It’s thanks to our families’ businesses that I was able to explore the world of professional graphic design, and in essence — branding.
Reflecting on it now, I’ve been in the world of branding since high school – when my mom opened her own real-estate office. I designed her logo, coded her website, created her pamphlets, forms, letterheads, business cards and essentially handled all her marketing. And then, her colleague’s carpentry business. And then, my dad’s carpet cleaning business, the family restaurant, and now — my and my husband’s business: Regal Construction.
Ideally my best work would be reserved for the source of our bread and butter but that’s usually not the case. My first few efforts in running the social media account have been inconsistent and rushed, to the frustration of my husband who sometimes tries to teach himself so he won’t have to wait on me.
To be clear, I can probably build a brand design concept and put together a social media calendar for a hundred other businesses before I can do it for our own. My overthinking and perfectionist tendencies keep me from committing to our marketing plans. I’m working on it.
Developing social media presence for my husband’s home inspection business was a fun, yet challenging project. Social media allows for immediate feedback and interaction from the audience — an addicting form of engagement for true marketing minds.
I’m proud that my husband established his reputation based on his network and charisma. But, the contribution of a clean website and visually appealing Instagram account make us a great team to grow his business. I aimed to use his personal account as a professional space where people within his network could see his work and family life, while also appealing to potential clients. We maintained a deep, cool blue color scheme with pops of gold to align with his company’s branding. Over three months, his follower count doubled from 300 to over 700 users.
His individual posts were striking, relevant, and high-quality. When viewed as a grid, the solid colors, tinted photos, and testimonials created a cohesive and on-brand appearance, reflecting the quality and professionalism of his services. Responding to comments, sharing ideas, and providing insight to our audience through easy-to-digest and beautifully grafted posts make social media one of my favorite modes of communication.
Skills Required: Graphic design, brand development, logo design, social media, digital advertising, content creation, photography, videography
Software Used: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Rush, Adobe Express, Adobe Fresco, Canva