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A strong and recognizable brand can help a business be more successful, which is why creating an effective brand identity is so important.

But, what goes into creating a brand identity supports your business goals, and why is branding so important?

What is a brand identity?

When you create a brand identity, you’re essentially applying your brand values to any visual elements that will be used to promote your business. This means that a brand identity is more than just a logo, and consists of a variety of marketing materials.

Brand development might include:

  • Business cards
  • Stationary
  • Print materials (e.g., brochures, reports, flyers, etc.)
  • Signage
  • Product packaging
  • Apparel
  • Website
Examples of brand identity
Brand identity examples from Isabela Rodrigues

Developing a cohesive and professional brand identity is an important part of any effective branding strategy. Creating a brand identity requires research and attention to detail in order to develop a style that successfully meets the goals of a business and gives off the appropriate message. Once a brand identity is created, many companies provide guidelines for how their brand should be represented on various mediums to ensure consistency. Check out our showcase of branding style guides for some examples.

Why is brand identity important?

1. Personality: A brand identity is the visual representation of the values and “personality” of your brand. Identity design essentially sets the tone of your brand, and it can be used to evoke specific feelings in your audience. Your brand identity should be designed to communicate your company’s overall message and promote your business goals.

Brand identity example
Brand identity design example from Ig2 boutique

2. Consistency: Developing a brand identity allows you to create a consistent message across all marketing materials. Each piece should have the same basic styles and design elements, creating a cohesive branding package.

3. Differentiation: A brand identity helps you to differentiate your business from the competition and appropriately position your brand. Developing a professional, creative identity design can help you to stand out to potential customers in your market.

Example of brand identity
Brand identity comic from xkcd

4. Awareness: Creating a brand identity package ensures that your brand is at the forefront of all your marketing materials, which helps to increase brand awareness. The more places your brand is featured, the more contact it will make with consumers, and the more memorable it will be.

5. Loyalty: An effective brand identity can help to build customer loyalty and trust in a brand, since it allows customers to make a connection between a product and the company.