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The way we approach branding dictates just about everything front-facing about our businesses. With a strong brand, all the goals that go into growing and sustaining a business become all the more achievable. When we think about the way brands connect with users, there’s never been a more tricky time to define ourselves.
Throughout the pandemic, brands either thrived or faltered on the strength of their brand. Consumers spend enough time online shopping nowadays to have a healthy skepticism towards businesses that just don’t cut it. In short: we know who’s faking it and who isn’t. Don’t fake it. Instead, take time to explore these trends in building a better brand and find ways to adopt these ideas into strategic marketing plans for the future.
Highlight Authenticity
One of the first things a customer knows about a brand is whether or not it’s authentic. When we talk about authenticity, it’s best to go with the definition a digital product studio would use.
Brand authenticity comes down to three questions: Is the brand true to its message and mission? Is the brand motivated by the right things? Can the brand support customers in their search for authenticity?
It’s not easy to just throw a brand together without losing authenticity. That’s why a lot of these other tips feed into building this crucial element that we all look for when we explore places to shop for goods and services. Keep this one in mind while we work our way through the rest.
Work to Build an Online Community
In 2020, we all found ourselves spending less face-to-face time with our friends and family. Many of us turned to online communities as a way to fulfill our needs for socializing, interacting, and belonging. Brands play a role in these online communities if they’re really resonating with their audiences. For instance, a simple interest in the same outdoor life brand or clothing company can bring people together.
Likewise, a company that uses its brand to posture its products alongside issues and interests finds a much easier path to building its online community. We’re all consumers, and we like choosing to buy and support things we can get behind. It’s no wonder we love it when brands help connect us to people that feel the same way.
Audit Your Logo and Adjust Accordingly
We put a lot of a brand’s style and recognition into one simple visual: a logo. Whether it be a simple avatar on social media or all over a package, logos matter immensely. Approaching brand trends from the established business perspective, we need audits to improve the brand and get better results.
When we think of good logos, we can list countless attributes and things we love to see. At the end of the day, it really comes down to logo versatility. A logo should work for numerous spaces and utilities. That means it needs to be simple, eye-catching, and functional across multiple places.
Think Sustainable
The word trend sometimes has a bad connotation. For example, sustainability in branding is often shrugged off as a “trend” that is here for the moment because it’s on our minds. Let’s be clear: sustainability is here to stay. Instead of debating if sustainable values fit into a brand, a better way to approach this crucial topic is to find ways your brand can become more sustainable.
Unlike some trends, sustainable production, packaging, and practices should be something we plan to use for the long haul. Time and time again, customers express their love for brands that think sustainably. It’s good for building authenticity, it resonates with customers, and best of all, it’s a trend that truly makes a difference in the world around us.
Think Inclusive
2020 didn’t just see the rise of a global pandemic; we also took conversations of race and inclusion into the public sphere for all to participate. If our brands are a reflection of us and the people we hope to connect with, then inclusivity needs to be a part of the picture.
How can inclusivity be incorporated into our branding? Well for starters, we need to think of inclusivity as an invitation for all to get on board with what we want to accomplish. That means looking at marginalized groups and those traditionally left behind in brand campaigns and not just including them, but celebrating and lifting them. ThirdLove and its approach to bra sizing is a great example of how inclusivity is a recipe for success.
Balancing Social Media Branding and Traditional Ads
When we write a social media post as personal users, we likely don’t set out to write it like an advertisement. Spoiler alert: neither should businesses! That’s why branding goes a long way in developing an identity in traditional ads and social posts.
Branding helps us to identify how we want to reach our audience, what topics and subjects interest us most, and how we want to address these with solutions. Making a word cloud about what we envision our brand to be can help write more effective social posts and ads.
Visual and Video Branded Content
When we develop things like pictures and videos for businesses, it’s crucial to keep them on-brand. That doesn’t just mean fitting our little logo to the corner. It’s a mindset that goes into how we shoot the photo or video, how we approach post-production, and where we can find room to stand out uniquely.
From music choices in videos to filtering photos to fit a picture-perfect Instagram feed aesthetic, all of these technical choices should lead back to a branded experience for the user. It’s all the more reason to have authentic values and aesthetics as a brand so the content production process can go more smoothly.
Keep It Human and Customer-Focused
At the end of the day, we can’t forget that brands need to stay customer-focused and highlight our humanity. We might be talking to users from the perspective of a business, but it needs to feel like every connection you make with an audience is a personal one.
With branding becoming such an integral part of a company’s longevity and impact, it’s no wonder why trends in branding are changing all the time. Keep an eye on these trends and more that emerge in 2022 and beyond to continue taking a creative approach to growth, success, and better businesses.
Billing Automation for a SaaS Company with Low-Code
Our client needed a robust billing solution to manage hierarchical licenses, ensure compliance, and automate invoicing for streamlined operations.
The solution:
We developed a Retool-based application that supports multi-tiered licenses, automates invoicing workflows, and integrates seamlessly with CRM and accounting platforms to enhance financial data management.
The result:
- Achieved 100% adherence to licensing agreements, mitigating penalties.
- Automated invoicing and workflows reduced manual effort significantly.
- Dashboards and reports improved decision-making and operational visibility.
Retool Dashboards with HubSpot Integration
Our client needed a centralized tool to aggregate account and contact activity, improving visibility and decision-making for the sales team.
The solution
We built a Retool application integrated with HubSpot, QuickMail, and Clay.com. The app features dashboards for sorting, filtering, and detailed views of companies, contacts, and deals, along with real-time notifications and bidirectional data syncing.
The result
- MVP in 50 hours: Delivered a functional application in just 50 hours.
- Smarter decisions: Enabled data-driven insights for strategic planning.
- Streamlined operations: Reduced manual tasks with automation and real-time updates.
Lead Generation Tool to Reduce Manual Work
Our client, Afore Capital, a venture capital firm focused on pre-seed investments, aimed to automate their lead generation processes but struggled with existing out-of-the-box solutions. To tackle this challenge, they sought assistance from our team of Akveo Retool experts.
The scope of work
The client needed a tailored solution to log and track inbound deals effectively. They required an application that could facilitate the addition, viewing, and editing of company and founder information, ensuring data integrity and preventing duplicates. Additionally, Afore Capital aimed to integrate external tools like PhantomBuster and LinkedIn to streamline data collection.
The result
By developing a custom Retool application, we streamlined the lead generation process, significantly reducing manual data entry. The application enabled employees to manage inbound deals efficiently while automated workflows for email parsing, notifications, and dynamic reporting enhanced operational efficiency. This allowed Afore Capital's team to focus more on building relationships with potential founders rather than on administrative tasks.
Retool CMS Application for EdTech Startup
Our client, CutTime, a leading fine arts education management platform, needed a scalable CMS application to improve vendor product management and user experience.
The scope of work
We developed a Retool application that allows vendors to easily upload and manage product listings, handle inventory, and set shipping options. The challenge was to integrate the app with the client’s system, enabling smooth authentication and product management for program directors.
The result
Our solution streamlined product management, reducing manual work for vendors, and significantly improving operational efficiency.
Building Reconciliation Tool for e-commerce company
Our client was in need of streamlining and simplifying its monthly accounting reconciliation process – preferably automatically. But with a lack of time and low budget for a custom build, development of a comprehensive software wasn’t in the picture. After going through the case and customer’s needs, we decided to implement Retool. And that was the right choice.
The scope of work
Our team developed a custom reconciliation tool designed specifically for the needs of high-volume transaction environments. It automated the processes and provided a comprehensive dashboard for monitoring discrepancies and anomalies in real-time.
The implementation of Retool significantly reduced manual effort, as well as fostered a more efficient and time-saving reconciliation process.
Creating Retool Mobile App for a Wine Seller
A leading spirits and wine seller in Europe required the development of an internal mobile app for private client managers and administrators. The project was supposed to be done in 1,5 months. Considering urgency and the scope of work, our developers decided to use Retool for swift and effective development.
The scope of work
Our developers built a mobile application tailored to the needs of the company's sales force: with a comprehensive overview of client interactions, facilitated order processing, and enabled access to sales history and performance metrics. It was user-friendly, with real-time updates, seamlessly integrated with existing customer databases.
The result? Increase in productivity of the sales team and improved decision-making process. But most importantly, positive feedback from the customers themselves.
Developing PoC with Low Code for a Tour Operator
To efficiently gather, centralize, and manage data is a challenge for any tour operator. Our client was not an exception. The company was seeking to get an internal software that will source information from third-party APIs and automate the travel itinerary creation process. Preferably, cost- and user-friendly tool.
The scope of work
Our experts ensured the client that all the requirements could be covered by Retool. And just in 40 hours a new software was launched. The tool had a flexible and easy-to-use interface with user authentication and an access management system panel – all the company needed. At the end, Retool was considered the main tool to replace the existing system.
Testing New Generation of Lead Management Tool with Retool
Our client, a venture fund, had challenges with managing lead generation and client acquisition. As the company grew, it aimed to attract more clients and scale faster, as well as automate the processes to save time, improve efficiency and minimize human error. The idea was to craft an internal lead generation tool that will cover all the needs. We’ve agreed that Retool will be a perfect tool for this.
The scope of work
The project initially began as a proof of concept, but soon enough, with each new feature delivered, the company experienced increased engagement and value.
We developed a web tool that integrates seamlessly with Phantombuster for data extraction and LinkedIn for social outreach. Now, the company has a platform that elevates the efficiency of their lead generation activities and provides deep insights into potential client bases.
Building an Advanced Admin Portal for Streamlined Operations
Confronted with the need for more sophisticated internal tools, an owner of IP Licensing marketplace turned to Retool to utilize its administrative functions. The primary goal was to construct an advanced admin portal that could support complex, multi-layered processes efficiently.
The scope of work
Our client needed help with updating filters and tables for its internal platform. In just 30 hours we've been able to update and create about 6 pages. Following features were introduced: add complex filtering and search, delete records, styling application with custom CSS.
Together, we have increased performance on most heavy pages and fixed circular dependency issues.
Creating MVP Dashboard for Google Cloud Users
Facing the challenge of unoptimized cloud resource management, a technology firm working with Google Cloud users was looking for a solution to make its operations more efficient. The main idea of the project was to create an MVP for e-commerce shops to test some client hypotheses. Traditional cloud management tools fell short.
The scope of work
Determined to break through limitations, our team of developers turned Retool. We decided to craft an MVP Dashboard specifically for Google Cloud users. This wasn't just about bringing data into view; but about reshaping how teams interact with their cloud environment.
We designed a dashboard that turned complex cloud data into a clear, strategic asset thanks to comprehensive analytics, tailored metrics, and an intuitive interface, that Retool provides. As the results, an increase in operational efficiency, significant improvement in cost management and resource optimization.
Elevating CRM with Custom HubSpot Sales Dashboard
Our other client, a SaaS startup, that offers collaborative tools for design and engineering teams, was on a quest to supercharge their sales efforts. Traditional CRM systems were limited and not customizable enough. The company sought a solution that could tailor HubSpot to their workflow and analytics needs.
The scope of work
Charged with the task of going beyond standard CRM functions, our team turned to Retool. We wanted to redefine how sales teams interact with their CRM.
By integrating advanced analytics, custom metrics, and a user-friendly interface, our developers provided a solution that transformed data into a strategic asset.
In 40 hours, three informative dashboards were developed, containing the most sensitive data related to sales activities. These dashboards enable our customer to analyze sales and lead generation performance from a different perspective and establish the appropriate KPIs.
Building a PDF Editor with Low-Code
Our client, a leading digital credential IT startup, needed a lot of internal processes to be optimized. But the experience with low-code tools wasn’t sufficient. That’s why the company decided to hire professionals. And our team of developers joined the project.
The scope of work
The client has a program that designs and prints custom badges for customers. The badges need to be “mail-merged” with a person’s info and turned into a PDF to print. But what is the best way to do it?
Our developers decided to use Retool as a core tool. Using custom components and JavaScript, we developed a program that reduced employees' time for designing, putting the data, verifying, and printing PDF badges in one application.
As a result, the new approach significantly reduces the time required by the internal team to organize all the necessary staff for the conference, including badge creation.
