In this episode of The Debrief, we're sitting down with Irwin's VP of Marketing, Melissa Homère, and digging into their team's experience working alongside Focus Lab to level up their existing brand. Irwin had an innovative product and a respected brand, but recognized that they were in need of a refresh to get organized, strategic, and elevated. In our conversation, we touch on everything from: 👉 Verbalizing the importance of a rebrand to the larger team 👉 The importance of strategy in their rebrand effort 👉 Quantifying the ROI of the rebrand after just a few months And so much more!

Additional Resources: Focus Lab <> Irwin Case Study Irwin Article: Boldly Forward, Introducing Our New Brand

Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves. --- FOLLOW US: ►Podcast: https://anchor.fm/focuslab ►Instagram: @focuslabllc ►LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-lab-llc ►Dribbble: https://dribbble.com/focuslab ►Web: https://focuslab.agency Looking for a brand agency? We would love to hear from you. Email us: hello@focuslab.agency

In this episode of The Debrief, we are sitting down with our pal Philip Lakin, former CEO and co-founder of NoCodeOps. What do we mean by former, you ask? Well, a few weeks back our friends at NoCodeOps were acquired by "their favorite player in the space" — Zapier.

Focus Lab CEO, Bill Kenney, sits down with Phil to relive their rebrand experience with us from two years ago and discuss how the brand has helped get them to where they are today. They touch on topics such as:

👉 The strategy behind making tough brand architecture decisions

👉 The success behind a community-based approach as a SaaS company

👉 How the brand investment helped with the Zapier acquisition

And so much more!

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NoCodeOps / Zapier Acquisition Press Release: https://www.nocodeops.com/zapier

NoCodeOps Case Study: https://focuslab.agency/work/nocodeops

In honor of Earth Day and with a very timely rebrand, we have Senior Marketing Manager at Nori, Heidi Sloane, on the show to discuss their experience partnering with us on their new identity. For context, Nori is on a mission to scale the carbon removal industry, with the ultimate goal of reversing climate change. With a fully-integrated approach to creating, managing and selling verified carbon removals they seek to simplify a complicated market while increasing transparency, trust, efficiency, and impact. Tune is as Heidi and Bill discuss how Nori knew they were ready to elevate their brand, the biggest challenges and rewards of the project, and a few hidden gems of the Odi process that ended up being a pleasant surprise. Case study coming soon — stay tuned! Learn more about Nori: https://nori.com/

00:00 - Intro 04:25 - How did you know it was time to invest in brand? 10:10 - What were you looking for in a rebrand partner? 13:23 - What was the most challenging part of the rebrand? 18:00 - The rewards and ROI of the Nori rebrand 21:50 - Odi Process Highlights: SMIT (Single Most Important Thing) and Brand Attributes 27:45 - What advice do you have for someone approaching a rebrand?

- Odi is a B2B brand agency serving the unique demands of early-stage startups. Created by the global brand experts at Focus Lab. ► https://odibrand.agency Looking for a brand agency? We would love to hear from you. Email us: hello@odibrand.agency

After operating with the same brand identity for 50+ years, the Fabricators & Manufacturers Associate (FMA) decided it was time for a change. President + CEO, Ed Youdell, and VP of Finance, Natalie Haefliger, sat down with Focus Lab CEO Bill Kenney to reflect on their (multiple) projects with our team. Tune is as they discuss managing stakeholder expectations, the importance of a rebrand deadline, the most rewarding aspects of the project, and so much more. See more of our work with FMA at focuslab.agency/work/fma 00:00 - Introduction 04:12 - How did you know it was time to invest in brand? 10:28 - What were you looking for in an agency partner? 14:44 - What was the most challenging aspect? 16:05 - Managing expectations (and opinions) 24:25 - What was the most rewarding aspect? 30:44 - What ROI have you seen since the rebrand? 35:27 - What advice do you have for someone going through a rebrand? - Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves. FOLLOW US: ►Podcast: https://anchor.fm/focuslab ►Instagram: @focuslabllc ►LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-lab-llc ►Dribbble: https://dribbble.com/focuslab ►Web: https://focuslab.agency Looking for a brand agency? We would love to hear from you. Email us: hello@focuslab.agency

Focus Lab's CEO Bill Kenney chats with Rob Meyerson (co-author) and Robin Goffman (Creative Director) about their work on the sixth edition of Designing Brand Identity, a branding classic created and authored by the late Alina Wheeler. You don't want to miss their discussion on the challenges and excitement of developing a highly collaborative book, their predictions for the future of design, their reflections on working alongside Alina, and her impact on the creative community. Links mentioned in this episode: Buy Designing Brand Identity on Amazon Rob Meyerson's podcast "How Brands are Built" episode with Alina Wheeler AIGA Alina Wheeler Memorial Scholarship University of the Arts Scholarships Rob Meyerson's Website Robin Goffman's Website -- Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process, an all-senior team, and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves. FOLLOW US: ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuslabllc/ ►LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focu... ►Dribbble: https://dribbble.com/focuslab ►Web: https://focuslab.agency Looking for a brand agency? We would love to hear from you. Email us: hello@focuslab.agency

Another Odi episode of the Debrief is here! Odi is a B2B brand agency built from the team at Focus Lab specifically to serve early-stage startups. Today's guest, co-founder and CEO of Heliux Alex Craig, discusses why he felt brand was important in the pre-seed stage, his understandable fears, and his advice for other early stage founders considering their brand needs.

See more of our work with Heliux. 0:00 - Intro 3:10 - How did you know it was time to invest in brand? 7:40 - What were you looking for in an agency partner? 10:25 - What was the most challenging part of the rebrand for you? 16:15 - What was the most rewarding part of the brand project? 23:09 - What has your new brand allowed you to do that you couldn't before? 25:42 - What advice do you have for a fellow founder considering investing in brand?

- Odi is a B2B brand agency serving the unique demands of early-stage startups. Created by the global brand experts at Focus Lab. ►https://odibrand.agency Looking for a brand agency? We would love to hear from you. Email us: hello@odibrand.agency

After more than a decade in business, Zuora was ready to expand its reach and needed a brand that would position it as the only choice for enterprises working to build, run, or grow a subscription solution in its industry. Former VP of Brand Experience at Zuora, Sergio Claudio, sat down with Focus Lab CEO Bill Kenney to reflect back on their work together. They discuss how brand is crucial to make people believe, the importance of a committed driver on a rebrand project of this scope, and why brand is a customer-centric investment. See more of our work with Zuora at focuslab.agency/work/zuora

If you Google “brand concept” you’ll notice a landslide of business and marketing jargon. It may sound like a brand concept isn’t much different than a positioning statement or a value proposition. But it is! Brand concepts not only ensure your work is defensible, but that it will stand the test of time. Brand Strategist Anna Beyerle Rosen reads her article, “⁠How We Use Brand Concepts to Build Better Brands⁠.”

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

It is Odi's first episode of The Debrief! Odi is a B2B brand agency built from the team at Focus Lab specifically to serve early-stage startups. Today's guest, founder and CEO of Amplify Jess Schultz, discusses why she rebranded just a year into business, understandable fears, and important lessons learned. 0:00 - Intro 2:41 - What made you prioritize brand only a year into founding? 7:32 - What were your expectations, particularly as an early-stage founder? 8:33 - What was your biggest fear? 13:11 - What was the most challenging aspect of the project for you? 16:10 - What was the most rewarding aspect of the project? 19:03 - What is this new brand going to allow you to do that you couldn't do before? 21:21 - What would you tell a founder that doesn't think they need to invest in brand yet? 23:55 - What advice would you give to someone thinking about a rebrand? - Odi is a B2B brand agency serving the unique demands of early-stage startups. Created by the global brand experts at Focus Lab. ►https://odibrand.agency Looking for a brand agency? We would love to hear from you. Email us: hello@odibrand.agency

So what happens after a rebrand? How do you transition the shiny new brand guidelines to the actual Slides templates your team uses every day? That's where Brand Support comes in. Yohann Kurzweil, Project Manager on our Brand Support team, reads “Brand Support: Come for the Launch, Stay for the Learning” by Amy Nance.

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Does "mission, vision, values" just sound like a bunch of corporate jargon to you? While they can be jargon-heavy if done poorly, we're here to break down what those messaging tentpoles SHOULD be and why they matter. Focus Lab brand strategist Jason Garvale reads, "The Power of Vision, Mission, Values, and Manifestos" by Jason Garvale and Amy Nance.

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

To date, Crossbeam's Bob Moore has founded three companies, all centered around data engineering. Bob was originally a non-believer when it came to the power of a strong brand, but after his first brand project with Focus Lab, Bob had a change of heart. Enough so that he wrote the forward for Bill Kenney's recent book, Conquer Your Rebrand. Shortly after the book launched, Bill and Bob sat down to discuss his multiple experiences with Focus Lab and Bob's inspiring forward.

Learn more about Conquer Your Rebrand at conqueryourrebrand.com and visit Crossbeam at crossbeam.com.

0:00 - Intro

5:58 - How did you know it was time to rebrand?

7:15 - Discussing Bob Moore's brand conversion

26:20 - What did you find most challenging in the rebrand effort?

31:07 - What was the most rewarding part of the rebrand work through the lens of a founder?

37:10 - Discussing the ROI of a strong brand

41:30 - Why does investing in brand matter?

Join us in our latest episode of In Conversation as we chat with John Rougeux — founder of Flag & Frontier, a company that specializes in narrative design and execution. In this episode, John and host Bill Kenney break down various category design strategies, discuss how to find c-suite alignment without taking away autonomy from the larger team, dig into what the right mindset is to have when approaching a big brand change, and so much more. Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or creative we think you'll find some valuable insights from John!

--- Learn more about Flag & Frontier: 👉 https://www.flagandfrontier.com/ Subscribe to John's newsletter, The Narrative Field Guide: 👉 https://www.narrativefieldguide.com/subscribe

Four Kitchens cooks up some of the best sites on the internet with its content expertise, technical excellence, and affinity for mission-driven organizations. The agency partnered with Focus Lab at a critical time; from its roots in Texas, Four Kitchens had grown into a global company. After a recent merger and ahead of an acquisition, Four Kitchens found itself expanding — and in need of a brand custom-built to grow. Shortly before their rebrand launched, Focus Lab CEO Bill Kenney sat down with Four Kitchens' Todd Ross Nienkerk to discuss their work together. See more of our work with Four Kitchens at focuslab.agency/work/four-kitchens and visit Four Kitchens at fourkitchens.com.

Formerly Gtmhub, Quantive is purpose-built OKR software that helps ambitious companies of all sizes close the strategy execution gap. Quantive required a brand identity to match their big, audacious vision and showcase they are not just software or an idea — they are an entirely new way of working. In this episode, Focus Lab CEO Bill Kenney chats with Casey Carey, Chief Marketing Officer at Quantive, about launching in December, how they kept the company in the loop (and if that was a good idea), and more. See more of our work together at focuslab.agency/work/quantive and check out Quantive at quantive.com

There’s that old saying: “If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.” We’d say the same is true in the branding world. It won’t always make sense to hire an agency for your brand work, but you might be surprised how often it does. Focus Lab President and Partner Will Straughn reads, "Why Hiring an Agency for Your Branding Work Is Better Than Doing It In-House" by Will Straughn and Sebastian Fryer.

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Very is the premier, end-to-end IoT engineering firm who partners with clients to build industrial systems that change the world. Very’s old identity had become a hindrance to the company’s overall growth strategy. Their independence, work ethic, and spirit of continuous improvement was so strong that we wanted to connect that to its name in their new identity. In this episode of The Debrief, Focus Lab CEO Bill Kenney chats with Very's CMO Emily Maxie, and Elizabeth Hague, Head of Brand and Demand Marketing. See more of our work together at focuslab.agency/work/very and check out Very at verytechnology.com

- ⁠Focus Lab⁠ is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Thrive Digital is a world-class growth marketing partner focused on paid acquisition, creative and measurement science. Focus Lab CEO Bill Kenney chats with Thrive Digital's Founder and President Jonathan Becker about embarking on a rebrand just as the world started shutting down due to the pandemic, and how why they prioritized the rebrand regardless. Check out Thrive Digital at thrivedigital.com

- Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Dig Insights is a tech-enabled insights and strategy consultancy that helps clients with custom research needs across the innovation lifecycle. And when Dig Insights rebranded, its innovation insights platform — Upsiide — needed to feel harmonious with the new brand, but still maintain its own identity. Focus Lab CEO Bill Kenney chats with Dig Insights' VP of Marketing Meagan Healey about this unique challenge, our work together, and internal alignment. Check out Dig Insights at diginsights.com

- Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Moment of truth, the big reveal. It's time to find the best words for your brand. Let's do it. Brand writer Wade Livingston reads his article, “Writing for Your New Brand: 5 Simple Steps."

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

More than a tool, Surfe (ex-Leadjet) is the modern company for the next wave of revenue teams. Focus Lab CEO Bill Kenney chats with Surfe co-founder and CEO David Chevalier. They discuss how and why Surfe renamed (twice), the importance of not trying to please the CEO, and all of their company dreams coming true. Check out more of our work together at focuslab.agency/work/surfe

- Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Over the years, we’ve honed a process that not only results in an enjoyable experience and outcomes that meet business goals, but also takes a lot of the unknowns and trial and error out of branding projects. The solution? Kickoff prep. Anna Beyerle Rosen reads her article, “Our Secret Sauce to Understanding Your Brand.” 

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Genina Ramirez, the Chief Growth Officer, chats with our Odi Managing Director, Devin Richards, about why organizations should - and shouldn't - invest in brand early on, Devin's perspective on his role at Odi, and important lessons he's learned working with brands for the last decade.

Calling all B2B marketing professionals out there — our latest episode of In Conversation is not one you'll want to skip. Today we're sitting down with Palmer Houchins, currently Head of Marketing at G2 (maybe you'v heard of it).

In our latest episode, Palmer and Bill dive into Palmer's early days at MailChimp, the tricky science of measuring brand ROI, the future of B2B marketing, and so much more!

A huge thank you to Palmer for joining us on the podcast and for sharing so many nuggets of wisdom.

Resources:

• 2030 B2B Trends Report from the LinkedIn B2B Institute
• Exit Five B2B Marketing Community
• Palmer's LinkedIn Post on B2B Branding
  

Openly offers premium insurance made simple. We first worked with the Openly team as an early stage organization with a dozen or so employees. They've since grown to over 300 employees and recently closed their Series C. Focus Lab CEO Bill Kenney chats with Openly co-founder, CTO Matt Wielbut and COO Chris Bacon about their branding project, now three years out. Check out Openly at openly.com

Cuttlesoft is a creative product development agency crafting beautifully designed and highly scalable software solutions. We kicked off our work together in November of 2020, after Cuttlesoft realized the limitations of their previous brand. Focus Lab CEO Bill Kenney chats with Cuttlesoft co-founders Emily Morehouse and Frank Valcarcel about their rebrand and the challenges of balancing your opinions with objective strategy.  

Check out Cuttlesoft at cuttlesoft.com  

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

The Audience Messaging Framework is a jumping-off point for all the stories a brand can tell. But importantly, and maybe surprisingly, it doesn’t include any actual messages themselves. So what is it? In today's episode, brand writer Sebastian Fryer tackles exactly that question in his article, “What Is the Audience Messaging Framework and How Do I Use It?"

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

We had to opportunity to chat with Tango's CEO Ken Babcock about the Tango rebrand several months ago, but this time around we're focusing on the why. Tango invested in their brand before their product launch - a novel strategy for lean startups - and saw unexpected positive returns on their growth. Focus Lab CEO Bill Kenney chats with Tango co-founder Daniel Giovacchini about our work together and why they chose to prioritize brand early in their company lifespan.  

"You can't serve burnt pizza and expect to get feedback on the pizza."

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

In the Debrief, we ask past clients about their experiences going through a rebrand: the surprises, the learnings, the challenges. At the end of each episode we ask "If you had one piece of advice for someone considering going through a rebrand, what would it be?" Here are their answers.

Featuring excerpts from our Debrief episodes with Kion, Locally, Marketo, Tango, Salesloft, Luminate, and Focus Lab.

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

What's the purpose of a purpose statement? Because purpose statements are so powerful, they're vulnerable to bloat and buzzwordery. Focus Lab's Genina Ramirez reads, "How to Write a Purpose Statement That Actually Matters" by brand writer Idoia Gkikas.

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Focus on Brand is the podcast from Focus Lab - a global B2B brand agency with over a decade of insights to share. Our weekly-ish episodes range from quick digestible readings of our blogs, interviews with Focus Lab team members — aka our boots-on-the-ground brand experts — and unfiltered honest conversations with our past clients, giving them the opportunity to share their rebrand experiences; from rocky moments to soaring successes.

Our purpose is to unlock the potential of the people around us, and we hope that this podcast and our insights help you unlock your potential, whether that's guiding your client through a sticky situation, leveraging brand to help your company flourish, or just learning more about the niche world of branding.

We're happy you're here. Now, let's get started.

As the #1 Sales Engagement solution in the market, Salesloft is beloved by its users, but the previous brand lacked energy and prominence. It was time for the world to immediately understand its distinction. Focus Lab CEO Bill Kenney chats with former Salesloft CMO Sydney Sloan about our work together and how you can never invest too early. And this episode marks the end of Season 2! We're taking a break for the holidays and we'll see you in 2023 with new episodes.

See more of our work with Salesloft at focuslab.agency/work/salesloft  

0:00 - Intro
5:10 - We'd rebranded one of your competitors a few years prior. What was your perspective on that?
8:58 - What was the most challenging aspect of the entire project?
13:07 - Why green?
18:18 - What was the most surprising aspect of the project?
21:53 - Let's talk about the Focus Lab process.
28:06 - Can you walk us through all the planning to execute a rollout of this size?
38:35 - How can smaller companies still capture the momentum of a brand rollout?
42:06 - What was the ROI for this rebrand?
46:07 - What's the one piece of advice you'd offer to someone about to rebrand?  

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Skinny jeans are out, or are they back in? Trends are common in fashion, but trends ripple through the world of design and brand too. This week on 10 Minutes On Brand, Focus Lab’s Will Straughn and design director Natalie Kent chat about trends they've noticed in the world of branding lately.

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Formerly P-MRC Data, Luminate approached Focus Lab as it was undergoing a reorganization and rapid growth. The previous brand portfolio lacked meaning and was scattered across legacy and adjacent brands, and the future identity needed to be direct, memorable, and future-facing. Focus Lab CEO Bill Kenney chats with Luminate CEO Rob Jonas about our work together and the importance of a good foundation.  

See more of our work with Luminate at focuslab.agency/work/luminate  

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

As an AI company who was building their premium product well before the big AI boom, PolyAI recognized that their previous brand did not represent the level of power and maturity they had achieved — it was time to level up.

It was a pleasure to have Kylie Whitehead, Senior Director of Marketing and Brand at PolyAI, sit down with Focus Lab CEO Bill Kenney to reflect on their rebrand project with our team. Tune is as they discuss PolyAI's choice to reposition their company prior to finding a rebrand partner, the major benefits of transparency in a rebrand project, the importance of getting your C-suite on board, and so much more.

Click here to view more of our work with PolyAI.

We all want to have the winning formula. For those going through a rebrand (and in most other competitive environments), it's crucial to know who else is competing. Knowing where you fit among direct and indirect competitors can help you win customers and brand loyalty. Focus Lab's Genina Ramirez reads, "How To Identify Your Competitive Landscape" by brand strategists Jason Garvale and Anna Beyerle Rosen.

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

We frequently encounter people with different definitions of a “rebrand” and a “brand refresh.” At Focus Lab, a rebrand involves significant changes to your brand and is often appropriate when something has shifted within your business, ie. you’re targeting a new customer, breaking into a new market, repositioning, etc. Whereas a refresh is a more of an evolution of your existing brand elements. This week on 10 Minutes On Brand, Focus Lab’s Will Straughn and brand strategist Anna Beyerle Rosen dig deeper into how to think about a rebrand versus brand refresh.  

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Over a year ago, Focus Lab embarked on a rebrand. As a branding agency that's handled hundreds of rebrands for our clients, we had a lot of thoughts. In this episode of the Debrief, Genina Ramirez sits down with our three partners — Bill Kenney, Erik Reagan, and Will Straughn — to talk through the project, the hurdles we faced, and how everyone's feeling a year out.

Check out our case study to see more and unlock an extended version if you're subscribed to our newsletter: focuslab.agency/FLrebrand

0:00 - Intro
0:54 - How does it feel to be one year post-launch?
2:23 - What made you decide it was actually time to rebrand Focus Lab?
7:56 - How do you rebrand a branding agency? What helped you all make the decision to actually go through the Focus Lab process?
11:40 - What was the most surprising aspect of the project, especially being owners of a brand agency?
15:46 - How do you empathize with clients now? Do you feel like there’s a shift now that you’ve gone through this process?
19:20 - Why do you think that it was so important to position ourselves as a B2B branding agency?
23:47 - Were there any challenging aspects to this project for you at all?
34:27 - What was the most rewarding part of the project?
42:44 - The brand has been out now for 12 months; what impacts have you felt?
45:50 - Do you think the rebrand has had an impact on our internal culture?
49:46 - What advice would you give to teams/individuals who are looking to go on this rebrand journey?

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Traversing hundreds of clients over 12 years in the branding space, we’ve experienced the mission-critical importance of defining a key leadership role within each rebrand project. At Focus Lab, we call this mission-critical role the “Driver.” Focus Lab's Genina Ramirez reads, "Who's Driving Your Rebrand by Bill Kenney." This article was originally published on BrandersMagazine.com on February 23, 2022. Written by Bill Kenney.

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

It's a special Halloween episode of 10 Minutes on Brand! And what keeps a brand agency up at night? Brand launches gone awry. Focus Lab’s Will Straughn and Bill Kenney discuss some infamous brand launches and how to get through it.  

0:00 - Intro
0:57 - Brand Leaks
4:13 - Public Pushback
8:11 - Logo Comparisons  

The ground rules for 10 Minutes On Brand are simple: we'll discuss one specific subject related to branding but only have 10 minutes to dive deep.

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Branding is a critical aspect of any business. It’s how you communicate the unique value that your product or service offers to your customers. It’s what makes you stand out from the competition and drives customer loyalty. When done right, branding can make or break a company—especially during an economic downturn when everyone’s spending is down or being more closely scrutinized. Focus Lab's Genina Ramirez reads, "Lead With Your Brand Through A Recession by Will Straughn." This article was originally published on Forbes on July 12, 2022.

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Locally helps connect local retailers with online shoppers. After roughly seven years in business, the brand had become disjointed and lacked scalability. Focus Lab worked with Locally on their rebrand to prepare them for that next phase of growth. Focus Lab CEO Bill Kenney chats with Locally Founder and CEO Mike Massey about our work together and how the final direction almost didn't make it passed the chopping block.

See more of our work with Locally at locally.com 

0:00 - Intro
3:02 - How did you know it was time to rebrand?  
4:42 - What were you looking for in a rebrand partner?
10:46 - What was the most challenging part?
14:50 - What was the most surprising aspect of the project?
16:46 - What was the most rewarding part?
22:03 - How’s the new brand performing?
23:34 - Is there anything you can do now that you couldn’t do with the old brand?
23:59 - Do you have any words of advice for organizations looking to go through a rebrand?

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

A recession is the time to buckle down and invest in the foundation of your company—your brand—so you can take full advantage of the brighter skies ahead. Focus Lab's Genina Ramirez reads, "How Your Brand Can Build Resilience During a Recession by Bill Kenney." This article was originally published on Fast Company on August 25, 2022.

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

We speak to many B2B startups in early funding stages, and we hear one question time and time again: “Is now the right time to make the investment in my brand?” Truth be told, there is no prescriptive, one-size-fits-all answer. But we have a few points of consideration to help determine if your organization should invest in branding sooner rather than later. Focus Lab's Dahlia Arado Lilleslåtten reads her article, "Branding Your Early-Stage Venture."

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

This week on 10 Minutes On Brand, Focus Lab’s Will Straughn and brand strategist Haley Bridges chat about brand attributes. Brand attributes are the traits that guide our work towards a true manifestation of our clients’ identities.  

0:00 - Intro
0:54 - What are brand attributes?
1:22 - How do we use them as part of our branding process at Focus Lab?
4:10 - What makes for an effective attribute?
5:36 - What makes for an ineffective attribute?
6:54 - How can we go one level below on a common attribute?
9:05 - What are the differences between attributes and archetypes?

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Rewind to 2022 when we were still gearing up for Odi, our sister agency purpose-built for startups. In order to drum up some excitement, we ran a giveaway — a free brand project for one lucky (soon-to-be) client.

The winner of that giveaway was no other than Noelle London, founder and CEO of Illoominus, a company focused on simplifying HR tech stacks in order to transform organizations into people-first workplaces.

Tune in to our latest episode as Noelle and Bill sit down to discuss how it felt to be the first ever Odi project, how the B2B landscape is becoming more humanized, and Noelle's approach to making brand decisions that would grow with her business goals.

• View the full Illoominus case study
• Learn more about what Noelle + team are doing at Illoominus

Archetypes are iconic narratives representing a prevailing experience, developed by psychologist Carl Jung. This week on 10 Minutes On Brand, Focus Lab’s Will Straughn and brand writer Idoia Gkikas discuss archetypes as they apply to brands.   

0:00 - Intro
0:58 - What are brand archetypes?
1:51 - Do we help our clients land on what their archetypes should be?
2:42 - What are some examples of companies and their associated archetypes?
4:04 - How do you use brand archetypes in your brand communications work?
5:10 - Are there any archetypes that people should avoid since they’re overused and cliche?  
6:44 - Should you stay away from choosing the same archetype as one of your competitors?
7:55 - Do you have any favorite archetypes?

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

Rebrands are an exciting time for a company and employees are going to be particularly invested. When is the right time to share a rebrand with the internal team? This week on 10 Minutes On Brand, Focus Lab’s Will Straughn and Project Management Director Charisse Bennet discuss the internal brand launch.  

0:00 - Intro
0:57 - When should a company let their employees know they're going through some sort of brand evolution exercise?
2:14 - Is there anything else you should share with the team between the announcement and the final reveal? Or do you just go dead silent at that point?
4:49 - Once the rebrand is completed, what are the first steps clients should take to prepare for that internal rollout?
6:17 - Any recommendations of what should be shared when doing that internal rollout?
8:10 - What do you do if your brand leaks, either before launch or while you're in the middle of the work?

The ground rules for 10 Minutes On Brand are simple: we'll discuss one specific subject related to branding but only have 10 minutes to dive deep.

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10 Minutes on Brand is brought to you by us, Focus Lab. Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

This week on 10 Minutes On Brand, Focus Lab’s Will Straughn and Devin Richards chat about Focus Lab's new division specifically tailored to branding early-stage B2B companies. Start-ups, angel, seed, and pre-seed stage B2B technology companies have specific challenges and opportunities when it comes to a branding project.   

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.

People expect utility from products, but they look for connections from brands. Luckily, one thing that already exists at every company is its essence, ethos – those seeds of personality that feel individual. We call them brand attributes. Focus Lab brand strategist Haley Bridges reads her article, "Brand Attributes: Quality Ingredients for Your Identity."

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Focus Lab is an established B2B brand agency that believes, without question, that the most successful companies are the ones who invest in branding. Focus Lab creates transformative B2B brands that resonate with their customers and stand out as industry leaders. Through a proven process and a shared commitment to create unforgettable experiences, we develop true partnerships that help B2B brands become their boldest, most original selves.