7 signs it’s time for a rebrand

It can be very daunting to do a rebrand… All those beautiful brand colors or new fonts you just discovered. But is it really time for a rebrand? It might be a tough question to answer.

Your brand is your tool to attract your customers, tell your story and market your products or services. You want it to be as relevant and professional as possible at all times.

Here’s my take on doing a rebrand:

→ Rebranding when not necessary is a waste of time and money. It often also confuses your audience because you’re changing the vibe of your business.

But on the other hand….

→ If you’re waiting too long to rebrand it can detract your business.

It all comes down to picking the right moment of doing a rebrand and doing it for the right reasons. If not, it will only damage your brand.

Before we dive into the 7 signs that will help you decide if it’s time for a rebrand, I want to explain what a rebrand is.

What is rebranding?

Rebranding is a change in your appearance. It can mean a new business name, a new logo, new brand colors and new graphic designs. It’s a new vibe, look and feel, that supports your marketing strategy better.

Besides these types of big rebrands, you can also implement a smaller rebrand. Think about it as an update to your current brand, to help clarify your message or improve your position on the market. This can be a small adjustment in your logo. Or new brand colors that fit your brand just a little bit better. Your audience might not even be able to point out the difference.

So, how do you know if it is time for a rebrand?

7 signs it’s time for a rebrand

I collected some situations for you. If one of these applies to you, you might wanna think about a rebrand.

01. Your audience changed
You may be helping a different group of people now than when you started your business. It’s inevitable that things change when you’re building your business. This also counts for your audience. If your audience is totally different now, this might be a sign for a rebrand so your business will attract the right type of people.

This one also applies to not attracting your ideal clients. If you attract the wrong type of people, this probably happens because your brand is not having the right style.

For example: you won’t attract successful CEO women, if you’re having a girly blush brand style.

02. You offer new product or services
When you grow your business, you might add new or different types of products and services to your strategy. This means that your business is developing, and that’s great! This can be a sign that the main focus or that the main theme of your business is changed. Always make sure that your brand style still represents your business in total, not just a specific part of it.

Bobby Canva brand kit

03. Your brand is outdated
This is a tricky one, because style is a personal thing. But have you ever visited an Instagram page thinking ‘Wow… this could be my moms IG page…’ Visual trends change over time and big brands like Nike and L’Oréal also refresh their brands every once in a while.

The last thing you want is publishing outdated visuals. But to be honest, I’m personally not a fan of changing brand styles just to jump on every trend. I’m all about modern and timeless brands that can go along for a longer period of time (because I know how much time and adjustments it takes to do rebrands!).

If your visuals look outdated right now, I’d suggest changing your brand into a more modern and timeless style, so you can stick with that for the next couple of years.

04. Your vision has changed

Your vision and business goals tweak slightly over time. It’s totally normal! But be aware if your vision and goals have taken a big turn, because this might be a sign it’s time for a rebrand.

An example: let’s say you’re a dietician and you coach new moms on how to get their body back after pregnancy. You might have adopted the vegan lifestyle into your advice. This can affect your brand style, as it attracts a different type of audience (sign number 1).

05. You don’t stand out
Standing out in the crowd is one of the most important parts of having a successful business. This does not mean that you have to wear a funny dress when you’re making an Instagram story. Or that you have to make very bright and colorful graphics that pop out.

For example: when I launched my Canva templates shop, I wasn’t the first Canva designer out there. I wish I was ;-). There were so many others already doing what I wanted to do. I needed to stand out. And I did, by having a totally different brand style than the other Canva designers.

Most of them were bright, colorful and playful. While that’s not me at all… As you know, I’m team modern and timeless. With more natural colors and minimalistic elements. I stuck to my own style and it made me stand out in the crowd. I attracted the people I wanted to attract, because we like the same style.

Find out what makes you and your business different from others and translate that into your visual brand. That will help you connect with people who need exactly what you have to offer.

06. You’ve outgrown your brand
Tell me, how do you feel when looking at your website, social media presence or that brand board you created? Is it content and exciting? Do they still represent your values?

If you don’t feel connected to your brand anymore, it will affect your productivity and the way you are connecting with your ideal clients.

The moment I became a mom for the first time really changed my view on life and eventually also on how my brand should look. That was my moment to spice things up and change it to a more mature, modern style.

07. It doesn’t feel like your brand
It’s the worst feeling ever if you’re having a brand style that does not feel like you. You make graphics, but it comes out too DIY. You’re having a logo, but it could be made for any other type of business. Or your brand colors don’t match your personality or vision. Things just don’t feel like you.

Your brand should give you confidence and make you proud. If it makes you feel ashamed on any level, it might prevent you from showing up, sharing your business or seeking opportunities. That’s not a good way of doing business, if you ask me.

Nodded ‘yes’ a couple of times?

Does any of these seem familiar? Then it’s time for a rebrand! I’ve made some beautiful pre-made Canva Brand Kits, to help you create a beautiful and timeless brand in minutes, not days.

Click here to browse pre-made Canva brand kits.

X Lynn

P.S. Inside The Templates Vault you’ll also find 35+ pre-made logos and color combinations! All completely customizable in Canva (free and Pro)