T hre e

Phase Three: Brand Implementation

Working with local leaders and the branding steering committee, the branding team will outline a list of priorities for brand implementation. This priority list might include things the committee wants to implement first, such as branded gateway and trail signage, and action steps it wants to take, such as developing a regional marketing strategy or strengthening partnerships, for example. Accomplishing these priorities depends on available funding. Typically, websites and social media are among the first items on the priority list to be rebranded as they are often the most cost-effective. The branding team will help key stakeholders develop a long-term brand implementation strategy that positions the River Valley Region for economic growth while boosting its brand recognition and reputation regionally and nationally. This regional brand implementation strategy will help unite disparate activities into a unified plan among the counties. Ultimately, the goal of a regional brand is to help drive economic development and tourism to all communities.

During this phase, various marketing campaigns are developed. The branding team creates designs showing how the brand might be used on merchandise, apparel, advertisements, and other media to provide visual references for the region’s key stakeholders. In addition, ideas about how to incorporate the region’s new brand into the physical environment through public art and murals, interactive QR codes at key locations, self-guided podcast tours, and more may be imagined and illustrated through renderings and sketches. Finally, the branding team will ensure that the marketing campaigns show activities and merchandise that appeal to the local population and target audiences.