The biggest branding mistake creatives make when DIYing.

posted on:

June 2, 2021

Branding
honeybook
web design
portfolio
follow @allybdesigns
A seasoned designer with over 15 years of experience crafting stunning branding and websites. As a proud HoneyBook Pro, I marry beauty with strategy to elevate your online presence. Let's create something extraordinary together!
Cohesive Branding
Honeybook
Client Experience
Strategic Websites
explore the blog
Meet Ally
follow @allybdesigns
ways to work together
Recent Projects

If you are just starting out in business or you feel like you are just starting to figure out it, I want you feel confident in your brand. Today I am sharing the biggest branding mistake I see creatives make when they DIY their own brands.

Fake it till you make it! 

You’ve heard this before right?

I have heard and seen it in so many different areas of the online world. Personally, I think it is the absolute WORST advice anyone could ever give (or receive)!

I could go on and on about all of the different ways you could “fake it” but today I am only going to focus on your branding. 

The #1 Branding Mistake: “Faking It!”

Having a brand that stands out and is true to you is the number one thing that will set you apart. It’s what makes you unforgettable! 

The problem here is that I see so many people “faking it” in their brand by copying their idols and competitors.

Many times have I received an email from someone telling me all about how they have this vision for their branding saying – “I love [so and so]’s brand – I want mine to be just like that!” 

Nope – not gonna happen on my watch! 

Do you really want to be a carbon copy of another person’s brand? 

Do you really think that copying someone else’s brand will better the odds of you making more money or being more successful?

Let me be clear, creating a version of a well-known brand (or a competitor’s brand) is only going to result in you “faking it” online. It will also make it impossible to feel confident in your own self. Now that’s a big time branding mistake. Your whole baseline is pretending to be like someone else! 

What to Do With Your Brand Instead?

You need to create a brand that is built on your values, interests, style, and mission! 

What will make you more money is when you confidently step out online sharing your brand because you are so proud of it and you know exactly what you stand for! 

Promise me one thing, if you’re thinking about branding or even rebranding – start by finding inspiration from within!

Creating a brand that is just as unique as you is when you truly become Unforgettable! 

Why Is Building a Brand That Is Unique to You so Important?

Here’s the thing, when you build a business or brand around what you think your audience or future clients want you aren’t building a brand that you’re are aligned deeply with. 

You are building a brand in the hopes that someone else will like it.

While it might seem like a good idea – it’s just not how I work!

I believe in building a brand that is created uniquely for you.

Digging into the inspiration of what you love, what lights you up, and what your values are – that’s where the magic is at! 

When you have a brand that is designed around your uniqueness and your interests you are going to be WAY more obsessed with it and want to share it, compared to when you have a brand that is built around what you think a certain someone wants to see. 

I don’t agree with putting that much weight on what someone else thinks about my business! 

How to Avoid the #1 Branding Mistake

  1. Designing a brand to create the specific emotions you want your audience to feel when they come in contact with your brand. 
  2. Delivering designs that effectively communicate your values and mission with your audience. 
  3. Connecting deeply and genuinely with your audience so they want to work with you – the human behind the brand! 

Pretty sure all of those beliefs are more powerful than the hope of someone else liking what they see. 

If YOU are proud of your brand and honestly can’t wait to share it everywhere – THAT is what is going to make your brand profitable! 

If you only kind of like your brand and it isn’t something that captivates your attention, you won’t be as willing to blast it out into the universe. You end up missing out on amazing opportunities and potentially new clients every time you hesitate.

So let’s design a brand that you can’t wait to share and not one that you hope someone else likes!

Sharing is caring!