The Branded for Success book was written in 2007 by my wife and 2 of our colleagues. It’s purpose was to highlight my wife’s graphic design talent that could be leveraged for a business to get a successful brand. It has allowed the three authors to gain authority as branding experts since they are published authors on the subject.

Understanding of branding has grown and evolved over the last 18 years. The principles in this book are still applicable but some updating is necessary. This chapter deals the proper use of color for a successful brand. Using our content transformation services, we will evaluate it to see that it is not outdated and irrelevant. This is our opportunity to update and supplement with necessary content that may have been missed when it was originally offered.

Since the book was written from a design perspective, this topic is important and should be determined after the foundational brand elements are completed first. New content will be added as necessary before we prepared for it’s new delivery. Since the repurposed content will be used for premium access content, I will provide summaries of the original text and the repurposed text. Also, when we are finished, the chapter divisions may not be the same, since this will not be repurposed into another printed book.

Summary of chapter 6 of the original text:

Understanding which colors are best for your market and products requires more than just personal preference—it involves research and strategic thinking. Studies have shown that certain colors resonate more effectively within specific markets. To help with this, a bonus PDF titled “Using Color Successfully” is available on our website. This guide explains how different colors are perceived and how to choose colors that appeal to your target audience rather than yourself. One common mistake is selecting colors based on personal favorites, but what really matters is how those colors influence your customers’ perceptions and behaviors.

For example, red and yellow are heavily used in fast food branding because of their psychological impact—red stimulates appetite and urgency, while yellow grabs attention and evokes warmth. These colors are proven to provoke action, which is why they’re dominant in restaurants like McDonald’s, T.G.I. Friday’s, and others. On the other hand, large corporations such as Dell, IBM, and Wal-Mart consistently use blue in their branding because it inspires trust and professionalism, particularly in its deeper shades. In contrast, lighter blue tones may suggest softness and are better suited for brands targeting themes like parenting or nature.

The shade of a color can dramatically alter its effect on consumers. For example, green often brings to mind money and financial growth but also suggests nature and eco-consciousness, especially when paired with browns. Brands like American Express and Check Into Cash utilize green to emphasize financial benefits and call consumers to action.

Ultimately, color selection should be driven by how your audience responds to certain hues and how well those colors support your brand message. The “Using Color Successfully” resource and additional bonus materials provide valuable insights into making color choices that enhance your brand’s appeal and effectiveness.

Summary of the corresponding repurposed text:

Color is a powerful and strategic element in branding that goes far beyond aesthetics. It plays a critical role in shaping how consumers perceive a business, influencing emotions, trust levels, and buying behavior. Choosing the right colors for your brand involves understanding your brand personality, industry standards, and, most importantly, your target audience. Rather than relying on personal preferences, businesses should make intentional color choices that align with their mission and values.

Research shows that different colors evoke different emotions and are more effective in specific industries. For example, red creates urgency and energy, making it ideal for fast food or retail. Blue communicates trust and professionalism, commonly used in finance and healthcare. Green suggests health and sustainability, black signals luxury and sophistication, and yellow conveys optimism and attention-grabbing energy. Even subtle differences in shade can dramatically impact perception. Pastels feel soft and approachable. Bold colors are energetic. And neutrals offer a clean, timeless look.

Color psychology plays a crucial role. It helps in creating emotional connections, building brand recognition, and influencing consumer decisions—often on a subconscious level. How color will be applied across various brand touchpoints, from logos and websites to packaging and marketing materials is important. For example, red or orange call-to-action buttons create urgency, while blue and white backgrounds establish professionalism.

Ultimately, choosing the right color palette is both a psychological and strategic decision. When done thoughtfully, it helps establish a strong, memorable, and emotionally resonant brand that stands out in a competitive market.

Observations:

The original content is still applicable for today. It needed a refresher on use of terms and slight adjustments to changes in color use and perception. But overall, this content, conceptually, needed little work and updating. Some things in branding will remain timeless because human nature, in part, is understandable and easily researchable.

Final Thoughts:

Almost any content, if it has any age, will need adjusting. The amount of adjusting will depend on how evergreen the concepts written are. If the concepts in the original content are still true today, then minor adjustments are needed. Massaging of wording, terms used, and out-dated language are usually the case. Otherwise more work will be required to evaluate and determine what parts, if not all, the concepts need to be reworked, or abandoned altogether. Then research will be needed to replace with corresponding updated and relevant material.

The Branded for Success book was written in 2007 by my wife and 2 of our colleagues. It’s purpose was to highlight my wife’s graphic design talent that could be leveraged for a business to get a successful brand. It has allowed the three authors to gain authority as branding experts since they are published authors on the subject.

Understanding of branding has grown and evolved over the last 18 years. The principles in this book are still applicable but some updating is necessary. This chapter deals the essential visual design elements for a successful brand. Using our content transformation services, we will evaluate it to see that it is not outdated and irrelevant. This is our opportunity to update and supplement with necessary content that may have been missed when it was originally offered.

Since the book was written from a design perspective, this topic is important and should be determined after the foundational brand elements are completed first. New content will be added as necessary before we prepared for it’s new delivery. Since the repurposed content will be used for premium access content, I will provide summaries of the original text and the repurposed text. Also, when we are finished, the chapter divisions may not be the same, since this will not be repurposed into another printed book.

Summary of chapter 5 of the original text:

The design elements of branding, such as colors, fonts, and imagery, are essential in reaching and resonating with a target audience. Different markets respond to specific visual cues that align with their emotions, preferences, and expectations. For example, a book about gardening may use earthy greens and golds to evoke nature. A book about fast food strategically incorporates red and yellow, colors commonly associated with the industry, to stimulate appetite and grab attention. These choices are not random; they are intentional decisions that enhance the product’s appeal to the right audience.

Typography and imagery further refine the brand’s message. A business book will often feature clean, professional fonts. A teen-focused book may use bold, playful lettering that feels more youthful and energetic. Similarly, imagery must align with the intended audience’s interests. A guide for female entrepreneurs may incorporate softer, feminine design elements. A memoir targeting men may utilize strong, muted tones that convey trust and nostalgia. Each element contributes to shaping perception, making it clear that effective branding is not just about aesthetics but about understanding and strategically engaging the right audience.

Summary of the corresponding repurposed text:

Design plays a fundamental role in branding by shaping how audiences perceive and connect with a product or service. Elements like color, typography, and imagery influence a brand’s ability to attract the right customers. Color psychology, for instance, evokes emotions and associations that impact purchasing decisions. Green represents nature and wellness. Pink conveys femininity. Red and yellow stimulate appetite and urgency. And blue signals trust and professionalism. Brands such as Whole Foods, McDonald’s, and LinkedIn strategically use these colors to align with their brand identity and appeal to their target demographics. Similarly, typography sets the tone. Playful fonts work for youth-oriented brands like LEGO, while sleek, sans-serif fonts convey modern professionalism, as seen in Apple’s branding.

Imagery further reinforces a brand’s identity, whether through nature-themed photography for organic products, minimalist visuals for tech brands, or bold graphics for high-energy industries like sportswear. Book covers serve as a prime example of how these elements work together to target specific audiences. Business books often use structured layouts, professional fonts, and blue or gold tones to communicate trust and success. Books for female entrepreneurs incorporate soft yet strong design elements. Teen books, on the other hand, feature bold fonts and vibrant imagery to capture youthful energy. Understanding and strategically implementing these design principles ensures that branding resonates with the intended audience, reinforcing recognition, trust, and engagement.

Observations:

In this chapter, the concepts concerning design elements really haven’t evolved much over the last couple of decades. Granted, target audience preferences do change over time but things like color psychology and font psychology still hold true. You notice in the repurposed content a subtle change. The appropriate foundational work on the brand, that has been done, is inferred. It now is reflected in the choices of the visual design elements.

Final Thoughts:

The importance of doing the foundation, non-visual work on the brand cannot be overstated. If you don’t there will be no direction for the visual elements to follow. The possibility of brand confusion increases which then undermines the effectiveness of the brand.

Becoming a trusted expert in your industry doesn’t happen overnight. It requires consistent, valuable content that reinforces your expertise and positions you as a go-to resource. However, constantly creating new content can be time-consuming. That’s where repurposing comes in. By leveraging our content transformation services, you can amplify your message, reach new audiences, and solidify your brand authority without reinventing the wheel.

Why Brand Authority Matters

Brand authority is what sets industry leaders apart from the competition. When your audience sees your content frequently, in different formats and on various platforms, they begin to recognize you as a knowledgeable, credible source. This builds trust, which leads to greater engagement, customer loyalty, and business growth.

Repurposing content plays a critical role in this by:

• Reinforcing key messages across multiple touchpoints
• Keeping your content relevant and top-of-mind
• Expanding your audience reach and credibility
• Establishing you as an expert in your field

How to Repurpose Content to Strengthen Brand Authority

• Turn Blog Posts into Expert Guides – Combine multiple articles on related topics into a comprehensive guide or eBook.
• Transform Podcasts into Articles – Extract key insights from your podcast episodes and repurpose them into blog posts or LinkedIn articles.
• Break Down Long-Form Content into Bite-Sized Pieces – Turn a webinar or whitepaper into a series of social media posts.
• Create Infographics from Research & Data – Present industry stats and insights in a visually engaging way.
• Repurpose Interviews into Quote Graphics – Share expert insights as quote graphics with your brand for Instagram and Pinterest.
• Compile FAQs into a Video Series – Answer common questions in short, engaging video clips.

Ready to Raise Your Brand Authority?

Establishing brand authority isn’t about creating more content—it’s about making smarter use of the content you already have. By repurposing your valuable insights across different formats and platforms, you stay top of mind, build credibility, and position yourself as an industry leader. Let our content transformation services help you amplify your expertise and strengthen your brand.

Breathe new life into your content today!

The Branded for Success book was written in 2007 by my wife and 2 of our colleagues. It’s purpose was to highlight my wife’s graphic design talent that could be leveraged for a business to get a successful brand. It has allowed the three authors to gain authority as branding experts since they are published authors on the subject.

Understanding of branding has grown and evolved over the last 18 years. The principles in this book are still applicable but some updating is necessary. This chapter deals with the decision to brand yourself or your product. Using our content transformation services, we will evaluate it to see that it is not outdated and irrelevant. This is our opportunity to update and supplement with necessary content that may have been missed when it was originally offered.

This topic really deals with foundational brand issues that directly affect the visual design of the brand. New content will be added as necessary before we prepared for it’s new delivery. Since the repurposed content will be used for premium access content, I will provide summaries of the original text and the repurposed text. Also, when we are finished, the chapter divisions may not be the same, since this will not be repurposed into another printed book.

Summary of chapter 4 of the original text:

The decision to brand yourself or your product depends on what you are selling. If you provide a service or software, branding the company or product is more effective. However, if you sell knowledge or information, personal branding is essential, as people need to trust you as a credible source.

Case studies of Armand Morin and Stu McLaren illustrate these principles. Armand initially branded himself with all his products but later shifted to branding his software separately to ensure it could thrive independently of him. Meanwhile, his information products maintained personal branding, reinforcing trust and credibility. Stu McLaren effectively branded himself while also establishing distinct branding for his various product lines, such as “My Idea Guy” and “Ideas 4.”

The chapter emphasizes that branding should align with long-term goals. Personal branding works well for consultants and educators, while product branding allows a business to sustain itself beyond its creator. A strategic approach ensures a strong, recognizable brand that supports business growth and customer trust.

Summary of the corresponding repurposed text:

Choosing between personal branding and product branding depends on your business model and long-term vision. Personal branding is ideal for individuals whose businesses revolve around their expertise, reputation, or personality. This approach is especially effective for consultants, coaches, speakers, and authors, as it helps build trust, establish authority, and create flexibility for future ventures. Entrepreneurs like Tony Robbins and Gary Vaynerchuk have successfully leveraged personal branding to become industry leaders, with their names synonymous with credibility and influence.

If you are selling a product, software, or service that you want to grow independently of you, branding your company or product is a smarter choice. This strategy is best for businesses in tech, e-commerce, and consumer goods, where the brand itself carries value beyond the founder. Companies like Apple, Nike, and Microsoft have thrived because they were built to operate beyond the presence of their creators. Establishing a strong product or company brand allows for scalability and, in many cases, makes it easier to sell the business in the future.

In some situations, a hybrid approach works best. Entrepreneurs with multiple projects can use personal branding to build credibility while also establishing distinct product brands. Elon Musk, for example, uses his personal brand to generate excitement around Tesla and SpaceX. Oprah Winfrey maintains her influence alongside her media company, OWN Network. This dual strategy allows for both personal recognition and business growth while maintaining flexibility.

Ultimately, the right branding approach depends on your goals. If you aim to become a recognized expert, personal branding is key. If you want to build a business that operates independently, a product-focused approach is better. For those looking to leverage both, a balanced strategy ensures influence while maintaining brand scalability. Regardless of the choice, consistency in branding and messaging is crucial for long-term success.

Observations:

The principles in this chapter were relevant as they were originally presented. The case studies in the original book were specific clients of the authors. When we repurposed the text, we inserted current and more recognizable examples which will help relevancy across a wider audience. Also we added the possibility of a hybrid option between the personal brand and the product brand. This shows how much branding has evolved over the last 18 years. We will add supplementary content about personal branding since that has come into the forefront since 2007.

Final Thoughts:

Here we have an example of the older content still viable today. It just needed a refresher on case study examples and adding newer options. It is important to go over the original content and objectively determine is applicability to today. If it still works, don’t fix it. But it might need a little help.