5 Creative Ways to Display Your Core Values on Your Website
People need to connect with your company in order to buy from you and to get their friends, families, coworkers and baristas to buy from you. The products and services that I continually come back to and am always raving about to anyone who'll listen are those that have clear values. They're in business because they saw a problem and wanted to help people fix it. On top of that, they solve their chosen problem in a way that makes the world a better place.
My favorite makeup store isn't Sephora or Blue Mercury, it's Coral Story Beauty, a local shop that was founded because the owner wanted to make it easy to go green with your beauty routine.
I prefer shopping at New Seasons instead of Safeway because they take care of their staff, are all about sourcing food from local farmers and producers and giving back to the community.
The places I love to shop and the things I love to buy aren't the cheapest or even the most convenient (I drove 2 hours yesterday to visit the Mountain Rose Herbs Mercantile because I'm obsessed with the quality of their products and their practices), they're the brands that have clear values and the brands that put those values into action everyday.
The easiest (and most effective) place to display your core values is your website. Now you could just list them with a short sentence explaining what each value means to your company OR you could elevate your brand experience with one of the creative ideas below.
Number 1 - Icons
This is one trend I'm all about. Adding a visual element to written content makes it more accessible and helps you communicate your message clearly. Icons are simple, clean and you can find styles that fit any brand identity.
Number 2 - Manifesto
Not into the traditional, single word core values? Write a manifesto! It's a great option because you can inject more of your brands personality and you can design it in a way that can be applied not only to your website but to merch as well (think tshirts, mugs, stickers etc.), making your brand more memorable.
Check out the Unreasonable Group Manifesto.
And who can forget the iconic example of the lululemon shopper…
Number 3 - Video
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is certainly worth, let's say, a million. Show your customers your core values instead of just telling them by capturing footage of your core values in action. You could interview all your employees talking about what each of your values means to them or show the ways you take care of your customers and your employees.
Number 4 - Infographic
I'm a visual learner and there's nothing I love more than an infographic. It can communicate complex information and ideas in a way that's very digestible and memorable. You'll be able to show the interconnectedness of your core values and how you put them into action without overwhelming your audience.
Number 5 - Color Block
Use your brand color palette and assign a color to each core value. Color has a lot of symbolic meaning for us humans, so why not use it to enhance your core values and stay on brand? This method is powerful in its simplicity. Remember to use your brand fonts too!
Not graphically inclined? Try Creative Market or Canva for affordable icon, stock photo, and graphic options.