Changing Your Brand Name? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Rebranding is no small task. When I decided to merge my two brands into j.a.c & Honey, I knew it would take more than just a name change. Every system, platform, and touchpoint had to align with the new brand identity, and let me tell you—it’s been a process.
If you’re considering a rebrand or preparing for a name change, bookmark this page. I’m sharing everything I’ve done so far to make the transition smooth (well, as smooth as possible!) and set the foundation for my new brand.
Social Media: The First Step
Naturally, social media was the first thing that came to mind—it’s where most people interact with your brand first.
Change Your Handles and Names: I updated all my Honey Social accounts, including Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube. (I’m not too concerned about Twitter/X since I barely use it.)
Heads Up on Name Changes: Platforms like Instagram and Facebook give you a warning that once you change your name, you may not be able to do it again for a set period. It’s a moment that makes you pause and be reallysure about your decision.
Communicate the Move: For brands merging or transitioning, don’t forget about your existing followers. I’ve been posting updates on my old accounts to let people know we’re moving to the new pages. For Pinterest and YouTube, I’m migrating all my old content to the new brand page—a process that will take time but is a great opportunity to:
Purge outdated or irrelevant content.
Identify gaps and start planning for future content.
Social media alone is a huge undertaking, but it sets the tone for the rest of the transition.
Email Marketing Platform: Where Details Matter
Systems are the cornerstone of my business, so transitioning my tools—Flodesk and Honeybook—was non-negotiable.
Flodesk powers my email campaigns, so I had to go through the backend to update:
Brand Identity: Logos, fonts, color palette, and company name.
Sender Details: From name, social media links, and website.
Domain Authentication: A must to ensure emails land in inboxes, not spam.
Subscriber Journey: This included updating the double opt-in email, “Thank you for subscribing” page, and the preferences page.
Custom Forms: Flodesk makes it easy to create branded forms, so I designed:
A new link-in-bio page.
A full-page “Join the Mailing List” form.
A new website banner encouraging people to subscribe.
Flodesk’s features let me maintain a cohesive presence while streamlining updates—and I recommend taking advantage of tools like these during a rebrand.
CRM Systems: Managing Clients and Workflows Seamlessly
Honeybook is my CRM, where I manage client relationships, proposals, and workflows. For this system, I:
Updated my company settings with the new brand name and branding.
Refreshed my email signature to reflect the new identity.
Created a to-do list to update all my Smart Files (proposals, invoices, brochures, and templates).
Honeybook is still a work in progress, but tackling the essentials first ensures my day-to-day operations aren’t disrupted.
Pinterest: Leveraging Visuals for Business Growth
Next up for me is Pinterest. I’ve long believed in the power of Pinterest to drive business revenue—in fact, I even created a whole course about it for Honey Social, which I’ll be bringing back soon. For my brand, updating Pinterest is non-negotiable.
That said, it’s important to note that you should only focus on the platforms that make the most sense for your business. Because my work is highly visual and aims to educate and support creatives, Pinterest is a natural fit for me.
Here’s how I tackled the process:
Choosing the Right Account: First, I evaluated which of my two accounts (Jendayi Asha Creative or Honey Social) had the larger following. Honey Social had more followers, so I decided to transition that account into the new j.a.c & Honey account to minimize disruption for the majority of my audience.
Updating the Details: I went into the Honey Social account settings and updated the username, bio, logo, email address, website, and linked social media accounts.
Claiming the Website: Pinterest allows you to claim your website and social accounts, giving you access to more detailed analytics about your content’s performance. This step was essential for me to better understand how my new brand resonates with my audience.
Editing Contact Information: I also updated the account management tab to reflect the new contact details for j.a.c & Honey.
As for my old Jendayi Asha Creative account, there’s still work to do before I deactivate it. That account holds many boards showcasing past and current client work, and I want to transfer that content to the new j.a.c & Honey Pinterest account.
Since Pinterest doesn’t allow you to merge boards between accounts, I’ll be using a hack I learned to move boards manually. (If you’d like a tutorial on that, let me know in the comments!)
Zoom and Loom: Keeping Communication Clear
Video is an essential tool in my business—it’s how I maintain face-to-face interaction with clients, even from afar. Sometimes, email or messages just aren’t enough to convey tone or ideas clearly. That’s why I rely on two platforms: Zoom for client meetings and Loom for quick, screen-recorded walkthroughs of branding drafts and final assets when a full meeting isn’t necessary.
Here’s how I updated each platform during my rebrand:
Zoom: To ensure my Zoom profile reflects the new brand, I updated my company name, display name, and profile photo. These small updates help keep everything cohesive and professional for client interactions.
Loom: For Loom, I updated my profile photo as well as my workspace name and workspace logo. Since Loom is often the first impression clients have of their deliverables, making sure it aligns with my new branding was a must.
Email Signatures: The Final Touch
A professional email signature is a small but impactful detail that helps tie your brand together. For my everyday email inbox, I updated my signature using a free email signature generator tool by Honeybook. It’s quick, easy, and the results are polished and professional.
If you’re looking to refresh your email signature to match your branding, I highly recommend this tool. And it’s completely free! Click here to create yours.
Lessons Learned So Far
Rebranding is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time, patience, and attention to detail, but it’s worth it to ensure every aspect of your business feels aligned and intentional.
Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
Plan for Extra Time: Every platform has its own nuances, and unexpected tasks will pop up. Give yourself grace as you work through it.
Prioritize Communication: Let your audience know what’s happening. Whether it’s social media posts, email updates, or notifications on your website, keep them in the loop.
Break It Down: Rebranding can feel overwhelming, so focus on one area at a time. Start with the most visible platforms (like social media) and work your way through.
Whether you’re planning a name change now or in the future, I hope this serves as a valuable resource for navigating the process with confidence.
Note: I’ll be updating this entry with more insights and lessons as I continue this rebrand journey.
