When it’s time to think big in visual communication, large format printing is always the answer, and branding is no exception to this rule. From setting your brand apart to strengthening your brand story, here’s how you can solve five common branding challenges using large format printing.
What Is Branding?
There are few marketing concepts as misunderstood as branding.
A lot of people think that “branding” is just a more technical word to refer to the logo of a company. The truth is a little more complex: Logos play a key role in branding, but they only tell a part of the story of your brand.
Branding can be defined as the meaning behind a brand. Or, to put it another way, branding is the answer to the question “What does my brand stand for?”
Some brands are innovative and love to think outside of the box. Other companies cherish traditional values and aim to make us feel at home. Branding is the process of communicating all these attributes in ways that your audience can identify easily, be it through colors, logos, advertising copy, or YouTube videos.
Solving 5 Common Branding Challenges Using Large Format Printing
Creating and nurturing a brand is exciting and highly rewarding, but it doesn’t come without challenges, as we will see below.
Stand Out
This is the challenge at the core of branding: how to ensure that your brand stands out from its many competitors?
There is no easy answer to this question. However, large format printing gives you a competitive edge in the battle to cut through the messages that compete for your audience’s attention.
With its versatility and constantly evolving technical capabilities, digital printing makes it easy to surprise your audience and deliver your message in a way that is memorable and highly effective from a branding standpoint.
Whether it’s an impressive building wrap, a show-stopping window graphic, or a set of strategically placed advertising flags, digital large format printing allows you to craft visual statements that are simply impossible to ignore.
Boost Your Brand Story
Your brand story is a narrative that weaves together the feelings and benefits associated with your brand.
A brand story is unique by definition: it underscores the set of values and attributes your brand brings to the table.
But while the content of your brand story depends on many factors (such as your industry and your brand voice), large format printing is a great way to super-charge it.
For example, if your brand story is associated with city life, utility box wraps may be an excellent vehicle for your message. On the other hand, if your brand is rugged and hands-on, large format printing offers a selection of sturdy materials that can be exposed to the elements and displayed
Reach Your Audience
This is another essential piece of the branding puzzle. Once you have a high-octane message and a compelling brand narrative, you have to find ways to reach your audience.
Luckily, the beauty of large format printing is that it allows you to meet your customers wherever they are.
Do you want to reach executives on their way to a busy meeting? Elevator wraps are the perfect way to deliver your elevator pitch.
But what if you want to talk to kids? Then large format printing offers a whole array of alternatives to market products and services to children and their parents.
Finally, if you are trying to capture the attention of customers who are always on the move, vehicle wraps put your brand in motion, reaching every corner of your city or town.
No matter the age, size, or location of your audience, large format printing delivers your message quickly, efficiently, and without straining your budget.
Make Branding Both Internal and External
Thinking of branding as a message for the exclusive consumption of your customers is a common mistake—and one that marks the difference between ordinary and extraordinary companies.
The truth is that branding represents the essence of your brand and as such it must be conveyed to your customers, but also to your employees and associates.
Just try to picture the headquarters of any company that is considered a leader in its industry. Chances are good that you will see branding statements everywhere, not only where customers can see them, including areas such as break rooms, cafeterias, and lounge areas.
This strategy is called internal branding and it’s important because it turns the identity of your company into a reality that your employees can see, touch, and embrace.
Some graphics commonly used for internal branding include:
- Wall decals and wall murals
- Wayfinding signage
- Window graphics
- Floor graphics
As you can see, format visual products are incredibly effective at boosting company culture, which at the end of the day is the internal manifestation of your branding efforts.
Strengthen Your Digital Presence
Yes, you read that right. Large format printing can help you strengthen your digital presence.
According to a 2017 study by Nielsen, one of the world’s most important market measurement companies, Out of Home Advertising (OOH) such as billboards and big vinyl banners delivers “more online activity per dollar spent compared to television, radio, and print.”
The study shows that almost five in 10 U.S. adults (46%) have used Google, Bing, or Yahoo to look up information after seeing something advertised on an OOH format. Also, nearly 40% of U.S. adults have visited a Facebook page or posted a message on Facebook after seeing an OOH ad.
The bottom line is: Large format printing and OOH blows traditional media out of the water when it comes to boosting online engagement for your brand.
CR&A CUSTOM: High-Quality Large Format Printing
Interested in using large format printing as part of your branding strategy? CR&A Custom is a large format printing company based in Los Angeles with clients all over the United States and abroad.
Our innovative visual solutions set our clients apart and take their business to new heights.
Contact us today by email (info@cracustom.com), telephone (213-749-4440), or social media (Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn) for a free estimate or to learn more about our full range of large format printing solutions: building wraps, wall graphics, window graphics, boat wraps, and more.
