Heron Financial
A new breed of mortgage and insurance broker. Heron provide a human-first approach, backed by tech, to secure you the absolute best deal for your particular personal circumstances.
Overview
In an era of faceless online mortgage brokers and big corporate entities offering bog standard services, Heron Financial want to offer something different. Heron bridge the gap between human-centric services and digital convenience. They offer a more considered and caring approach to mortgages, backed up with innovative in-house technical solutions that they've developed themselves to make the customer experience a breeze. These guys will hold your hand when you need it and answer your panicked calls at 8pm. All whilst providing you with the digital tools to make your life so much easier. Their philosophy is simple: to exceed your expectations.
Services
Brand Strategy, Brand Positioning + Planning, Visual + Verbal Identity Design, Web Design + Development, UX + UI Design, Copywriting + Messaging, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Management, Content Creation, Campaign Creation + Design, Print + Digital Design, Photography, Illustration, Social Media Management.
The Challenge
- Young brand with little recognition and uncertain of how to clearly communicate their point of difference.
- Battling the rise of online mortgage brokers.
- Negative perceptions of mortgage brokers impacting customer uptake.
- Slow and clunky website with little value to prospective customers, leading to poor conversion rates and no user engagement.
Barefaced Solution
- Reimagined Heron with bold, eye-catching visuals and punchy copy, kicking off with the tagline: “Our philosophy is simple: we’ll exceed your expectations.”
- Ditching clichés, we crafted customer messaging that speaks volumes with bold, result-driven statements like “we’ll save you £1,000s.”
- Humanized the brand to cut through the noise, focusing on warmth and exceptional customer service instead of fleeting trends.
- Launched a “moving day” photo campaign featuring real people to help customers see themselves in Heron’s journey.
- Rewrote the script with a friendly, jargon-free tone, flipping the script on traditional mortgage stereotypes.
- Designed a sleek, user-centric website that not only looks stunning but delivers a smooth, intuitive experience—boosting clickthroughs and adding value at every turn.
+165%
Increase in web traffic
+242%
Increase in leads
+41.56%
Increase in Facebook referred traffic
+35.06%
Increase in email marketing open rates
“We’ve worked with Barefaced for several years now and it’s fair to say that through our work with them we’ve transformed the way we work and how our Clients interface with us. Barefaced are an essential part of our business function and are not only a pleasure to work with but continue to add value with every interaction we have with them! Thank you Barefaced and we look forward to continuing our journey together!”
– Warren Harrocks, Director + Principal
Exceeding your expectations
Heron isn’t your typical mortgage company—they’re the ones who actually care. They’re the hand-holders, but in the best way possible. They get into the weeds of your unique situation to find a product that works, but they’re far from old-school. With a team that supports each broker, plus clever in-house tech that makes the customer experience effortless, Heron blends heart with innovation.
In an industry where every company sounds the same—“We offer the whole market!” “Tailored advice!”—Heron needed a way to break free and be heard. So, we teamed up to build a brand that truly stands out.
The result? A bold, stripped-back visual identity with a strong logo, a trusted financial blue, a punch of bright orange, and a cool, futuristic grey. Soft, rounded fonts and warm tones keep it human. Their tone of voice is approachable and down-to-earth, with just the right amount of cheek—think playful photography and illustrations that make you smile.
We didn’t stop there. We built a slick, user-first website, and helped Heron carry their refreshed vibe across everything—magazines, brochures, bags, pens, even tea bags! Each touchpoint is a reminder that Heron isn’t just about mortgages; they’re about exceeding expectations. That’s their motto, their mission, and the secret sauce behind their incredible service, culture, and customer experience.