You've got your business idea and you're ready to hit the ground running! Or maybe you already started to build your brand and feel like it needs some refining? I got you and I'm here to help guide you through the process of creating an amazing and professional brand while avoiding some of these common pitfalls.
There are a few key factors that really make or break a brand.
When you're just launching a new business it's really important to look professional because let's be real, if you don't look professional then who's going to take you seriously?
Having a professional brand also allows you to be sure you're attracting the right customers because something we can both agree on is that your business can't survive without customers.
You want your customers to respect you and view you as a capable and professional business owner who is an expert in your field.
Why is your brand important?
You only have a couple seconds to grab the attention of your potential customers. The online world is so over-saturated that if you’re not showing up and killin it from the get-go, no one is going to notice you and even worse, they’ll buy from someone else instead.
In reality, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a service provider, have an online shop or you’re a blogger, your business will never thrive with an inconsistent brand.
People will have no problem scrolling right past you if they don’t see something that catches their eye. And let’s be honest, we all do this!
So let’s jump in and look at the top most common branding mistakes that you should avoid.
1. Too Many Different Fonts
This just doesn’t apply to your logo. This is for ALL branding material and your website. I can’t tell you how often I see this and it’s such a simple fix!
The next time you’re checking out someone’s website, count how many different fonts they use. If there are too many, it just looks chaotic. It’s super important to refine your fonts.
Pick 2 -3 three fonts that speak to your brand and use them consistently. I know it may seem like it’s only a font and trust me it will make a huge difference in the overall professionalism of your brand.
Bonus tip: Make sure the font you choose is easy to read!
2. Low Quality Graphics
Now this one really grinds my gears and there really isn’t any reason for it!
When you’re picking and including any graphics on your branded material you need make sure that they’re high quality and crisp graphics. Blurry and pixelated messes scream unprofessional!
If your image is poor quality, it makes it look like you don’t care enough to fix the issue. An awful message to be sending to you ideal audience.
Another message that low-quality images can send is a sense of cheapness or DIY within your brand. I understand that at first you may need to do things on your own when you’re starting out. However, that doesn’t mean using or creating cheap images!
3. No Brand Consistency
When we talk about consistency, this means that no matter what platform someone sees your brand (your website, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, etc), it’s instantly recognizable. The same colors, logo, fonts etc.. are ALWAYS present.
This is one I see very often, I’ll look at someone’s website and then their Facebook Business page and it’s looks like two completely separate businesses.
That’s extremely confusing to a potential buyer and you risk them losing confidence in buying from you.
When going from one platform or marketing material to another, there should be no reason for a person to ever question if they are still looking at the same business.
It might be time to do a self-audit to make sure that you’re staying consistent across all boards!
4. Not Enough Breathing Room
Have you ever stumbled across a web page and instantly feel anxious? Yep. That’s the result of not enough breathing room! Give it some space, girl!
Truly, if you look back at your design and feel like something isn’t right, give the text or graphics some space. A clogged-up website or social media post looks unprofessional and chaotic and you really don’t want your brand to reflect the idea of chaos or mess.
It’s crucial to create a clean and organized layout so your viewers are not overwhelmed.
We all need some space and there is a lot of power in blank space, so don’t be afraid to use it!
5. Undefined Target Audience
This one is absolutely vital and I can’t stress this one enough.
Have you really sat down and taken the time to identify who your target audience is and make sure your branding speaks to them?
I understand that you want your branding to represent you as an business owner, however it’s more important that your branding be appealing to your target market because at the end of the day, your brand design is not for you, it’s for them. What fits your personality may not be the best fit for the people you’re trying to attract and this can have a major impact on your business.
So, now that we’ve got you covered to avoid these business branding mistakes, it’s time to make great things happen!
Do you feel like you have a million things on your plate and don’t have time (or want) to do all your branding yourself? Let’s chat today on how we can create a brand that speaks to your ideal audience, saves you time, stress, and ultimately brings in more sales.
