The 4 Top Branding Trends You Need To Know in 2023

Bold Simplicity and Mission-Forward Branding Is Taking Center Stage in 2023.

But first, the audit....

Branding Trends in 2023: Bold Simplicity

If you are looking to uplevel your branding game in 2023 it is essential to audit your brand in 2022. What worked? What did not work?

Let's Take A Quick Audit on Your Brand⬇⬇⬇

Ask yourself these questions:

• Did your brand elicit an emotional connection with your clients? What was your strength/weakness?

• Are your visuals memorable? Remember it takes approximately 12 touchpoints to have a potential client or customer even know you exist. The more memorable the better.

• How was your overarching engagement? Engagement is the key to building a strong brand. A brand that has thousands of followers on social media with no engagement is wasted energy.

• What channels effectively produced ROI? (Return On Investment). Did you have high-quality engagement and leads on social media, a blog, your website, social audio, in-person speaking engagements, press releases, and collaborative events?

• What message fell thru the cracks in your branding strategy in 2022? How can you refresh your messaging in 2023?

Messaging is universal. Whether you are a coach, a consultant, or a podcaster. an author or a one-woman-band, brand packaging is spoken in one language. The language of branding is slowly morphing from phronetic energy overload to simplistic boldness. Minimalism focused content, and bold colors reign supreme in the next year.

Here are some ways you can rethink and refresh your brand so you become a staple in the lives of your consumer.

1. Keep it simple stupid--(KISS). Yes, keep your creativity at a minimum. We don't like overly worded attempts to lure us into your ecosystem. We demand bold attempts at branding, brighter colors and a few words (SEOS if possible) to win our hearts. **sidenote: bright hues and neon are making a comeback. Do not dismiss past trends. Look to the '80s for inspiration.

2. Mission Forward Branding Makes Us Happy--Piggybacking on the idea of simplicity, we, as consumers are wanting to change the world. Convey to your audience the way you are adding value to the world. Nobody likes a greedy brand. We want to be wowed by your altruistic attempts to leave this world a better place.

3. Make Us Laugh--This world needs a good laugh right now. Recession, inflation, and social disarray leaves the potential consumer in a depressed state. We need a good chuckle-and why not infuse your brand with irreverent humor? It works, and it is the salve that will connect you to a dissatisfied demographic.

4. Humanize your brand-- Pull up your chairs and listen in. You are a brand. You are trying to grow and scale your brand, so do not forget you are a human. We need to remember that those vulnerable points, and those interesting challenges in our journey make us relatable.

Top Branding Trends in 2023: Bold Simplicity

Final Thoughts:

Stop squirreling around. Stop chasing shiny objects and packing everything you do into your brand. You need to understand the strengths of your brand and go bold.

GO BOLD OR GO HOME

Be clear, be consistent and engaging. This is the magic that will take your business to the next level.

Let me know your thoughts below ⬇⬇⬇⬇

If you do the work, you will succeed. Take Inspired Action--Jules

Why listen to me?

I am an advocate for brand builders who are looking to change the landscape of their businesses. I am a writer for Entrepreneur Magazine, a badass business builder and facilitator of dreams. If you like what you read-check out my podcasts, OBSESSED, and THE MEDIACASTERS.

If you do not connect with my message-let me know why the heck not!

The 4 Lessons I Learned From Queen Elizabeth

This is a reprint of my article on Entrepreneur.com

👑Listen To Our Podcast Here: OBSESSED

With the bittersweet conclusion of Queen Elizabeth's 70-year reign, the lessons of Elizabeth's leadership as sovereign cannot be minimalized. Elizabeth was thrust onto the throne, untethered and relatively untrained. She inherited a multi-dimensional position as sovereign of her country and the figurehead of the Commonwealth of Nations. For seven decades, Elizabeth forged her way through triumph, tragedy and trauma, yet experienced exponential growth and unrivaled admiration.

As an entrepreneur, it is with a keen eye that we must glean through the thicket of immense experiences Elizabeth forged. As a business owner, lessons on her leadership hold a dynamic approach to how we must conduct our business. Queen Elizabeth understood that her platform was as a visionary. Her platform was not focused on immediate gratification, yet it was positioned to weather volatility. Her Majesty understood the power of playing the long game.

1. Keep calm and carry on

As an entrepreneur, we are subjected to wild rides of instability, growth, and innovation. Elizabeth ascended to the throne through an unexpected turn of events. Her uncle Edward resigned, leaving Elizabeth's father the hesitant heir to the throne. Elizabeth began her young adulthood not positioning herself as one of the most powerful figureheads in the world. Instead, she was swept up in a passionate marriage to Philip, a swashbuckling naval officer who gallantly provided adventure and normalcy for the young princess.

At age 26, while on an official tour of Kenya, Princess Elizabeth became Queen. Her father died at an early age, and in his last heartbeat, she became sovereign. With the stoicism of her forefathers, she embraced her duties and became, perhaps, the most famous working mother on the planet. Elizabeth understood the importance of duty and securing the legacy of the crown.

The lesson learned is that while we, as entrepreneurs, are faced with incredible highs and lows, we must maintain an equilibrium. We must understand the prioritization of duties and carry them out to our fullest capacity. Riding the wave of the unknown and having the tenacity to maintain the clarity of the mission is essential for long-term growth and success.

2. Never complain, never explain

Legend has it that the motto of the Windsor Family is, "Never Complain, Never Explain." This credo speaks to the strength in leadership as the cornerstone of being the beacon for our brand. Queen Elizabeth was the brand of the United Kingdom. She was steadfast and consistent and did not dabble in frivolities, political alliances and hearsay.

When modern leaders are often swept up in the diversions of drama, conducting themselves in a discretionary manner and surrounding themselves with trusted advisors creates an ecosystem of respect. It is important to monitor your brand's presence and be consistent in the messaging you wish to illicit.

Related: How Complaining Rewires Your Brain for Negativity

3. Adapt to change

The Queen's reign spanned seven decades which weaved in and out of social, political and personal changes. Her career timeline shadows a documented history aligned with public adoration and dipped into sheer dislike.

Her accession was baptized in the bleak austerity of a post-war reality and morphed into the glamour and youth that inaugurated her position as a sovereign. Elizabeth, in the 90s, fell subject to deep distaste for the stoic leader unable to connect with her country after the death of Princess Diana. Ultimately, her legacy was built upon her steadfast ability to adapt during challenging times.

Queen Elizabeth's popularity weaved in and out of satisfaction, adoration and complacency. Her ability to ascertain her empire's trends, needs and desires kept her a steady presence in the consciousness of her brand's consumption.

This adaption is equally as important to entrepreneurs navigating fluctuations in their business. A solid business model should have the underpinnings to support turbulent markets, trends and socio-economic changes. It is important to understand your business's long-term vision and viability and be flexible in how you approach your brand's positioning.

Related: How to Quickly Adapt to Change and Future-Proof Your Business

4. Train your predecessors

Building a business is an arduous task and can feel isolating. You must have a backup plan and a predecessor who understands the mission and vision of your business. Queen Elizabeth, with diligence, strategically mentored and trained her heirs apparent. Elizabeth instinctively understood that the monarchy's viability rested not only upon her shoulders but on the shoulders of her heirs, Charles, William and George. With precision, the most recent royal optics portrayed her successors as strong and capable members of the firm.

Elizabeth's extensive tenure as monarch lent her the ability to train and mentor future monarchs. She forged exclusive time to coach them on the responsibilities they were expected to complete. Elizabeth understood, through experience, that it was her duty to pass the torch to the following generations.

As with entrepreneurs, it is essential to carve out valuable time to mentor and teach your team so they have the tools to facilitate your business's ultimate mission and goals. Queen Elizabeth's legacy and lessons will live on for generations to follow. Her leadership has provided a formidable roadmap for leaders worldwide.

Learn more about my obsession with all things branding, business and Queen Elizabeth!

--YOU GOT THIS--Jules

2 Tools To Strengthen Your Website Traffic and Freshen Up Your Fanbase (LIKE A PRO)

Attract more website traffic organically | Julie Lokun JD

I love analytics. I love website traffic. Ultimately, the more traffic you attract the more relationships you have the opportunity to build. More importantly, I am on a mission to understand the complexities of building a loyal following on my website. I adore the dance with Google, and ask, "How can I make you love me more"?

Here are two of my favorite ways to grow my business organically. They are different, yet the same. SEOs and Pinterest flirt with Google and bring hits to my website organically.

Warning: Take this sage advice with a steady cadence. Entrepreneurs are always striving to build their audience and reach. Overwhelm can be a distinct path to burnout.

Tip #1 : SEOs- ( SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZERS)

The power of SEOs can change your business and website's visibility. I am obsessed with the power of SEOs (SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZERS). SEOs are simply keywords that your audience searches for to find you. Keywords are the key to unlocking the path for thousands or millions of potential clients, customers, or superfans to find your site.

The world of search engine optimization is complex and ever-changing, but you can easily understand the basics, and even a small amount of SEO knowledge can make a big difference. I liken SEOs to chasing water down a mountain. You capture the perfect word in the palm of your hands and then it is gone. POOF!

The game changes. The SEO game is a marathon, not a sprint. It is important you do the research on SEO's and I am a big champion of Keywords Everywhere. Keywords Everywhere is a Chrome extension that allows you to do comprehensive research on SEOs. It allows you to see the analytics of competitive websites and glean from their keyword success.

To understand the magnitude of SEOs-start by asking yourself, what would my potential client/customer be googling? It is important to pepper in your website content with these key phrases to catch the attention of all search engines. This expansive topic is fascinating for me (frustrating for others). If you are interested to learn more about the secrets of SEOs, get my free Ebook on this page:

Get My Free eBook on SEOs

Tip #2: Pinterest- Let Me Introduce You To This Search Engine

(I'm obsessed with the sleeping giant.)

Don’t be fooled by this unassuming powerhouse of a search engine. Yes, I said search engine. Many users are misinformed about Pinterest’s power, and they often label it “social media.” I’m obsessed with this platform since it is Google in disguise. Pinterest attracts users that are in the discovery phase of a search. Users are looking for recipes, clothing, and even inspiration in their lives. And, the amazing part of the user experience is that users are poised to purchase. The algorithms are such that content can be used and reused, unlike social media platforms.

The Pinterest algorithm soaks up current pins. For example, if it is February, pins that smack of love and Valentine’s tend to garner more interest. How do you start on Pinterest? Use your Canva account to create appealing visuals that aren't blatant advertisements. First, think about your desired audience and ask yourself, what would this audience be interested in? My desired audience is interested in personal and professional development, so they are most likely drawn to words of inspiration and personal growth tips. Don’t make your pin specific to a sale or advertisement. Draw in your audience with a visually appealing display of something you represent. For example, a client who happens to own a bakery should post a recipe or a photo of a decadent pastry. This expands visibility. Remember, visibility is the key to establishing your brand.

Why Pinterest Works

When you draw a client in with your vibrant pin, you have the opportunity to expand on this pin in your content. When a user clicks on the pin, it immediately takes them to your website. This provides a one-step process. A photo and simple content attract a user; then, they are swept to your website, where you can elaborate on your life-altering product or service. The simple 1-click step of getting a user to your website will lead to client engagement and a possible sale. (Remember, simple is better. The more a user is required to navigate different platforms, the more likely you will lose their attention.) What's even better? If a Pinterest user pins one of your pins to their board, all of their followers will experience your brand. Pinterest has the capability to expand your visibility exponentially.

My Tip: Budget a little money to invest in Pinterest Ads. You can budget as little as two dollars a day, and your pins will be seen. My website hits doubled in the first week of testing out this marketing strategy.

Sidenote:

*The demographics of Pinterest are 80% women who possess untapped buying potential. I typically curate my pins to be female-centric.

The life of an entrepreneur is one of trial and error. Understand what works for you. Yet, never rest on your laurels. The creativity lies in the explosion of exploration.

You got this!-- Jules

Get Obsessed With Building A Business you LOVE! Check out previous blogs.

Julie Lokun, JD is a mom to 4 boys and is passionate about writing, blogging, serving, and podcasting. Julie is a 4-time author with accolades of being the #1 new release on Amazon. She is just trying to figure it out as she does in life.