How do you style your brand, anyway?

Studies show that prospective clients respond more positively to actual photos on websites of local businesses, as opposed to stock photos.  The photographs and videos that you use on your website, blog, and social media contribute strongly to your brand, and help to tell your story.  Stock photos make your brand impersonal and cold.

According to Catherine M White, Business Development Strategist and author of Overcoming Roadblocks to Success, the parts of a brand are defined as follows:  a connection and relevance to your audience; to know your mission, and have a mission statement; having a vision statement; know your why; who your perfect customer is; and a lasting impression.

“When you style your website, keeping in mind the ultimate outcome is important.  I believe decisions are made with emotion, and so to stimulate that, your content must evoke emotion, and be clear, concise, and descriptive.”  Staying true to your story only makes your brand stronger, and therefore, more apt to make an impression on your audience.

Your business’s photographs are immediately apparent to your audience.  You can think of photographs as a “psychological primer” on your website, influencing your audience to imagine what it would be like to use your product or service.

Stock photos, with humans in them, are very staged and impersonal. The generic styling of them can be helpful, but unnecessary.  Therefore, staying away from stock photos will help your brand’s consistency and keep your viewers on your site longer.

On the other hand, having professionally done photographs for your site will tell a story of who you are, show what your company’s mission is, and create a connection with your prospective client.  Using photographs of your employees or team, in the area in which you work, provides a sense of pride in what you all do together. 

Adding photographs of your products, of delivery of your products to your clients, or even your products on display in your client’s environment, on  your blog and social media, will entice your audience to imagine what it would be like for them to have your product in their lives.

At Honey Bee Photography, we take personal branding very seriously.  We coach our clients to help them create a portion of their brand with photographs.  We take into consideration the type of business you have, your logo, your colors, and the ultimate goal you have for your clients.  All of this, and more, will help your photographs convey who you are, what your business is, and what your WHY is..

Contacting us for a consultation is easy.  You can call us at 240-766-8966 or email megan@honeybeephotography.com.