A Lesson in Collateral Consistency in the Digital Age

Today, we're talking web collateral. While you may understand the importance of collateral (brochures, promotional items, etc.) in spreading your business’s name, you might need some help developing that when it comes to the web. The real challenge in this case lies within using different media to communicate. Here are a few collateral ideas that will spread your message in a less conventional manner than the standard logo-infused brochure.

Infographics

Infographics are a way of visualizing information and statistics in a condensed format. What makes them great is that they appeal to many different types of learners; Some people are visual learners, whereas some learn by reading. They can also be shared by users on outlets like Pinterest, Tumblr, and BuzzFeed, so you don’t have to hand it to someone in person for your message to be heard. No matter where it is shared, it will always be branded with your logo, so viewers will be directed back to your company.
Exhibit A: This Honda Accord Infographic…

Kickstarter

Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative initiatives. Essentially, it is a social way of getting people involved with your new project. The way it works is that you set a deadline for when you want to raise a certain amount of money. Then, you try to get people to back you, for some kind of reward in return (a service you will provide, etc.). If you do not meet your monetary goal, none of your backers are charged. There are certain specifications to which types of projects qualify, but if you are trying to get your business off of the ground, this is a great avenue to display what your brand is all about. With Kickstarter, customers actually get to see the quality of your work.

Instagram

Instagram is a useful tool for sharing pictures of what you actually do with your company. Contrary to what some may think, you don’t have to be artsy or a professional photographer for it to be effective. It can be useful just to post pictures of you and some co-workers at a company-sponsored event to Facebook and Twitter all at once. For that reason, Instagram is a great idea to help make your brand more consistent, without having to deal with the logistics of creating a new banner (Instagram profiles are not customizable).

Have you ever tried other unconventional media that were successful?