them all in order of, well, what? This summary seeks to try and explain their methods and how you can use this knowledge to improve your page ranking and optimise your site using SEO. How the search engine’s rank Search engine’s … Read more

Me, myself and I: The debilitating self-doubt of imposter syndrome

Just last month Squibble, my web design agency, won the prestigious AI Business Excellence Award, and last year I was personally recognised with the Forward Ladies Women in Business Awards. I employ 2 amazing staff, and have a nice little spot in the centre of the vibrant Jewellery Quarter in a buzzing area for businesses. … Read more

How to create a global brand

coors-light

How to create a global brand Coors – An American powerhouse of a brewery, when you hear their name, it likely conjures up words such as refreshing, heritage and authentic. This brand is the third-largest of its kind in the world, they’ve hard earned their image. Except their image wasn’t so effective when they launched … Read more

Independent eCommerce versus the world

online-shopping

At Squibble, we often hit upon blogging ideas when talking directly with clients or, in this case, potential clients. These conversations bring up things that we’d never thought of – topics that could really guide others onto the right choices when it comes to their online strategy. Recently, this has touched upon the likes of … Read more

2017: Branding challenges, opportunities and change

branding-logo

Branding – it’s a tough task to get right for the average SME. Transitioning your thinking from visuals alone to understanding that branding is everything (from the tone of voice through to ethos and values) demands time and careful consideration. And just when you thought you’d made it through the quagmire of branding, along comes consumer change and new branding trends. This change is inevitable – and it should be embraced (if only for the fact that it can’t be avoided). What’s more, along with change comes opportunity. So here we look to the future – the next 12 months of it – exploring the challenges and opportunities for your SME brand – whether you see them as challenge or opportunity, depends very much on your mindset.

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How to Grow Your Business With A Marketing Plan

marketing-plan

Marketing plans, an often over looked utility by some businesses, can help you grow your business because they provide a clear set of objectives, making sure all that is done is not done in vain.  It is crucial these days, that businesses develop such plans, not only to stay competitive but also to respond accordingly … Read more

10 Web Design Trends to Watch In 2017

web-design-trends

The New Year has arrived, and as the Christmas period begins to feel further and further away, we’re cheering ourselves up with the many exciting things to come over the next 12 months. Here we dig into the upcoming trends, design approaches and changes that are soon to come to the world of web design. … Read more

Working with SIFA

sifa-brochure

We had the pleasure of working with SIFA Fireside for this project. Creating them a brochure explaining their services and opportunities for homeless people. Start Firstly a meeting was arranged with SIFA Fireside to establish what exactly they wanted and expected of us. Drafts were made of potential ideas and their current styling. We went … Read more

Branding. What’s the true cost of getting it wrong?

branding-cost-of-getting-it-wrong

Branding. It’s a word that all too often gets confused with things such as a logo design, colour palettes, brochure design or, well, just plain old pretty pictures. Yet branding, in actuality, is far more than any of these single elements. Sure, it can be said to involve all of them – but at its most fundamental level, branding is what … Read more

From first time blog visitor to firm fan – Seven tips

blog

Let’s face it, driving traffic to your blog can be challenging, demanding much time, effort and, if you invest in PPC, money. Once your visitors have arrived, you’ll want to make the most out of every first-time reader and (ideally) ensure that they come back for more. Here are seven tips to ensure you achieve … Read more

Most of your website visitors don’t trust you. Here’s how to turn it around.

website-visitors

Website visitors are seriously tricky customers – filled with mistrust and arriving with a protective defence that’s been built from years of digital marketing messages being thrust at them from every angle. Add to this the fact that the average website visitor settles on a first impression of your company within a seemingly impossible time … Read more

Squibble’s CEO scoops Young Entrepreneur Award

awards

Squibble’s CEO scoops Young Entrepreneur Award Kim Leary, CEO of Birmingham based Squibble Ltd, has been named Young Entrepreneur. She beat off several competitors to win the prestigious award at the Forward Ladies Women in Business Awards. The Awards took place on the 28th September at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Birmingham, before an audience … Read more

Advanced UI Animations

UI Animations make the web experience more interesting, interactive and entertaining and with the use of modern web technologies are being used more and more.  HTML5 has meant that animations can now be easily seen across all devices and can be scaled to any screen. 

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