5 things to consider when choosing the best creative agency to brand your tech start-up

5 things to consider when choosing the best creative agency to brand your tech start-up

You did it! You started a company. You know that you are amazing at what you do- but now you need to hire a creative agency to do the things you maybe aren’t all that knowledgeable about doing. But how do you know who to hire? When you don’t know what you don’t know, this can feel like a daunting task. You know you’re going to invest a lot of time, money, and energy, and you are ready to do so, but want to make sure it’s an investment, not a very expensive learning lesson. Here are 5 things to consider before choosing an agency:

 

  1. Do they understand you? Creatives are creative. It’s what they do. But there’s creative with ego, and there’s creative with empathy. When you’re talking to a prospective agency, pay attention to whether they ask more questions or make more promises. While many may wish that marketing was a magic button for growth, there is no such thing as magically knowing someone, or something for that matter. The only way to really know, is to ask. A good creative agency will ask you a lot of questions before giving you any answers. 
  2. Do they understand technology? This is an important question to ask if you are a tech company looking to hire a creative agency, but the answer is not as simple as yes or no. You also have to know who you’re talking to. If you are a tech company who is primarily talking to a non-techy audience, it behooves you to hire an agency that doesn’t speak technologically, because they will be able to translate what it is you are selling in laymen’s terms. If you are a tech company that is selling to a tech audience, you need to hire an agency that understands the technology industry. They need to speak the vernacular and understand the industry trends. Remember, it’s not about the agency producing creative work that you like- it’s about producing creative work that your audience will love. 
  3. Who is in their portfolio? Ask about the types of clientele an agency has served in the past. They don’t all need to look like you- but they need to resonate with you. You can find a lot of inspiration from other industries, so don’t be too quick to jump into that tunnel vision branding. But also be mindful to ask about the work process, the quality of work, and the design style. 
  4. Do they have what you need? When it comes to technology, you are probably going to utilize technology. You want to work with an agency that has the capabilities to deliver in the platforms that you need to use. 
  5. Are they easy to work with? This is one of the most important questions to ask. Think mindfully about whether you  enjoy talking to this person, or this team, because you’re going to be spending a lot of time with them. Work with someone you enjoy working with, and who reciprocates the feeling.

 

Wondering where to start? Schedule a complimentary call. We would be happy to answer any questions and help you launch your start-up, or refer you to someone who is a better fit. 

 

Brand Brag:


One of the most impressive tech startups is Quera, located in Boston, MA. Founded in 2019, they have already generated over $11 million in revenue. Possibly more impressively (at least to us, a creative design agency), they have impeccably clean design and a gift for taking super complicated concepts, and explaining them in very simple words. Check them out. {link: https://www.quera.com/}

5 Branding Mistakes Tech Companies Make when branding their business

5 Branding Mistakes Tech Companies Make when branding their business

If there’s one thing we love about technology, it’s that it’s ever evolving and gives us an opportunity to learn new things.. The masterpiece created when creative strategy combines with  precision and data.We get so inspired just thinking about it. But while the technology itself may be amazing, a lot of it goes unnoticed simply because people either don’t know it exists, or they don’t understand how to use it. Here are five of the most common mistakes we see tech companies making:

  • They let users define their brand. Many companies don’t invest time in their brand messaging because they think their idea will sell itself. What happens next is that the brand becomes defined by the users Customers, competitors, outside voices begin looking for words to describe this company, and they begin to use their own language to position the company against the competition. Because people have different experiences and cultures and words, the brand becomes confusing and inconsistent which inturn dilutes all of the brand’s marketing efforts. It is better to get ahead of the brand message, and tell people who you are, rather than assuming they’ll understand what you’re all about.. 
  • They have out of date marketing technology. While tech companies pride themselves on the latest technology, they often let their marketing technology get stagnant. This means that instead of being wowed by your brilliant time saving, super intuitive, highly developed tech, customers are distracted by, clunky websites, disconnected user experience and sites that don’t load on their phones. Your web presence, user experience and CRM should be audited and updated annually. 
  • They don’t differentiate themselves from other brands. With many tech companies, products and services are quite similar, which leaves a feeling of “we are all the same.” You may not be able to compete with products and services, but you can stand out from the competition by leaning into who you are as a company. No one can compete with the personality, story, and core brand that comes from your company’s leadership team. Whatever the special sauce is that makes you the best- lean into that. 
  • They aren’t compelling. Just because technology is built around a strategy with data and numbers doesn’t mean your brand has to be lifeless. . There are other colors and styles to play with. Keep in mind that your users aren’t reviewing lines of code everyday. So rather than using intricate technological language and design that mirrors like every other tech company, go with conversational, engaging language that your customers can relate to. Pick a style that matches your brand. Your technology is exciting- communicate that! 
  • They don’t listen to their users. When it comes to branding, there are two lanes of dialogue. It’s not just about you telling people you are, it’s about listening to how others are experiencing you. Listen to your customers. Whether it’s reading your own reviews or listening to what your customers are saying about your competitors, or how they are engaging with your brand, take the time to listen and respond.

A brand audit is a great way to catch any mistakes you may be missing and find opportunities to grow. Schedule a complimentary consultation call to get started. {link}

Brand Brag:

Do you have an example of a client who you did an audit for and helped them either fix or avoid mistakes? This would be a great case study.

What does your website look like on the Metaverse?

What does your website look like on the Metaverse?

What a time to be creative! There are so many advances in technology, and the marriage of tech and social media and brand messaging is continuing to blur the boundaries between advertising and relationships. With so many options available at our fingertips, consumers have the luxury of being picky when it comes to giving their business to the brands. Why would a customer accept a basic website, when they could have an experience? For the past several years, websites have become the digital handshake of a company. They are the first impression, as well as the introduction to the relationship. With the metaverse, they are becoming further immersive and experiential. Perhaps in the future you can try on your favorite brand’s clothing line, see what you look like in them, and virtually shop right there in the metaverse. Or maybe you can spend a day at a theme park, interacting with different characters. Or check in on different companies with your financial advisor. As our physical world continues to fuse with advancements in the digital space, tech companies continue to create opportunities to enhance the customer experience. In a competitive market, it’s increasingly important to monitor and optimize your website so that you continue to build brand equity and maintain market share.. What does your website look like in the metaverse? Let’s find out together- and make sure it looks awesome.  Brand Brag: GitHub is possibly the largest, most established development platform in the world. Millions of people use this resource to build and manage their softwares. They continue to house tons of helpful resources, tools, and information. If you would like some helpful insights on the metaverse, check out this great page. {link: https://github.com/M3-org/awesome-metaverse}