Over the past decade, more ventures have seen the value of hiring a creative branding agency, not only for big corporations but also for startups and small businesses.

If you’re still on the fence about the importance of branding, here are a few statistics to convince you:

  • The majority of business-to-business marketers say a strong brand is key to growth.
  • Four out of five investors take chances in companies with strong brands.
  • Brand awareness is the top priority for three out of four companies. 

Branding Statistics (Data Source – Leeline)

But here’s the next question: what exactly does a creative branding agency do, and is it possible to DIY some aspects of branding to cut costs? We’ll explore those and throw in a few practical tips to help you boost your brand in no time.


Table of Contents

What is a Creative Branding Agency?

A creative branding agency specializes in developing and executing comprehensive branding strategies that allow businesses to build and maintain a solid and cohesive identity.

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Here are a few benefits of getting creative branding agency services:

  • ​​Expertise. Agencies have rich experience in knowledge in branding, from establishing a brand identity to maintaining consistent brand messaging. That said, they’re also in the know about the latest trends in marketing and consumer behavior.
  • Brand Identity. Having an enhanced brand identity can help you stand out from the crowd and connect with your target audience. Without a doubt, this factor is typically achieved through professional graphic design, brand positioning, and other branding strategies.
  • Market Analysis. To be able to make it big in your industry, you must be able to, at the very least, keep in step with your competitors. For instance, a creative agency can help you with that by analyzing threats and opportunities and evaluating your competitors. 

To illustrate the importance of expertise, brand identity, and market analysis, let’s look at the world’s most valuable brands in 2024 as per data from Statista:

Most Valuable Brands Worldwide in 2024 (Data Source – Statista)

The top spot is Apple, followed by Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Samsung, and Walmart.

But ranking aside, you’re probably very familiar with all six brands, and if resources permit, you’ll probably choose to buy products or services from brands on this list rather than those of businesses you’re not familiar with. 

This recognition and trust make these brands dominate the market and continue to grow their value—and you can have the same with the right brand strategy.

What Does a Branding Agency Provide?

Here are some of the common services you can get from a creative branding agency:

Brand Strategy

Brand strategy involves developing a long-term plan to achieve specific goals. This includes market analysis, brand positioning, and creating a roadmap for building and sustaining a powerful brand​.

Some of the components of a brand strategy may include the following:

  • Brand purpose and vision
  • Brand values
  • Target audience

Brand Identity

This task involves crafting the visual elements that represent a brand in order to resonate with the target audience. It includes the following:

  • Logos
  • Color palettes
  • Typography
  • Overall design aesthetics

Here in Penji, for instance, many clients request brand illustration to ensure that their logos, color palettes, photos, images, and other visual assets are cohesive and consistent with their brand identity.

Brand Kit by Penji 

Brand Messaging

This aspect involves ensuring that the brand has a consistent voice and tone across all channels, may it be taglines, emails, statements, and more.

For instance, Nike’s brand messaging has always centered on being assertive and confident. The spirit of its tagline, “Just Do It,” is ingrained in its creative strategy, including its ads, social media posts, and other materials.

Nike Ad

It’s crucial to note that brand messaging isn’t limited to written materials; it also widely applies to visual assets. In Penji, we allow our clients to create Brand Folders, which help our designers quickly find the assets (logos, fonts, colors, design elements, etc) they need for each project. This feature ensures that branding remains consistent across channels and platforms.

Brand folder on Penji app

Market and Competitor Analysis

A reputable creative branding agency conducts competitor analysis, including the following:

  • Direct and indirect competitors
  • SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis
  • Marketing strategies
  • Sales and distribution channels
  • Financial performance
  • Customer feedback

A market analysis, meanwhile, focuses on the larger picture, including factors that shape the commercial environment where a business could thrive or not. The analysis would typically include:

  • Overview of the Industry
  • Target market segmentation
  • Market needs, demand, and barriers
  • Economic factors
  • Tech factors

Digital Marketing Integration

With many customers turning to their phones when they need a product or service, digital marketing has become imperative for brands of all sizes. A creative branding agency can assist you in building a consistent online presence, from website and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to social media marketing and content creation.

Creative Branding Agency vs. DIY Branding

Without a doubt, an agency can do wonders to build and sustain a strong brand. However, not all ventures are ready to deal with the costs.

The question is, can you do branding tasks by yourself? Of course. Not only will it allow you to save money, but it also gives you:

  • Full control of your branding
  • Flexibility to change tracks at any given time
  • Expanded knowledge of marketing principles

That said, however, DY branding isn’t for everyone. Here are some of the factors to consider when deciding between hiring an agency or doing it yourself:

  • Skills and Expertise: Do you have the necessary skills and knowledge to create a professional and effective brand identity? If not, the expertise of a branding agency might be invaluable.
  • Budget: DIY branding is, indeed, more cost-efficient since you won’t need to hire someone. However, it’s also crucial to note that branding agencies could deliver a higher ROI in a shorter amount of time due to their experience and resources.
  • Time and Resources: Evaluate whether you have the time and resources to dedicate to a DIY branding project. Branding requires significant effort and attention to detail.

Whether you decide to go for creative branding agency services or take your chance in DIY branding, Penji can help.

Penji offers high-quality design solutions no matter your approach. View a demo and take your branding to the next level with expert design services.