Semi-custom branding 101: what is it, and is it for you?
Last week we introduced our latest product offering: semi-custom branding kits. Maybe you’ve seen our own posts about it, or perhaps you’ve previously seen semi-custom branding kits swirling elsewhere around the internet as a budget-conscious alternative for small business owners seeking stylish branding.
In this blog post, we’re going to unpack what exactly semi-custom branding is, who it’s ideal for, and answer a few of the common questions around semi-custom branding.
If you’re considering purchasing one of our semi-custom branding kits or one from another studio, then keep reading!
What is a semi-custom branding kit?
Semi-custom branding kits are thoughtfully pre-designed branding templates that give your business a high-end look at an affordable price. They’ve quickly become a popular offering in the branding space out of a core value that every business, no matter their budget, deserves a stylish, modern brand design. The branding kit that you purchase is then partially customized for your business (such as inputting your business name, tagline, and color palette) so the end result is a unique-to-you, stylish brand design at a fraction of a fully-customized branding cost.
Where fully-custom brand design is a costly investment ideal for established brands, semi-custom brand design is an affordable option for smaller, newer businesses.
A semi-custom brand can serve as a short-term solution while you save up to invest in a more personalized-to-you, long-term brand design and brand strategy (which is something that we do here at Author).
What’s the difference between a semi-custom brand and a fully-custom brand?
Besides the obvious difference of one being partially customized and one being fully customized, there are a few key distinctions between a pre-designed brand and one that is designed for you.
First, a semi-custom branding kit has been thoughtfully and intentionally pre-designed before you purchase. This means that most aesthetic design choices have already been made and rather than being created with a particular, unique brand in mind, have been designed to appeal to a wider range of businesses seeking a specific aesthetic. A fully-customized brand design, however, involves you in the creative process—you get to take part in the artistic decision-making of your brand design.
But when you hear “semi-custom branding”, don’t think “generic”—our semi-custom branding kits are each uniquely designed around a particular aesthetic or design style. Just because it’s not made from scratch to suit your business doesn’t mean you won’t find a pre-made brand design that feels like the perfect fit for you!
You can still create a brand that feels unique to you—even if your branding is a pre-designed, semi-customizable design.
Second, our semi-customizable branding kits do not include brand strategy development, whereas our fully-customized, done-for-you branding process we typically do here at Author does. While we can’t overstate the importance of a strong brand strategy for businesses of every size, we also acknowledge the reality that most small businesses need to prioritize making money and testing their proof of concept first. At this point in your business, questions like “Who is the specific target audience that you want to reach?” or “What is your vision and mission?” might come secondary to “Will anyone even buy this product?”. A semi-custom branding package will allow you to get your business off the ground, test the market, and easily pivot or readjust your business before pursuing a more solid brand strategy.
Does this mean that a small business can’t invest in a brand strategy and fully customizable brand design? Not at all! Brand strategy is for businesses of every size that need to build upon a solid foundation or grow to the next level with a “done-for-you” approach, while semi-custom brands are for those who might just need a little kick-start with pre-made design assets.
What can you expect when you buy a semi-custom branding kit?
First, even though you’re purchasing a brand design that has been pre-created, we hope you can expect to walk away with a stunning, stylish, modern brand design that feels unique to your business once it’s been semi-customized to you. Remember that “pre-made” doesn’t mean “bland” or “generic”!
Our semi-custom branding process is designed to give you a stylish, modern brand in just 2 weeks.
Once you purchase one of our semi-customizable branding kits, you’ll receive an invitation to fill out a client questionnaire walking you through the information we need in order to customize your branding kit to your business. This includes your business name, your business tagline, your color palette (if you have one already—we also have thoughtfully-curated color palette options for each branding kit that you can choose as an alternative, or we can work with you to create your own personal color palette!), and more.
Wondering how unique your semi-custom brand will really look once it’s been personalized to your business? Watch us transform this semi-custom branding kit:
All of our semi-custom brands include a free round of revisions on the customized brand design, so rest assured that you will still play a role in the process! After we send you a preview of your customized brand kit, you’ll have an opportunity to request changes (or request further rounds of revisions for an additional fee) before your brand files are carefully organized, packaged, and sent your way.
And the best part? The entire process has been intentionally curated so you can launch your brand within two weeks of our receiving your filled-out questionnaire. That’s right: it’s never been easier, faster, or more affordable to launch your brand with confidence.
Is a semi–custom branding kit right for you?
So you’re on the fence about whether a semi-custom branding kit is right for you. Don’t worry, we’ll walk through this question together! We would say a semi-custom brand is ideal for you if:
You’re a new or small business owner who needs an affordable brand design
You need to make a strong first impression with a stylish brand design—fast
You don’t have a fully-formed branding strategy, in fact it’s likely to evolve over the next few months
You’re still testing the market to see if your business idea can even work
You haven’t made your first 6 (or even 5) figures in business yet
However, a semi-custom branding kit is not ideal for you if:
Your business has been operating for more than 12 months or so
You’ve already proved your business idea and you’re looking to take your brand to the next level of growth
You need help with your brand messaging, brand mission statement, brand positioning, identifying your target audience, brand story framework, or other elements covered in a brand strategy development
You need a more unique, customized brand design (either to stand out in the market or because you have a specific creative vision in mind for your brand)
There are plenty more reasons for each scenario, but these are generally the questions we suggest anyone interested in our semi-custom branding kits to answer in order to make a thoughtful purchasing decision.
Whether you’re purchasing a semi-custom branding kit or starting your tailor-made brand strategy development with us, we’re excited to see your brand grow and business succeed! Start your branding journey today:
