When Trust Cracks, So Does Your Brand

Branding isn’t about what you design. It’s about what people experience.

Local governments don’t own their brands—residents do. A city’s brand is the sum of every interaction someone has with your organization: paying a bill through your website, attending an event, watching how you handle a crisis.

That’s why branding in government isn’t about fonts, colors, or clever taglines. It’s about consistency and credibility. If your messaging says one thing but your actions show another, people notice the disconnect.

High Performance Communications means showing up the same way, every time, across every channel. That’s how you build a brand that people trust.

🔑 Question for you: When residents talk about your community or organization, what three words do you hope they use?

If your stakeholders are confused about who you are or what you stand for, this one’s for you. In the full post on Element 4 of High Performance Communications, I lay out why branding in government isn’t about logos—it’s about consistency. Because when your words, actions, and values don’t line up, trust takes the hit.

Onward and Upward.