Why your DIY branding just isn't cutting it...
Are you ready to really rock your brand? No? Well, that’s no surprise (sorry!).
Did you know that the average small business owner spends less than a minute on their branding process, whaaaat! And if you've ever seen a brand identity created by a small business owner, it's not hard to see why!
While DIY branding can be cost effective and appealing from an ROI perspective (no need for expensive design services), many small businesses are left with ineffective branding that doesn't speak to their target audience or help them achieve their goals. Like most things in life though: the more effort you put into something, the better results you'll achieve, i.e. invest in a fricken brand designer, please!!
Let me tell you why your DIY branding just ain't cutting it...
I've seen it... I know it... Your branding doesn't match your WHY, your goals and vision for the future.
I know how fricken special and amazing and intelligent and TALENTED you are, and the whole world deserves to know it, too. Buuut your branding does NOT reflect the story you want to tell about yourself as an entrepreneur or business owner. The why behind that may have something to do with the fact that you designed your logo in Canva in 5 minutes using a predesigned template - this is you, "Ummm, AMAZING and original logo design by ME, who needs a brand designer after all, pfft!" (no judgement if it is).. Well sorta. Haha! Your branding is way more than just a logo and needs to be something that is true to and reflects your company's values. And, sorry, *harsh truth* we can ALL tell that your branding was a DIY job - what does that tell us about your business? That you're cheap? You don't care about your business enough to invest in professional brand design? You don't care about how you are perceived?
Your branding IS impacting the performance of your business. Think about it...
I know which company I would be buying from...
Okay your logo design may not be THAT bad, but you get where I'm coming from. Haha!
Brand designers have qualifications, they've invested years into their career and into creating professional and strategic designs and just because you have the opportunity to design something for free doesn't mean it is the best avenue for you and your business. Cheaper and easier is NOT better. Trust me. People are judging your business - first impressions count.
Ya making our lives hell!
Okay, that is a biiiit dramatic but at SOME point in your journey as a business owner you ARE going to be hiring a brand or graphic designer. No doubt. I have had so many clients come to me with ONE single logo file that is in JPG format on a white background, is pixelated as HELL and are asking me how to send their logo to their manufacturers for print (or the one that gets me is the logo that has been designed by a ‘professional ‘ in Photoshop - designers can you relate?****). Listen to me… YOU NEED MORE THAN ONE LOGO FILE! Canva isn’t going to provide you with all the necessary brand files that you need to use for print and web and when you finally approach a designer for help with your packaging project, they’re going to hate you for it. Not ACTUALLY hate you, but it does make things so hard.
****HOT TIP! No qualified designer who has ANY idea what they’re doing will EVER design a logo for you in Photoshop. If you hear that, just run away as fast as you can.
Not to mention... Your branding is inconsistent.
If you've ever tried to create a brand for yourself or your business, you know that it's not THAT easy. It can take a lot of time and effort to build something that feels authentic, but is also unique and memorable - just FYI, that Canva template isn't unique OR memorable (soz).
For example, you might choose to use bright colours in your branding because they remind you of being with friends at the beach (beaches are fun!). But then when it comes time to print your business cards or order new stationery for your office door, someone suggests going for more muted colours instead—because those colours will help establish credibility and professionalism in the workplace. (Wait but, what are your brand colours again?).
Sound confusing? It is! If you have different ideas about what should go into each piece of branding material or change your mind/switch things up when a new piece of collateral pops up, then chances are good that inconsistencies will creep into the end result. And if inconsistencies show up in one item, they're going to show up everywhere! Does this sound like a problem you are having? Fortunately there's an easy way around this problem and achieving a consistent brand: HIRE A PROFESSIONAL! Haha!
Everything from logo and branding to websites to social media posts needs to have consistent messaging and you're not going to get that with just one single logo design in JPG format, no matter what anyone tells you.
Would you listen to health advice from a random in a Facebook group who claims they know better than your qualified GP? No?
So tell me why you're taking advice from a random in a Facebook group that claims hiring a professional designer is a waste of time and money and that Canva is the best thing to ever grace this earth?
The point of branding is to make your business stand out from the crowd and help people connect with you.
In order for this to happen, you need to be expressing your brand visually in a way that resonates with your customers. By creating an experience that represents who you are and what makes your business unique, customers will be able to easily identify with it as well as remember it down the track when they're looking for products or services like yours!
Beautiful brand design that evokes feelings and tells your unique story is what sets the foundation for a successful business.
