In the fast-paced world of consumer packaged goods, change isn’t just inevitable—it’s essential. A successful rebranding announcement is more than a fresh logo or tagline; it’s a bold declaration of your brand’s evolution and future direction. It’s a milestone showcasing your refined strategy and a tangible commitment to excellence.
But a truly impactful announcement goes beyond a well-crafted press release. It’s about orchestrating a cohesive, multi-channel unveiling that includes multi-site rebranding, thoughtful storytelling, and precise timing. Success lies in asking the right rebranding questions to clarify your vision and executing against a comprehensive rebranding checklist to ensure nothing is overlooked.
If done right, this isn’t just an announcement—it’s a brand-defining moment that resonates with audiences and drives engagement.
How to announce rebranding?
Announcing a rebrand may seem straightforward, but it involves numerous variables. The difference between a successful rebrand announcement and a disastrous one is relatively thin.
Therefore, businesses should act strategically to ensure their company name isn’t harmed. Let’s look into the steps of a successful rebrand announcement process in detail:
Developing the strategy.
Developing an announcement strategy begins with creating a rebrand presentation deck, which is crucial to setting the foundation for a successful rebrand launch. Take time to clearly define the key goals of the rebrand and why the changes are essential for the future of the business.
Determine the most effective tactics to build awareness and excitement around the new brand identity among essential audiences. This involves identifying the messaging and channels best suited to reach each group, such as employees, existing clients, prospective customers, and partners.
Internal communication about the brand change announcement.
Before the brand refresh announcement, ensure everyone within the organization, from C-level executives to frontline staff, understands the strategic reasons and objectives driving the rebranding initiative. Start with rebranding survey questions.
Anticipate that customers and clients may have questions about the new brand announcement and messaging. Employees should prepare to clearly explain how rebranding strategies align with evolving goals for customer engagement and value proposition.
Conduct messaging workshops to train teams and boost confidence in articulating the rebranding effort. With executives and staff on the same page about the reasons for rebranding, they can authentically represent and promote the new brand identity.
External communication about the new brand identity announcement.
Carefully plan how to communicate the change to current and prospective customers and the broader public. Consider targeting communications based on the audience to effectively convey the reasons for rebranding.
Be prepared to answer any rebranding questions from clients curious about the new look, messaging, and value proposition. Utilize relevant channels and a timeline tailored to each group’s needs to spark excitement about the evolution of your brand identity. Understand how it better addresses your customers’ needs and the market landscape.
Media communication for the new changes.
An essential part of this strategy involves creating a polished media kit that outlines your rebranding announcement post messaging and website rebranding in an exciting yet informative way. The kit should be distributed through relevant industry and news outlets.
Remember to engage influential journalists and influencers within your sector who can spread the word about the changes through their networks and articles. By including critical media in your rebranding strategies from the start using a checklist, you can generate valuable third-party coverage and build extra buzz around the launch.
Partner communication to eliminate confusion.
Just as important as communicating internally and externally is strategically informing your critical partners about the rebrand. This involves sharing details of the rebranding campaign with essential vendors, distributors, and other collaborators using a comprehensive rebranding checklist.
Ensure they understand how the rebrand differs from a simple brand repositioning through focused messaging. Partners should be well-equipped to represent the new brand identity and address any questions through their communications.
By joining early, partners can become important allies in the rebranding process. Their aligned promotion will further extend the campaign’s reach and impact.
Craft a launch calendar.
A detailed launch calendar is essential to ensure your rebranding efforts are well-coordinated and maximally impactful. The calendar must outline each announcement stage, from unveiling the new logo to rebranding products.
By mapping out internal and external communications like staff briefings, email announcements, and social media updates, you can strategically roll out different elements of the rebrand. By synchronizing all stakeholders on a schedule, companies can reduce confusion and generate momentum for a rebrand.
Prepare content and designs.
To successfully announce the rebranding, carefully prepare new designs and materials representing the refreshed identity. Develop promotional collateral, graphics, and social media posts embodying the repositioned brand message.
Refresh the look of all branded items, from stationery to products, with an updated visual appearance aligning with the rebranding versus repositioning strategy. Consistently update the logo, colors, and fonts across all online and offline assets, from websites to email signatures to marketing collateral showcasing the value of any rebranded products.
Distribute updated brand guidelines.
Distributing refreshed brand guidelines to stakeholders is integral for announcing a successful rebrand. As the new branding rolls out, make sure partners have access to understand the risks and benefits of updated style requirements to leverage consistency.
A brand refresh requires maintaining uniformity across all digital or print touchpoints. Provide clarification on using the revised logo, tone of voice, and visual identity guidelines. Educate on different types of rebranding, like repositioning versus complete transformation.
Adherence consistent with brand standards mitigates risks while maximizing the benefits and positive reception of the new brand identity and image.
Influencer collaborations.
Leverage influencer collaborations to tease your rebranding strategy engagingly. Reach your audience via industry leaders through hints and mystery posts, building anticipation for the new brand identity. Teaming up with influencers known for their large, loyal followings to drop countdowns leads to revealing the refreshed brand identity.
This strategic approach generates buzz and increases the chances of your new brand identity spreading organically. Partnering with influencers who align with your rebranding message can help introduce your refreshed brand values to new audiences. It’s a powerful tactic for announcements that drives engagement.
Interactive digital campaigns.
Interactive digital campaigns are an impactful way for brands to reveal a new visual identity. Augmented or virtual reality elements allow companies to immerse audiences in their reinvented world fully. Gamification through online quizzes and challenges creates buzz by rewarding player-customers with early access to redesigned products and services.
When done effectively, interactive announcements significantly boost customer engagement on websites and social media. More importantly, they strengthen customer relationships through an entertaining experience. Interactive announcements test comprehension of refreshed values while driving word-of-mouth exposure.
Exclusive sneak peeks.
One strategic move that any business can make is to provide exclusive early access to their rebranding effort for loyal customers and subscribers. Companies may offer existing customers a “first look” through private sneak peeks, webinars, or live streams.
This gesture helps to build goodwill among customers and allows them to interact directly with representatives. They can also ask questions during a Q&A session to clarify any doubts. It’s a clever tactic to mitigate the potential risks of rebranding and losing existing customers while making them feel valued.
Exclusive insights can stir word-of-mouth buzz and set the stage for a smooth transition. Plus, existing customers are more likely to embrace changes that have had an influence. Their positive reactions will only strengthen the benefits of rebranding initiatives in the long term.
Co-Brand promotions.
Co-branding promotions are a savvy strategy for companies unveiling a refreshed brand identity. Partnering with complementary businesses for shared marketing allows exposure to wider audiences during a rebranding vs repositioning effort.
Joint giveaways, cross-promotions, or contests celebrating the reinvention can strengthen relationships while driving engagement across both user bases. Depending on the scale – from a simple refresh to a complete transformation – leveraging related brands multiplies marketing impact.
Different types of rebranding call for creative collaboration. If executed seamlessly, it introduces the updated values to new customers while deepening loyalty with existing audiences. A co-branded approach maximizes buzz around the big reveal.
Multi-touch content marketing.
Effective content marketing plays a pivotal role in introducing brand transformations. Companies can fortify their connections with loyal customers by crafting informative blog posts documenting the rebranding voyage and sharing multimedia videos that offer clients an exclusive glimpse into the process.
When crafted with the distinctive brand voice in mind, it builds recognition through thoughtful storytelling. A rebranding press release and targeted social sharing introduce the restructured company values to new audiences, further cementing the brand. Skillfully employing diverse touchpoints ensures the reintroduction resonates.
Social media amplification.
When rebranding, a well-thought-out social media strategy is crucial for success. Create relevant, memorable hashtags to promote organic content sharing. Collaborate with industry influencers to showcase your brand authentically across various social platforms.
Host interactive live videos or X Spaces for real-time Q&A, generating excitement for the big reveal and addressing customer concerns. Additionally, partnering with influential creators within the industry is crucial to showcase authentic aspects of the new brand identity across multiple social media platforms.
Guerrilla marketing tactics.
Thoughtfully planned guerrilla marketing can significantly boost any rebranding process. Pop-ups, installations, and collaborative street art presentations that highlight the new brand identity intrigue audiences in memorable ways.
Strategic use of eye-catching tactics can help spread authentic word-of-mouth, which in turn exponentially increases brand awareness. For example, think creatively with promotional offerings, such as creating custom cases for phones you offer with purchase or for free at events. As companies introduce changes, unconventional promotions can provide immersive experiences that assist new and existing customers embrace and sharing the new vision.
Offline outreach campaigns.
Mailing customized marketing materials like branded merchandise or direct mail showcasing the reinvented highlights engages loyal patrons. It allows reflection on changes in a personal setting. These personalized tactics reinforce the new image among the target audience when combined with digital efforts.
When done strategically, offline campaigns bolster online strategies, cementing recognition for businesses unveiling alterations. Impactful mixed promotions maximize connection through diverse avenues.
Host a dedicated event.
Forward-thinking brands host immersive events tailored around the reveal to immerse audiences in their rebranding journey. A product debut or open house themed to reflect the reinvented image allows patrons to interact with and spread the word of changes.
Collaborating with like-minded local businesses or pop-culture festivals provides opportunities to seamlessly integrate the rebranding campaign within their platforms, exponentially increasing exposure. Strategic event partnerships introduce alterations to wider communities in an engaging format, maximizing connection.
Turn your team into brand ambassadors.
Internal alignment is vital for companies unveiling an updated brand identity. Comprehensive training acquaints staff with brand values, guidelines, and updated brand identity. This authentic embodiment when serving customers resonates outward.
By encouraging respectful sharing on personal social pages, businesses galvanize word-of-mouth – vital for seamless reintroduction while cultivating deeper community ties through passionate brand ambassadors.
Leveraging new testimonials.
Businesses can take advantage of changes by collaborating with influential figures or presenting insider perspectives to showcase a refreshed relevance. This genuine third-party validation resonates more strongly with audiences who are often cautious of change.
Empowering respected voices to speak to the continuity of quality craftsmanship amidst an adapted brand framework reassures customers and supports a successful relaunch.
Utilize paid advertising.
When businesses embark on a rebranding journey, they achieve the highest level of exposure through paid promotions. Strategic advertising campaigns on platforms like Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn immerse broader audiences in the rejuvenated company story.
Strategic paid placements support organic sharing by establishing a consistent story that resonates with existing patrons and recruits new customers during the transition.
Rebranding announcement examples.
- UXCam’s brand refresh in March 2022 utilized colorful graphics and a video announcement to convey a “new era” for their mobile app analytics service.
- Banana Republic introduced “The New Look” in September 2021 through an interactive multimedia news release and a social media teaser campaign.
- Metron Branding, a promotional marketing firm, announced its black-and-white brand refresh in May 2022 via direct mail and a social media teaser campaign, offering promotional products to engage customers.
Data-driven brand development that can guarantee sales performance.
If you need a rebrand with performance predictability, we can help. SmashBrand is a rebranding agency that researches, designs, and tests all brand assets to ensure peak shelf performance. Book a time to learn more about how we can help you find the right name and to discuss your project with our team.
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