How to Become a Landmark with your Small Business Branding

Kamilla Sims
Jul 11
2 min read

I’m an illustrator/ brand designer specializing in small business branding, and while working with my branding studio that work I’ve noticed a really interesting phenomenon.

When most people think of branding you probably think about things like fonts and logos and color schemes and probably some annoying influencer. All those things (except the last one) are important and can be extremely effective but it doesn’t stop there either. Both the inside and the outside of your space can play a large part in how people see your business, and while this is often overlooked it can be a massive asset to your business’s brand.

One of the easiest ways to use your space to your advantage in a branding capacity is to add a mural or some other art that really stands out, and it is better if it stands out. Bonus points if you can see it from the street or take selfies with it, because if it’s interesting people will, and they’ll connect it to your business when they do.

I’ve seen cafes get insane amounts of free advertising this way, showing up on social media or popping up in google searches. But a mural doesn't have to go viral to benefit you. If it’s interesting and unique enough it could become the thing that sets you apart in your local community. I’ve seen businesses literally added to local maps or referred to as ‘that place with the (whatever is in your mural)’

Even if the mural doesn’t make you go viral or put you on local maps or get posted on social media, it’s still incredibly beneficial to your small business brand. You now have something super memorable that’s easily identified with your business and sets the tone for the experience you want your customers to have extremely effectively. It sets you apart from the crowd in an instant and can deliver your unique mission behind your business in a way that’s far too complicated for a logo that has to stay simple and easily reproducible.

See how much the tone changes with a little illustration design? It’s easy to imagine how that might stand out across the street. Or create a more appealing experience for customers than a blank wall. It really only a little illustration to make your space work for your branding.