By branding do you mean for your parent company or for the specific app? For example the branding for Microsoft is a different type of project than say branding Office. And by branding are you thinking on a big scale (everything from coming up with the name to the marketing) or on a small scale (i.e. an icon for an app)?
My advice to you as a designer is that you should start small, take baby steps and keep your budget low. I'd also advise you to work with a local designer (if you can find a good one) who can meet with you face to face.
By the way I did a quick google search and found this studio after some hunting: http://www.holbeinruiz.com
That's really good advice Michael, thanks a lot :)
We actually have a prototype, but maybe we should focus a little bit more on that and start with branding later on the process.
Do you, being involved in branding, have any advise (book recommendations, blogs, etc).
CopyHackers by fellow HNer bloggergirl is a good resource. I haven't tried it out myself but based on what I've seen, it's worth the money. You can apply HACKERNEWS coupon code when checking out.
I think you're definitely getting ahead of yourself. Once the product is built, you will find a lot if these answers coming from within you. If you don't even have a prototype, then I'd say don't worry about all that. Just build it and see how it goes. I bet you're a better marketer than you think, but your problem is you tried to think of marketing something that doesnt even exist yet, and gave up. Am I right?
My advice to you as a designer is that you should start small, take baby steps and keep your budget low. I'd also advise you to work with a local designer (if you can find a good one) who can meet with you face to face.
By the way I did a quick google search and found this studio after some hunting: http://www.holbeinruiz.com