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Sikhulekelani Moyo, Business Reporter

Businesses have been challenged to embrace digital marketing platforms to grow their brands.

Speaking at Icebo Designing Expo held yesterday in Bulawayo, graphic designer Mpi Ndebele said professionally crafted designs have the power to grow businesses.

During the expo, website designers, photographers and videographers and printers expressed their understanding of how designing can help to improve brand image and also understanding of the business by clients.

“A design speaks louder, clearer and better than words, graphic design tells a story of your brand or company’s history or philosophy,” said Mr Ndebele.

Citing global tech giants, Apple he said the firm’s logo is not accompanied by any mission statement but the brand is doing well.

Icebo Designing expo, a brainchild of Innerve Brand Architects and Urban Moon Media was held under the theme, “Welcome to the future of branding,” meant to improve participants’ networking and exhibition skills.

Mr Ndebele also said graphic design creates new prospects for customers to the brand and making use of high-quality designs can positively attract new clients to the brand.

Speaking on the importance of photos and videos in branding, Mr Vumelwayo Mlalazi said professionally curated pictures and videos strike powerful first impressions on clients.

Zimbabwe International Trade Fair deputy chief executive officer who was the guest of honour at the event, Ms Stella Nkomo said when businesses design a logo, business card or a website they are communicating a statement and promising clients something of value, which they expect to get.

“In this environment where everything has gone digital, people don’t need to search  for you high and low, you need your digital foot print to be found and that’s where websites and social media platforms come in,” said Ms Nkomo.

“This is very critical for us marketers because if you are a marketer what you are concerned about is whether the customer knows your existence and if they need you, can they find you.”

— @sikhulekelaniM1