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Master's thesis: 'Corporate design strategy and branding: The role of design management in developing the corporate identity'

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This thesis is an investigation into understanding the role of design and designers, when branding in social media. The work presented in this study considers what value design can bring to branding in social media. It identifies design skills necessary to work in branding in social media, and investigates how design strategy and marketing strategy can relate to social media strategy. It also examines what roles designers could play in the future of social media. In order to fully answer these interdisciplinary questions and address this recent phenomenon of social media, the literature review considers three different domains and areas of expertise: marketing, design and social media. With regard to marketing the focus was on the branding literature concerned with strategic brand management and also social marketing management literature. We attempted to connect aspects of brand design that were crucial to the social media field. In the design chapter we focused on its importance to both branding and social media. We addressed the importance of design management in branding today and how it is connected to new research in social media. We analysed social media history and how it has developed into a growing and important platform for brands to connect with consumers and vice versa. We aimed to underline the way these three different areas of expertise connect with one another in an attempt to answer the research questions. We conducted the empirical work with the collaboration of the one hundred and three multidisciplinary individuals (from marketing, design and/or social media areas) who answered the online questionnaire through a quantitative method approach. Qualitative data was also gathered from the twenty-one individuals through semi-structured interviews with experts in marketing, design and social media areas. We included participants from the United Kingdom and Portugal. We developed two models based on the literature review and empirical data analysis. These models were then validated with thirteen of the expert participants in an online mixed method questionnaire. This ultimately led to the remodelling of the previous models into two new models that combined the feedback and analysis and reflected the overall findings of this thesis.

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Styling the corporate heritage brand: identity building through architectural design

• Published: 01 March 2023
• Volume 30 , pages 116–128, ( 2023 )

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• Angela Bargenda 1  

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The article explores the relationship between corporate architecture and corporate heritage brand identity. It scrutinises the process by which architectural design enacts an idiosyncratic architectural style by mobilising resources from organisational, cultural and social heritage. In addition to desktop research, including interdisciplinary resources, an empirical case study of bank buildings in France is used to develop the argument. The data collection includes two personal interviews with bank managers and on-site guided visits of landmark buildings. The data are triangulated by supplemental company material and archival research. The notion of architectural heritage conduits is introduced to discuss the findings. The original contribution of the article consists in exploring the architectural features that materialise organisational identity, whilst drawing on social, cultural and artistic heritage. The implications for managers and practitioners suggest that the creation of a sui generis architectural style repertoire differentiates the corporate heritage brand in a competitive environment.

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Corporate heritage brands in the financial sector: The role of corporate architecture

Design, corporate brand design, and corporate heritage brand design: what are they? what of them?

Explicating corporate heritage, corporate heritage brands and organisational heritage

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Bargenda, A. Styling the corporate heritage brand: identity building through architectural design. J Brand Manag 30 , 116–128 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41262-023-00315-y

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Branding Design: What It Is and How to Do It

Brands are more than just their logos. Today, branding is about creating a personality, a voice, and a character that shows audiences what to expect. The visual identity of a brand should be reflected in every element of business, including logos, color palettes, photographs, and product packaging.

This is the essence of branding design.

Branding design is extremely personal and very direct, bringing corporate values to life in a tangible way. Branding design boosts revenue and top-line growth , and has the potential to make or break a company’s long term profitability. 

However, creating a visual identity that “sticks” isn’t as easy as it sounds. 

If you have limited experience with art, publishing, or marketing, building a coherent brand design may feel out of your league. But brand design is more accessible than most realize, especially with the advent of free software, tools, and tutorials.

Let’s explore branding design from the ground up, learning major terms, evaluating case studies, and creating brand designs on any sized budget. We’ll also take a look at key tools and resources that can help build your brand’s image .

Defining major terms in branding design

Contrary to popular belief, branding design is not the same thing as a brand or a brand guide . Instead, it’s the combination of two separate elements: brand and brand identity.

A brand is a set of feelings, thoughts, and emotions associated with a specific company, as experienced by the audience or outside world. This imbues a company with a sense of meaning or values, such as Nike’s Just Do It or De Beers’ A Diamond Is Forever. High level brand concepts must be implemented into the brand identity for best results.

Brand identity describes the nuts and bolts of branding design. Logos, font choices, colors, and branding guidelines are expressed by a company-wide brand identity. Some organizations choose to keep their identity assets in-house, while others make them accessible to anyone curious enough to look. In either case, the brand identity is built on the foundation provided by the brand.

Branding design incorporates brand values with the visual elements of brand identity. It explains the process of condensing brand personalities into more tangible elements. Rather than using monochromatic words to get a point across, brand designs use colors, fonts, pictures, and logos to reflect core values, beliefs, and characteristics. Put simply, branding design is the physical look and emotional feel of a business.

Examples of successful branding design

It’s not enough to understand textbook ideas of branding design. In a world where a brand’s identity can make or break a business, having a solid grasp of exemplified best practices is more important than ever. Before you move to the development process, let’s look at some successful brand designs and how they stand out in the marketplace. 

Overnight rental and vacation company AirBnB boasts one of the most recognizable logos in the hospitality industry. Photographs are bright, light, and airy, with a people-centric focus that can be seen across channels. A text- and image-based website sets expectations immediately, reflecting core values of people, places, and love .

Combining fine wine with a box subscription program, Winc offers exploratory flavors with each bottle of the month. Pastel colors and hard lines across its sales channels exude values of luxury, exclusiveness, and minimalism. Even its logo was built with simplicity in mind, speaking directly to its elegant, refined target audience.

An immersive art company like Meow Wolf specializes in doing things differently. As such, its branding design is visually interesting and extremely dynamic. A quick visit to its website shows off an impressive slew of bright primary colors, bold font choices, and moving assets. A creative and easily recognizable brand identity helps Meow Wolf reflect its values and ideals—no words necessary.

There are hundreds of other branding designs to explore, including some of your favorite businesses. Outstanding brands like Coca-Cola and Kellogg’s leveraged the power of design to see success for more than 100 years, while younger businesses like Netflix and Mailchimp all but solidified their place in the market with their visual identities. 

Be sure to take a page out of the mega-brand book while crafting your first design.

Building great branding designs on any budget

The best branding designs require extensive research, care, and hard work to be successful. Start strong by completing your initial research and brand building as early as possible.

• Create your storybrand . What does your brand represent? How do others perceive it in the marketplace? Be sure to record this in a brand bible or comprehensive folder.
• Perform market research . Understand what users are looking for in your visual identity and what other brands are already doing.
• Come up with a winning slogan . In seven words or less, sum up what your brand does better than anyone else.

With the groundwork completed, it will be time to step into the design phase.

• Work on choosing a color palette . Try to stick to complementary or contrasting colors, if possible. The Paletton tool is helpful for picking similar accents and tones, and provides vision simulation to accommodate color blindness.
• Consider your font options. Some brands choose to create fonts of their own, while others pick from a pre-existing pool. 
• Create a logo . This could be text based (Silk), image based (Target), or a combination of both (Burger King).

The first iteration of your brand’s design will not and should not be its forever identity. Regularly monitor and update branded materials over time, and complete a rebranding process if necessary.

• Check for evolution. Evaluate any changes in your brand’s values, perceptions, or target audience. Use this opportunity to update any brand guidelines, if necessary.
• Think about design. Reconsider the colors, logos, and visual identity of the brand. Does anything need to be updated? Why or why not?
• Roll-out your changes. Develop a rebranding strategy that will ease your audience into any new designs. It’s critical to monitor feedback at this stage and pivot accordingly. 

Branding design can be tedious in the second stage of development, particularly with the creation of logos, the choosing of colors, or the procurement of complementary fonts. Although you could rely on an in-house artist or graphic designer to get the job done, it’s perfectly possible to DIY your own custom look.

Tools for creating your first brand design

A branding design doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars or take hundreds of hours to complete. In fact, an effective and on-budget design starts with just a few tools and resources.

Below are three categories of vital branding design tools, including graphics software, logo creators, and online learning resources.

Branding design software

There are hundreds of branding design programs available online, designed to match different budgets and experience levels.

• Canva is a free online program with paid and free access.
• Fontjoy compares complementary fonts to create a pleasing theme for branding designs.
• Adobe Creative Cloud is best for knowledgeable design professionals, starting at $9.99 per month for the Express plan.

Branded logo generation

Designing a logo can be challenging, particularly if you don’t have experience with art or design. Logo generators can help to provide a basis for your ideas—or a starting point if nothing else.

• Tailor Brands supplies AI-generated logos starting at $9.99 per month.
• Shopify’s Hatchful provides hundreds of different templates for virtually any industry.
• Free Logo Design offers exactly what the name suggests, with upgradable options for additional services.

Tutorials and resources

Learning from online blogs, articles, and videos is a great way to build your branding design expertise. There are several options to choose from:

• How to Design a Logo video course
• Designing a Complete Brand Identity with Adobe
• Brand Identity Design podcast

If you still don’t feel comfortable working on brand design alone, remember that there are professional branding design experts available to help in multiple capacities. Agencies, freelancers, and boutiques may be a great choice for brands with larger marketing budgets. However, a DIY approach has the potential to be just as good or better than the corporate development process. 

It pays to understand your needs and limitations before hiring additional help.

Getting started with your branding design

The world’s most recognizable branding designs were not created overnight. As you begin the process of developing assets, choosing colors, and comparing font choices, be sure to take a step back and keep an eye on your progress. The result may not be perfect, but it certainly is a step in the right direction.

Allow your brand’s expression to evolve naturally over time, and be willing to adapt as individual elements start to change. Look for ways to improve, ask for honest feedback, and keep an ear to the ground for what your audience has to say.

Your branding design deserves the respect that its parent brand commands. Empower your business to take control of its visual identity with simple tools, expert tips, and advice derived from industry experts. With a little creativity and elbow grease, you’ll be well on your way to creating an identity that stands out to customers for years to come.

Want to learn more?

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• Showcase : Flexibly feature a broad selection of products with space for product information and rich visual content
• Click on Page Manager and select "Add a Page" to build out the storefront:
• You’ll see there’s already a home page for your brand, but you can use this method to add subcategory pages to display all your wares.
• For each page, you can enter the page name and description, and choose a page template.
• Each page can navigate to a different page within the storefront, up to three levels deep. For example, you could have a page to cover different features, product categories, or top sellers.
• Use the Tile Manager to add and arrange content on the page. You can use a combination of images, text, and video content to create an engaging experience for shoppers.
• Check the Preview Window to see how the storefront will appear for desktop and mobile browsers. Click on an individual tile within the page to edit.
• Once you’ve finished building the storefront, click “Submit for Publishing.” The moderation process can take several days, so keep an eye on the Status Bar to monitor progress. To avoid setbacks, review the Stores creative guidelines .

Integrate with an existing online store or ecommerce website

• Add an ecommerce solutions connector app. Integrate additional ecommerce sites with Amazon for quicker listing, improved order management, cross-channel inventory sync, and more.
• Add a Multichannel Fulfillment app with complete solutions for multichannel Amazon sellers. Manage logistics such as order listings, inventory, shipping, and product reviews all on one dashboard.

Multi-channel fulfillment

Monetize your audience.

What are the benefits of building an Amazon store?

• Keep track of business details from on the go with an iOS or Android device.
• Protect customers with secure payment options
• Reduce cart abandonment with checkout optimization
• Measure performance and metrics with the insights dashboard .
• Integrate an Amazon store with other websites.
• Combine the power of promotions, advertising, coupons, and lightning deals to generate sales.
• Automate repetitive tasks to simplify your day-to-day and keep your business humming.
• Track of business details from the palm of your hand, download the Amazon Seller app for iOS and Android devices.
• In addition to other ecommerce benefits , Seller University is also available to help you keep learning and growing with online tutorials.

Launch and grow a storefront online

More From Forbes

5 chatgpt prompts to skyrocket your personal brand and digital reach.

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5 ChatGPT prompts to skyrocket your personal brand and digital reach

Everyone wants to be famous online but not everyone knows where to start. But start you should. Your income and revenue can be supercharged by building a personal brand. The more people that are familiar with you and feel like you represent their best interests, the more your marketing costs reduce to zero and the more your business can grow. It’s an undeniable relationship.

Use these ChatGPT prompts to get on track with your personal brand and reach more people than ever. Copy, paste and edit the square brackets in ChatGPT, and keep the same chat window open so the context carries through.

Supercharge your brand and reach: ChatGPT prompts to get famous in your niche

Know what you stand for.

The best personal brands act with intention. You can’t show up online and start complaining about your energy supplier and commenting on your soccer team. You’re better than that. Use this prompt to get clear on what you do and don’t stand for, the content pillars you’ll adhere to, and the vibe you’ll bring to every platform. Don’t deviate from this plan.

"Generate a detailed outline of my personal brand, including my values, the core messages I want to convey, and the 4 distinct content pillars I should focus on. Describe the tone and vibe I should maintain across all platforms. My business is [describe your business] and we help [describe your target audience] achieve [outcome you help them achieve].”

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, find new audiences.

New pockets of customers could exist everywhere. Your business doesn’t have to serve the same audience, location or need it always has. Get ChatGPT to suggest new places to show up and new avenues to explore. Broaden your horizons to grow your personal brand. Go where the money is by experimenting in new arenas.

"Identify new target audiences for my company and, by extension, my personal brand. Provide a list of potential niches, platforms, and locations where I can expand my reach. Consider my current audience, my business goals of [describe your business goals], and suggest areas where my brand could naturally extend and thrive."

Make an outreach plan

You have your content pillars and your new set of audiences, now make the plan for how you engage. Posting and ghosting isn’t the way. For maximum chance of success, slide into DMs and engage in a deeper level there. But selling straight away won’t do you any favours. You have to have a strategy. Use this ChatGPT prompt to get your custom prompt, and create a series of messages that get your audience familiar with your ethos and business. Engage from the heart but stick to the process. Here’s how.

"Create a prompt that I can use in ChatGPT, for engaging with my new audience on social media. First, I should be required to complete square brackets with specific details about my company and audience. When ChatGPT has this information, this prompt will require ChatGPT to draft a series of initial messages to send in direct messages. The message should build rapport and provide value without being salesy, so this should be reflected in the prompt. The prompt should also generate follow-up messages that gradually introduce my business offerings."

Send more emails

Founders don’t email their list enough. Scared of bombarding subscribers, they rarely hit send, and they shy away from an email marketing plan. Don’t make that mistake. Instead, find ways of adding value to someone’s world, so you’re welcomed into their inbox every time. Use this prompt to ideate your next three emails and send them within the next two weeks.

"Generate ideas for my next three email campaigns to my subscriber list. Focus on adding value with engaging content that will keep my audience interested and lead them to take the action of [describe your main CTA]. The three emails should follow the “problem, agitation, solution” framework, where email one describes a problem I know my target audience has, email two describes how this problem proliferates in their life, and email three introduces the solution which my business provides. Based on what you know about my audience, create three options for the problem to address and I will pick one of them for the first series of three emails."

Dig into the metrics

Skyrocket your personal brand by doing more of what’s working. Do more of what’s working by assessing the data. Separate emotionally from what performed well. This isn’t about self-worth, it’s about being open to trying different things and being okay to not get it exactly right every time. After all, who does?

"Analyze the metrics from my recent [social media posts/email campaigns]. Identify the top-performing content and provide insights into why it was successful. Suggest ways to replicate this success in future content. My goal is to increase engagement and reach within my niche. [Paste information from your content, or upload a CSV file of metrics including impressions, email titles, social media hooks, open rate, click rate or engagement rate]."

ChatGPT prompts to build your personal brand: get intentional today

Build your personal brand and never look back. While other people are paying for ads, struggling to sign clients and wondering when the next enquiry will arrive, you’ll be swamped with leads, knee-deep in opportunity and scaling your business beyond where you thought possible. Know what you stand for, find untapped audiences and make your outreach plan. Send more emails, learn from every post, and keep on going. Start right and start today.

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• 2024 TRUST BAROMETER
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• 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer …
• Special Report — Brand Trust 2023

The Collapse of the Purchase Funnel

In a volatile world rife with pressures on consumers, from health and the economy to challenges to rights and freedoms and an eroding sense of community, consumers are demanding more from brands.

The relationship between consumers and brands must evolve, as people feel more vulnerable, and their expectations of brands grow. The 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: The Collapse of the Purchase Funnel tells us that consumers are looking for ongoing engagement after the point of purchase and their need for trust grows with feelings of vulnerability.

Featured Content

Gen z on gen z: the collapse of the purchase funnel.

Giselle Huasipoma and Gabe Gomez, Edelman Gen Z Lab ambassadors, sit down to unpack findings from the Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: The Collapse of the Purchase Funnel. They discuss Gen Z asking more questions throughout their purchasing journeys, the future of online versus brick-and-mortar retail experiences, and why they don't want to be "ghosted" by brands.

Personal and societal threats have led to a more discerning consumer

are more price conscious

are doing more research before they buy

are making fewer impulse purchases

say there are brands they will not buy because of the countries in which they are HQ'd

Gen Z is impacting the entire buying ecosystem

79% of Gen Z say it’s more important than ever to trust the brands they buy, more than any other generation surveyed

68% of consumers say Gen Z influences where and how they shop, with a staggering 12-point increase in one year on those age 59+

The purchase funnel no longer reflects the modern brand-consumer relationship

Purchase is just the beginning

of consumers say that they uncover things that attract them to a brand and drive loyalty after the first purchase .

1. Purchase is often the starting point

2. ongoing engagement builds attraction, 3. brand action builds trust, 4. trust drives growth.

Trusted brands are rewarded with purchase, loyalty and advocacy

are more likely to purchase new products when they trust the brand, even irrespective of price

are more likely to stay loyal to and advocate for a brand they trust

Building Brands in a Vulnerable World

Move beyond the funnel.

Today’s consumers want an ongoing relationship with brands, and most consideration happens after the purchase. Build your brand and measurement strategy around the Trust Loop.

Work with Z, don’t underestimate them

Gen Z is changing the face of global commerce. They are pragmatic and highly influential. Even if they’re not your target, work with them to unlock consumer action at scale.

Make trust your growth engine

With trust, brand action fuels consumer action – buying, advocacy and loyalty. Through a reciprocal relationship that builds trust, you can unlock growth.

Featured Insights

Trust and Brands: The Collapse of the Purchase Funnel

Richard Edelman, CEO.

Edelman’s most recent Trust Barometer special report, The Collapse of the Purchase Funnel, finds that today’s buying behavior is too dynamic for a linear funnel and that purchase is no longer the end point but the start of an ongoing relationship with the consumer.

Three Mandates Marketers Must Adopt to Build Brand Trust in 2023

Jackie Cooper, Global Chief Brand Officer & Senior Advisor.

When we ask ourselves, what has really changed in the last year? The truth is that everything has. Consumers are feeling the pressure from every corner of our world - from the micro, everyday things like paying their bills to the macro, big picture things, like the smog outside their city windows..

Gen Z Harnesses Vulnerabilities, Asking Brands to Stand Up for All Consumers

Bianca Brown, Senior Account Executive and a U.K. Ambassador to Edelman’s Gen Z Lab, in conversation with Ellie Smith, Content Supervisor at the Edelman Trust Institute.

The Edelman Trust Institute sat down with Bianca Brown, Senior Account Executive and a U.K. Ambassador to Edelman’s Gen Z Lab, to discuss findings about Gen Z in the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: The Collapse of the Purchase Funnel.

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Methodology.

Fieldwork conducted: May 1 – May 12, 2023

Respondents

Respondents / Country

What does this mean for your business? 

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THE NOISE AND INFLUENCE ON FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPY

Fluorescence microscopy, a cornerstone in biological imaging, faces inherent challenges due to photon budget constraints that affect the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), ultimately limiting imaging performance. This thesis explores theoretical frameworks to address two fundamental issues: the denoising limit of fluorescence microscopy images and the resolution limit in the presence of photon noise. Firstly, we extend the application of the Cramér-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) to establish a variance lower bound for image denoising algorithms in fluorescence microscopy. By incorporating constraints specific to the imaging system and biological specimens, we provide a benchmark for evaluating the performance of state-of-the-art denoising algorithms. Our analysis reveals that this lower bound is determined by factors such as photon count, readout noise, detection wavelength, effective pixel size, and numerical aperture of the microscope system. Secondly, building upon the pioneering work by Ernest Abbe and leveraging modern fluorescence and nanoscopy advancements, we propose a novel theoretical framework to quantify the resolving power of fluorescence microscopes under finite photon conditions. This model integrates the traditional diffraction limit with photon statistics to determine the practical resolution limit, highlighting the trade-offs between photon noise and resolution enhancement in techniques like confocal microscopy. This dual approach not only refined the theoretical understanding of fluorescence microscopy's capabilities but also assisted in designing and optimizing more effective imaging protocols. Through these investigations, this thesis provided a comprehensive theoretical foundation for improving fluorescence microscopy imaging techniques, paving the way for future innovations in biological imaging.

Degree Type

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Biomedical Engineering

Campus location

• West Lafayette

Advisor/Supervisor/Committee Chair

Additional committee member 2, additional committee member 3, additional committee member 4, usage metrics.

• Biomedical imaging

NIO is building its third EV plant as it can no longer meet demand

Who said EV sales were slowing? NIO kicked off construction on its third EV plant as the existing two can no longer meet demand. Amid reports that the new plant will boost production capacity to that of Tesla’s Shanghai plant, NIO’s president clarified rumors.

NIO begins construction at third EV plant to meet demand

NIO president and co-founder Qin Lihong confirmed the EV maker has started building its third factory. The new plant will be used to build NIO and Onvo brand electric cars.

Although a Reuters report from earlier today claimed three sources familiar with the matter said NIO’s third factory would raise its total production capacity to 1 million, roughly the same as Tesla’s Shanghai plant, new details have emerged.

The report said NIO’s new factory has been approved with 600,000 annual production capacity, putting the EV maker’s total capacity on par with that of Tesla’s Shanghai plant (1.1 million).

NIO’s president clarified that construction has begun, but the new plant will be able to produce 100,000 units a year on a single shift.

Lihong told Blue Whale News that NIO’s current production capacity (at its two existing plants) had reached its single-shift capacity due to higher demand. In other words, NIO needs to build more EVs, he added, “NIO does not have an overcapacity problem.”

Demand is outweighing production capacity

The news comes after NIO had a record-breaking Month in May, delivering 20,544 EVs, up 234% from last year.

NIO delivered 12,164 electric SUVs and 8,380 sedans. With that, NIO’s cumulative deliveries topped 500,000 (515,811) as of May 31, 2024.

NIO has now delivered 66,217 vehicles YTD, up 51% year-over-year. The sales growth is fueled by the brand’s refreshed lineup.

After opening orders for seven updated models in February, including the 2024 ET5, ET5T, EC6, ES6, EC7, and ES8, the ET7 was the latest model added to the lineup in April.

NIO’s new ET7 , powered by a massive 150 kWh esmi-solid state battery pack, broke a record for a mass-produced EV after CEO William Li drove it for 1,145 km (711 mi). The 14-hour event was live-streamed, and the ET7 even had an extra 3% charge left.

After topping 20,000 deliveries last month, several analysts believe NIO’s momentum will continue.

NIO launched the Onvo L60 last month, the first of its new mass-market brand. Starting at $30,500 (219,900 yuan), the new electric SUV undercuts Tesla’s top-selling Model Y , which starts at 249,900 yuan ($34,600) in China.

In a recent investor note, Deutsche Bank analyst Wang Bin’s team said with the new L60 launching in September, “We think Nio’s expectation of monthly >20,000 unit delivery is achievable with boost from Onvo.”

Source: CNeVPost , NIO

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Peter Johnson is covering the auto industry’s step-by-step transformation to electric vehicles. He is an experienced investor, financial writer, and EV enthusiast. His enthusiasm for electric vehicles, primarily Tesla, is a significant reason he pursued a career in investments. If he isn’t telling you about his latest 10K findings, you can find him enjoying the outdoors or exercising

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How to Build a Website: 2 Methods, 9 Easy Steps, & 35 Amazing Tips

Published: April 03, 2024

Studies show that 76% of consumers research a business online before visiting in person. That means having a website and building web pages that provide the information consumers want to know is as necessary for companies today as having a phone number.

Maybe you’re starting a new business venture or developing your personal brand. Or, maybe you’re looking to update your company’s outdated website.

Whatever the case, building web pages from scratch can feel overwhelming, particularly without technical expertise or a budget for web developers. Below, let’s go over exactly how to build a website and the tools you need to do it yourself.

Table of Contents:

Steps to Make a Website

How to build a website with a website builder, how to build a website with a cms, how to build a website with hubspot.

• Build Web Pages: FAQ

Build Your Website: Tips

I’ve put together a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to creating a website. Best of all, you won’t need a coder, web designer, or big budget to create one — you’ll just need to follow the steps below.

How to Build a Website

• Choose a website builder or a CMS.
• Select a hosting plan or sign up for a website builder subscription.
• Get a domain name.
• Choose a theme or template for your site.
• Customize your theme and templates.
• Add pages to your site.
• Write content.
• Fill in general settings.
• Install extensions, plugins, or add-ons.

In general, you’ll carry out these steps before launching your site. But before you get started, you’ll need to choose a platform.

Start building your website by choosing a platform.

The first thing you’ll need to decide is whether you want to create a website using a website builder or a CMS.

Let’s take a look at the definitions of each below.

Both website builders and CMS platforms provide the out-of-the-box features, pre-designed templates, and extensions required to create a custom site without coding, but they offer different experiences for creating and managing a website.

Website Builders vs. Content Management Systems

Website builders provide everything you need to launch a site. You get website building tools, hosting, domain registration, SSL certification, templates, and support in one place, often for a low monthly rate.

This ease of use and pricing appeals to many site owners. However, free website builders , as well as the more expensive alternatives, tend to be limited in flexibility. For example, you can’t add your own custom code, or drag and drop elements anywhere on your posts and pages.

If you want more control over the functionality and appearance of your site, use a CMS. A CMS will provide the content management features , advanced functionality, and customization options required to build larger, more complex sites.

If you decide that a CMS is the best option for your business, consider the software, ease of use, customizability, security, and pricing of different platforms to narrow down your selection.

Let's look at some examples of both website builders and CMS platforms you could potentially use.

Here are some resources comparing some CMS systems with popular website builders:

• HubSpot vs Drupal vs Wordpress vs Joomla: Which Is the Right CMS for You?
• WordPress.org vs WordPress.com: What’s the Difference?
• Which Should You Use, Wix or WordPress? Things to Know
• A Head-to-Head Comparison of Weebly vs. WordPress
• The Most Critical Differences Between Squarespace & WordPress
• Shopify vs. WordPress: Where Should You Set Up Shop?

Have you decided that you’d like to use a website builder? Excellent! This is the easiest way to start for most beginners.

You won’t need to know how to code, and everything you need is typically included in one convenient package.

So if you don’t want to go through the hassle of finding a hosting service, domain name, and SSL certificate, this is the option for you.

Let’s go through the process of creating your site using a website builder.

1. Choose a website builder.

First up, choose a website builder that fits your needs and budget. You’ll need to consider the following:

• Cost : Your budget will be by far the most important factor when choosing a website builder. Most require a paid subscription to include premium features such as domain names and increased storage.
• Features : Website builders typically offer different features depending on their target market. Shopify, for example, is specifically designed for ecommerce websites, while WordPress.com is primarily known for blogging.
• Extensions : Check out the extensions and add-ons library for each website builder you’re considering. If they don’t offer something you need for your site, skip that builder.
• Themes and Templates : Some website builders provide more themes and templates, while others provide less variety but more well-designed choices. Check out the template library so you can see what your site could potentially look like once it’s finished.
• Ease-of-use : All website builders are designed to be easy to use: simply sign up on the platform and start building. But some are more intuitive than others. Play around with different builders to find out which one you prefer.
• Support : Is the website builder’s support team known for its responsiveness? Do some research beforehand to ensure the premium subscription will also get you premium support.

No matter what, you’ll want to start with a free trial — that way, you can give the platform a test run before committing.

While most website builders come with a free subscription tier, it doesn’t offer a free domain name or the features you need to build a strong website.

My recommendation is to opt for a paid subscription once you’ve decided on a platform.

Below, I’ve broken down some of the most popular website builders you could choose.

Here are a few more resources to help you choose a website builder:

• Best Website Builders Today and How to Choose One
• Best Free Website Builders to Check Out This Year
• Top Ecommerce Website Builders

And here are some posts listing alternatives:

• Wix Alternatives & Why You Might Want Them
• Squarespace Alternatives & Why You Need One

2. Sign up for a subscription plan that meets your budget and needs.

If you’re just getting started, a free plan is a good way to build your business and get it out there.

But as you grow, you’ll want to upgrade to a subscription as free plans typically don’t include enough features to scale and maintain a professional website.

Before you upgrade, take a close look at the features included in each tier to choose the right subscription for you.

Consider the following questions before choosing a subscription plan:

• How much storage will you need?
• Do you want ads to be removed from your site?
• Will you be setting up an online store?
• Will you want a professional email with your domain name?
• Will you want to customize the site using CSS and HTML?
• How much support do you expect you’ll need?

Most website builders have a pricing page that lays out the differences between plans in an easy-to-scan list. The best part is that you can start with the simplest subscription, then upgrade as you require more features and functionalities.

3. Choose a short and catchy domain name.

Some website builders offer a free subdomain for your site, but you'll want to upgrade to a paid subscription to get a custom domain.

A custom domain name is one of the easiest ways to appear more professional and legitimate as a company. Imagine you were looking for a freelance writer.

Are you more likely to hire me if my website address is carolineforsey.weebly.com or carolineforsey.com? An extension like “Weebly.com” can confuse visitors and dilute your brand identity.

Worst case scenario: a visitor might assume you can’t afford a premium hosting service or custom domain, and draw conclusions that your business is not fully established.

The good news is that after you upgrade, your premium website builder subscription will include a domain name for free, at least for the first year. You’ll be able to choose it as you’re setting up the site, or do it later.

If you sell professional services, can customers learn more about the services you offer and easily get in touch with your team if they have specific questions?

If you‘re an e-comm business, how easy is it for your customers to purchase something right off your website?

Interview your customers about their experience on your website, and don’t be afraid to run experiments on your copy or on other elements of your website.

Constantly iterating on the experience you provide your customers will help you perfect your website over time."

Below, I'm covering the process of building your website using a CMS from start to finish.

1. Choose a CMS.

The best CMS system for your business will align with your site's needs and goals.

Let‘s talk about some of the features you’d get from using HubSpot Content Hub to give you an idea of some of the benefits of using content management software.

Example of CMS Software: HubSpot CMS

Don't forget to share this post!

Related articles.

Phases of Website Redesign: The Ultimate Guide for Marketers

The 16 Best Blogging Platforms for 2024 (& How to Pick One)

What Is a CMS and Why Should You Care?

80 Things to Check Before, During, and After Launching a Website

Your CMS Is NSFW

Start Using HubSpot's Drag-and-Drop Website Builder

Marketing software that helps you drive revenue, save time and resources, and measure and optimize your investments — all on one easy-to-use platform

• Entertainment

Microsoft is slowly building to a future where ‘every screen is an Xbox’

Today’s announcements were baby steps, but they all point in the same direction: xbox is no longer just a console..

By Andrew Webster , an entertainment editor covering streaming, virtual worlds, and every single Pokémon video game. Andrew joined The Verge in 2012, writing over 4,000 stories.

Share this story

Taken on their own, today’s gaming announcements from Microsoft might not seem all that earth-shattering. A handful of unspecified Xbox games are coming to rival platforms, the subscriber numbers for Game Pass have grown, Diablo IV will lead the rush of Activision Blizzard titles on Game Pass, and more hardware is on the way, including a powerful next-gen console and possibly a handheld. But they all point to a future that Microsoft hasn’t exactly been shy about: making Xbox into more than just a console.

In an internal memo to employees, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer explained the strategy like this:

We have a different vision for the future of gaming. A future where players have a unified experience across devices. A future where players can easily discover a vast array of games with a diverse spectrum of business models. A future where more creators are empowered to realize their creative vision, reach a global audience, unite their communities, and succeed commercially. A future where every screen is an Xbox.

It’s a bold idea, particularly because right now, the word Xbox is synonymous with a console that sits under your TV. So if it’s not a physical machine, what is Xbox?

In an interview with The Verge , Spencer said that “Xbox is our gaming platform and content business.” Notably, he did not use the word “console.” Instead, Xbox is an idea, a platform that spans multiple fronts. It started as a console, and now PC and the cloud are a huge part of the Xbox strategy, as is the subscription service Game Pass. With the addition of Activision Blizzard (and its games like Candy Crush and Call of Duty Mobile ), as well as the potential for a Microsoft mobile app store , you can add mobile devices to that, too. One day we might include a handheld to that mix. And following the success of previous multiplatform games, most notably Minecraft , rival platforms like the PS5 and Nintendo Switch are increasingly becoming a part of the overall concept of Xbox.

Microsoft seems to be taking measured steps to get to this future vision. It isn’t all in on any one part of the strategy — it sells hardware along with games and subscriptions, and it’s steadily been opening up where you can play those games and subscriptions. It doesn’t need every Xbox gamer to sign up for Game Pass or buy a console, but having both options, along with all of the other ongoing initiatives like cloud and mobile, creates the crux of what the brand is now and where it’s headed.

“I like the fact that we get a mix of things happening with our business,” Spencer explained. “Our business model is not just about hardware sales, it’s not just about first-party game sales. It’s a diverse business model that leads to the business success that we’re seeing today, which I think is kind of a testament to the path that we’ve been on for the last few years.”

“I’m going to learn about our partnership with other platforms.”

Take launching on other platforms as an example. Microsoft says it’s bringing four existing Xbox games to the PS5 and Switch (it’s not saying which four, but they aren’t too hard to guess), and the company is viewing them as something of a test. “I’m going to learn about our partnership with other platforms,” Spencer said. “I’m going to learn about what happens with our players.” Instead of committing to every big Xbox game also being on other platforms, and the uproar that will inevitably occur if Starfield hits the PS5, the company is testing the waters with a few smaller single-player releases and live-service games that could use a boost in players

If this turns out to be a dead end for the Xbox brand, no real harm. But if titles like Pentiment or Sea of Thieves become multiplatform hits, it’s easy to see the initiative expanding with games from other Xbox studios like Bethesda. “We just want to make sure it’s good for the long-term health of Xbox,” Spencer said.

The question, of course, is whether this is a strategy that will ultimately work, and it’s clearly far too early to tell. What is clear is that something has to change. For years, Microsoft has been in a steady third place compared to its biggest rivals, and both PlayStation and Nintendo have largely stayed firm on the idea of selling consoles with big exclusive games. Sony sees an opportunity in other platforms like the PC , Nintendo is expanding into different forms of entertainment , and both are trying out subscriptions. But right now their core strategies haven’t strayed far from the traditional console business.

Despite all of its resources, Microsoft hasn’t been able to compete in that way, so it’s now trying something very different — with the potential to be a lot bigger.

Xbox Games Showcase 2024: all the news, trailers, and announcements

Microsoft announces a disc-less xbox series x console in white, apple needs to show us the other half of the ipad pro, logan is so annoyed in the third deadpool & wolverine trailer, is apple about to finally launch the real siri.

More from this stream The future of Xbox: all the news on Microsoft’s strategy shift

Read phil spencer’s microsoft memo on ‘xbox everywhere’, apple’s cloud gaming changes don’t “go far enough” for xbox., microsoft admits windows is a weak link in handheld gaming pcs — and promises to improve., watch phil spencer and co. talk about what’s next for xbox..