It seems like 2015 is the year the 1980s and 1990s decided to make a comeback. Which is cool. I mean, I grew up in those decades and have fond memories of many of the films released back then. So the reboots and sequels have been a nice walk down nostalgia lane for me. I’ve even talked about some of them here.
All of these reboots got me thinking about rebranding. When a business decides it needs a new look and feel, it undergoes a rebranding process. This can be as involved or as low-key as required and might encompass something simple like a new logo or website copy or something more complex like a new product or service. These film remakes and such are very much a rebranding.
I recently talked about Jurassic World here. Though technically a sequel, I felt it was basically Jurassic Park for a new generation. And you know what? It worked.
That’s what the new Ghostbusters movie is looking to be, too: a redo, a rebranding. Still, not every movie redo is good. And sometimes rebranding is a really bad thing, especially when the new direction takes you too far away from your original vision.
Today, let’s bring Ghostbusters (new and old) along for the ride, as we evaluate what can be learned from this latest movie remake as it relates to rebranding a business and the website that supports it. Strap on those proton packs. It’s go time.
Maybe You Just Need A New Cast
Sometimes the rebranding process is as simple as assembling a new support team. That can mean many different things from literally a new workforce to a new web design.
In WordPress, that most often comes in the form of a new theme. Picking a new theme can be a simple way to spruce up your site without having to spend a ton of time and effort.
Most of the time, movie remakes feature a brand new cast. The upcoming Ghostbusters film is slated to feature and all female cast, which is a pretty cool move if you ask me.
Kristin Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones are well-known comedians and are certain to bring a new take to the classic franchise.
And Sometimes, A New Proton Pack Is All You Need
Maybe you don’t need a whole new cast. Maybe all you need is to update the details. On set photos leaked from the new Ghostbusters film, we can see the redesign of the proton packs. They’re a bit smaller than the originals but look largely the same.
Still, there was something sort of magical about the ribbon cables and crank generator on the old model. Though if production photos are any indicator, the low-tech warning: “Don’t cross the streams,” is still very much so in play. So, overall, this rebranding is quite subtle.
For businesses, the proton pack is sort of like your site’s settings. It’s a small thing that some people might not even notice, but it can be a source of great power. The details matter. Making sure everything on your site appears and functions as it should mean delving into those details, so getting acquainted with something like the theme options panel for your site is a must.
Most themes come with a theme options panel, but it’s all about how you use these customization settings that makes a difference for your rebranding efforts.
You can change your site’s color scheme, font, text size, header and background images, and so much more using these tools. The proton pack is a bit more singularly functioned, but it’s vital to the entire Ghostbusters franchise. No cosplay would be complete without it, right? Same goes for the theme options panel — you wouldn’t have nearly as much control over your site’s final look without it.
Or Maybe A Different Set Of Wheels Will Suffice
In the version of Ghostbusters slated for release in 2016, the famous vehicle, Ecto-1, looks a bit different. It’s still got the original’s Cadillac chassis but it’s ditched the tail fins and gone for a boxier look, according to The Verge. But it still maintains the red and white color scheme and is host to all manner of gadgets up top.
Ecto-1 is how the original crew got around and how the newest group of ‘busters will chase down ghosts. For businesses looking to rebrand, they need to make sure their websites have the best mode of transport, too. In website speak, that means getting the fastest server lined up. It means getting the best hosting provider. It also means keeping all of your server-side software up-to-date and in working order.
If you currently use shared hosting, it might be time to consider a VPN.
If you’ve been rocking WordPress 4.0 for a while, it’s time to install those upgrades to version 4.2.3. Rebranding isn’t always about changing things that your customers, clients, or followers can see; sometimes it’s about changing the inner workings of your business, your website, or your methodology. Sometimes these changes carry more weight than any other.
But Sometimes, Keeping It Old School Is Best
Yes, the proton packs, jumpsuits, and the Ecto-1 are different. But you know what isn’t? That iconic Ghostbusters logo. That’s still the same. And I doubt it’ll ever change. Because one glance at that logo tells you exactly what this new movie is going to be about.
It would’ve been a bad move to change that logo, just like it would be a bad idea to change the logos for Coke or Ford.
If your business or its website has some key component that makes it instantly recognizable, it would be foolish to change it. Rebrand and update elsewhere, sure, but don’t change what already sets your company apart.
Rebranding is about making changes for the better, yes, but it’s also about recognizing when nothing needs to be changed at all.
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