THE BRANDING PROCESS
Each branding and web design project takes approximately 25 to 30 business days. Full branding projects (branding + print + web) take anywhere from 3 to 4+ months. All time estimates are dependent upon the individual project, number/complexity of revisions, client response timeliness, and my current booking schedule.
1. First Date
Like any relationship, it’s important to take time to make sure we’re a good match. After I review your initial inquiry, I will set up a phone call, Skype, or Google Hangout session with you. During this session I will ask you questions regarding your business, vision, mission and goals for your brand development. In this session you’ll have the chance to ask me any questions that come to mind. This first step will give us both a chance to get to know one another and make sure we are going to make an awesome sauce team.
2. Reserving Your Spot
If we hit it off and both feel we are a perfect match, I will put together a proposal for your project and send it your way. If everything is approved, you’ll sign, scan, and send the proposal back to me (keeping a copy for yourself). I will then send you an invoice for the first payment installment (50% of the project bid). which will reserve your spot in The Branded Solopreneur queue. Important Note: this deposit is nonrefundable!
3. Homework Time
To make sure I truly understand your vision for your brand I will send you an in-depth branding questionnaire that will provide me with valuable information that I need to move through the branding design process as well as ensure you and I are on the same page.
4. Inspiration Phase
Happy dance! Soooo, your project start date is here and now it’s time to get this party started.
The first phase of the branding process is the creation of an inspiration board. This is where that branding questionnaire comes in ever so handy. I will study your questionnaire and create a color palette along with style inspiration that will set the overall tone of your new brand. Within 10 business days of your start date, you will receive this branding inspiration board and have the chance to review and request up to 2 rounds of revisions. It’s crucial that you’re head over heels in love with the inspiration board as that will dictate the foundation of your branding.
5. Creation Phase
Now that we have established and finalized your inspiration board, I can now get to work creating the cornerstone of your new brand, your logo.
The logo design process takes 10 to 15 business days to complete. During this phase I will send you 3 unique logo designs in a one color pdf file. You will then have the opportunity to review that file and request up to 2 rounds of revisions. Like I said, your logo is the cornerstone of your branding so it’s absolutely crucial that you’re SUPA pumped about your logo.
6. Finalize & Delivery Phase
Now we’re in the final stretch. It’s time to blend your approved color palette, brand inspiration and logo design and {drumroll, please!} create your final branding style guide.
This guide will include your main logo, a submark logo, any other logo variations, font choices, social media icons, patterns, and any other brand elements. You will then be asked to review this guide and request up to 2 rounds of revisions. Once you sign off and approve the final branding style and send your second (final) payment installment, I will package up your files and send them off to you via a handy Dropbox link that you can download your files from.
FULL BRANDING & WEB DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
7. Print & Social Media Branding
Now that your branding style is finalized I will use those elements to create your printed material and social media designs. This includes business cards, letterhead/notecards and envelopes, stamp, stickers, 2 social media page designs and any other project elements outlined in the approved proposal. Your files will be delivered in print ready form or you can choose to have The Branded Solopreneur manage your print process.
8. Website Design Phase
After I finalize your additional branding material and place any print orders needed I will get started on your new website design. By this time you will have received and completed the website design questionnaire and be putting the finishing touches and completing the content for each page of your website.
All photography and website content is due prior to creating your website mock-up as well as before I begin the development phase of your website. During this phase, I will send you the final website mock-up, including interior pages, which you will need to sign off and approve before I can move on to the final website development stage.
9. Website Development
Once you have signed off on the design, your site goes to my team of awesome sauce developers. There will be some downtime for you during this phase as they work their magic fingers and bring your design to life. The development phase typically takes 2-4 weeks. Within 4 weeks I will deliver a test site link for your review and approval.
10. Launch Time!
Once your website is completed and approved by you, your new website will be uploaded onto your website hosting server. This is also when I setup a Skype or Google Hangout to give you a tutorial and show you how to make updates to your site. Once our final checklist is complete and all systems are a go, we will launch your new site to the world. Deep breathe.