Rebranding Checklist

OMG! When you run a small business and you’re looking to rebrand, you forget how many things you’ve got branded with your company name and logo.

Blue Dog Marketing is in the process of rebranding (look for an announcement in early 2017!) so we’re putting together a checklist of everything we need to do to make the renaming of our company a smooth process.

Here is what we’ve come up with so far:

The new name

You have to work with an attorney to do a search to see if your new business name is available and you can legally use it. If someone else has already registered the business name in another state, you can be sued for infringement. Your attorney will also check the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to make sure the trademark is available. We’re using Tracy Jong of Tracy Jong Law Firm. She specialized in small business law and is easy to work with.

This was all the easy part….seriously! Now comes all the work integrating your new name into your business.

Website and Social Media

You need to make sure the domain name you want is available. When you find want you want, purchase it! You can have your old domain address point to your new rebranded website to help make the transition easy. Oh, that means you also need a new website!

You will also want to make sure the social media handles you want are available. If they aren’t, work on something as close to your brand as possible. Switch your social media profiles to the new name so you can retain your fans and followers.

New Logo

Design a new logo. Being a marketing firm, this part is easy for us. For others thinking about rebranding, this is where you’ll want a marketing firm to assist you.

Update your website with your new logo and name. For a few months, you should have some content on the home page letting people know that you have rebranded and that they are on the correct website.

Marketing Materials

Update all your marketing materials. This includes not only your brochures and sell sheets but your business cards, email signatures, proposal forms, invoices, trade show booths, and giveaways.

Your email signature can also be another way of letting people know that you have rebranded. Just like on your website, use your email signature to tell people who you used to be so they’re not confused.

Notify people

Your clients and vendors are the first people you should notify once the rebrand is in place. Formal announcements are a great way of letting people know about your rebrand.

Send out press releases announcing your rebrand. This is a great place to tell the story of your brand.

You also have to update your bank account. And notify any organizations that you belong to, such as a Chamber of Commerce, so they have your membership correct.

If you can, hold a launch party for your clients and vendors. What a great way to get the buzz going about your new and exciting venture!