Has your branding got more problems than a maths book?

Branding isn’t just something that eCommerce businesses need to care about. Even public sector organisations should be considering their branding and how it will affect the community they serve.

Discover more about branding for educators and ways to make your brand different from others. Or if you already know your school, college or university needs to rebrand, why not speak to the rebranding experts at WEBPRO Education now?

What is a brand?

A brand is a way of positioning a business, its products and its values to the market. Many people assume a brand is just something to do with colour schemes, logos and the tone of voice used in marketing materials - which is somewhat true - but it’s more than that.

A brand is what makes customers proud, happy or excited to buy from it and be a recognised part of the community the business creates.

It becomes difficult to differentiate between a business and its brand over time, which makes them so important to get right.

Do public schools and colleges need a brand?

Branding and businesses usually get talked about like two pedals on a bicycle. They work in tandem with each other. But fewer people discuss the need for public sector organisations to have their own branding, such as schools and colleges.

They might not be commercially motivated businesses aiming for huge profits, but they should be creating a feeling of pride and belonging among students and their parents.

The same is not quite as true for universities that are much more commercially motivated and typically build a brand from reputation and their successful alumni, although they still very much need a recognisable brand too.

School brands should focus on the community

Schools rightfully focus their values on improving their students’ education and development. This is expected, but it doesn’t differentiate one school from the next. To create a memorable and unique school brand, the school should go the extra mile.

One opportunity to achieve this is to focus on environmental projects and local charities.

Creating initiatives with charities and community projects and getting the students involved (and maybe parents too!) will position the school as having a pivotal role in the wider community.

It makes students and their parents proud to be part of the school because it gets branded as a community supporter.

These actions filter into a school’s values and therefore its brand.

School branding from a design perspective

With so many schools and academies out there, it can be difficult to come up with a colour scheme, logo or motto that hasn’t already been used elsewhere in the UK. However, it’s not impossible and it’s made easier with branding experts on your team.

You should consult branding professionals and marketers to create a brand colour scheme, logo, and other materials that make a brand appealing and consistent. These types of professionals can ensure you avoid common school branding mistakes that can put parents and students off.

School rebranding services from WEBPRO Education

WEBPRO Education offers complete branding and rebranding services to schools, colleges and universities. If you need assistance to improve or overhaul your branding, we are on standby and ready to help.

Our graphic designers and marketing team work in close cooperation to create a whole new brand across all of your marketing materials and website. Come and chat with us today!

Recap: Branding is something we typically associate with corporate businesses seeking to grow their empire. But branding is also something that schools and colleges should be paying close attention to. They need to follow the same rules as when businesses rebrand, such as keeping the branding consistent. But they should also look to stand out by creating a community feeling with students, parents and local organisations.

P.S. Don’t make the mistake of trying to rebrand without professional input. You could cause long-term damage to your brand.