Branding Mistakes That Could Be Costing You Clients
Your branding isn’t just about looking good—it’s about making an impact. It’s the first impression, the feeling people get when they see your business, and the thing that sets you apart from the competition.
But too many businesses make the same branding mistakes that leave them looking unprofessional, inconsistent, or forgettable. And when your branding isn’t doing its job, you’re turning away potential clients before they even get to know you.
Let’s break down the biggest branding mistakes and how to avoid them.
1. Branding That Feels Like You—AND Attracts the Right Clients
Here’s the truth: Your branding isn’t about you—it’s about your clients. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t reflect who you are.
Your brand should feel authentic to you while still being designed to attract your ideal audience. If your branding feels like a completely different persona—one that you have to “put on” every time you step into business mode—it’s going to feel forced. And forced branding? That’s exhausting and unsustainable.
The best brands happen when you and your business are in alignment. When your branding reflects your real personality, values, and passion, marketing becomes so much easier because you’re simply showing up as yourself.
But here’s the key: your brand still needs to connect with your audience.
- Who are your dream clients?
- What do they value?
- What visuals, messaging, and style will appeal to them?
Your branding is the bridge between who you are and who you want to attract. Get that balance right, and you’ll have a brand that’s both genuine and magnetic.
2. Inconsistent Visual Identity
Branding isn’t just your logo—it’s everything.
Your colours, fonts, graphics, imagery, and messaging should work together to create a recognisable and cohesive identity. If your Instagram looks one way, your website another, and your packaging something else entirely, it confuses your audience and weakens your brand.
- Use the same colour palette everywhere
- Stick to 2–3 consistent fonts
- Keep your brand tone and voice aligned
Consistency = trust. Trust = more sales.
3. Using the Wrong Fonts
Typography can make or break your branding.
Some common mistakes include:
- Using too many fonts (stick to two or three max!)
- Choosing fonts that are hard to read
- Using trendy fonts that won’t age well
Your font choice should match your brand personality.
- A sleek, modern brand? Try a clean sans-serif.
- A playful, creative brand? Go for a quirky, handwritten style.
- A luxury, high-end brand? A classic serif might be best.
And please, for the love of design, don’t use Comic Sans. Ever.
4. Choosing Colours Without Strategy
Colour psychology is powerful. The colours you choose can subconsciously influence how people perceive your brand.
🔴 Red: Bold, energetic, passionate (think Coca-Cola)
🔵 Blue: Trustworthy, professional, calming (think Facebook)
🟡 Yellow: Cheerful, youthful, friendly (think McDonald’s)
🟢 Green: Fresh, natural, health-focused (think Whole Foods)
Your brand colours should reflect your industry, your values, and your audience. Make sure they work well together and maintain contrast for readability.
5. Following Trends Instead of Strategy
Trends fade—your brand shouldn’t.
If you design your branding based on what’s trendy right now, you’ll end up with something that looks dated in just a few years.
Sure, minimalist hand-drawn logos, muted pastels, and funky retro fonts might be everywhere today. But what happens when the trend shifts? Will your branding still be relevant?
A strong brand should be timeless, not trendy.
6. Poor Brand Messaging
Branding isn’t just about visuals—it’s also about what you say and how you say it.
If your messaging is unclear, inconsistent, or doesn’t connect with your audience, you’re missing opportunities to build trust and stand out.
- Define your brand voice (are you playful, professional, bold, friendly?)
- Be clear about what you do and who you serve
- Use consistent language across all platforms
Your words + visuals should work together to create a brand that people remember.
7. Forgetting About Scalability
Your brand needs to work everywhere—on social media, your website, signage, packaging, and more.
If your logo is too detailed, your fonts are too thin, or your colours don’t translate well across different mediums, you’ll run into issues.
Test your branding at different sizes and across different platforms to make sure it’s always clear, professional, and recognisable.
8. Relying on DIY or Generic Branding
Your brand should be one of a kind.
Using Canva templates or stock icons might seem like a budget-friendly solution, but the problem is—everyone else is using them too.
A custom, strategically designed brand:
- Helps you stand out from competitors
- Builds brand recognition
- Creates a strong, professional impression
If you want to be taken seriously, your branding should be unique to you.
9. Not Thinking Long-Term
Branding is an investment, not just a quick design project.
Your business will evolve over time, so your branding needs to be able to grow with you. When designing your brand identity, think beyond just today—consider where your business will be in five years and whether your branding will still make sense.
Building a brand with a strong foundation means fewer rebrands, less confusion, and a brand identity that stands the test of time.
10. Thinking a Logo is Enough
A logo alone isn’t a brand.
If you only have a logo but no clear colour palette, font choices, brand guidelines, or consistent messaging, you don’t actually have a brand—you just have a logo.
A strategic branding package sets your business up for success by giving you everything you need to create a recognisable, consistent brand across all platforms.
- A well-designed brand builds trust
- A consistent brand makes you look professional
- A strong brand attracts the right clients
Branding isn’t just about looking good—it’s about making an impact.
Time for a Brand Glow-Up?
If your branding isn’t working for you, it’s working against you.
Whether you’re launching a new business or levelling up an existing one, investing in a full branding package ensures you have the tools, strategy, and design to stand out, attract clients, and grow your business with confidence.