Do you ever see advice on the interwebs and just think: what in God’s good Earth were they tripping on when they wrote that???
Maybe it’s because I’ve been spending more time on Instagram (connect with me!). Or maybe it’s because my professional POV has sharpened after all the years. Whatever it is, I cannot NOT call out the rotten branding “advice” I’ve seen littering the internet recently.
So without further ado, brace yourself for my roast of the five worst pieces of branding “advice” I’ve heard in 2024.
The 5 Worst Pieces of Branding “Advice” I’ve Heard in 2024
1. Not sure what colors to use in your branding? Pick your favorites and go from there.
WRONG! It only takes 90 seconds for someone to form a first impression about your brand. And up to 90% of that first impression is based on color alone. Color psychology is hella complex which means your color palette is waaaaay too high-stakes to be based on personal preferences. Luv ya but it’s the truth.
🐰 Wanna go down this rabbit hole? Snag the Color Meaning Cheat Sheet to understand each color’s energetic signature.
2. Branding is a constant trade-off between done and perfect.
NOPE! A lot of people put out mediocre work in the name of “done is better than perfect.” But there’s a difference between debilitating perfectionism and perfectionism that is merely a desire to be professional, look expensive, and create an elevated experience for your audience.
A brand that looks mediocre can permanently damage your reputation because it signals incompetence and inferiority. And people are far less likely to do business with amateurs. Don’t lower the bar!
🐰 Wanna go down this rabbit hole? See how Lacey launched, grew, and scaled her business in one year without being forced to choose between “done” or “perfect.”
3. Your brand = your logo, color palette, and fonts.
FALSE! Your logo, color palette, and fonts are only the external manifestations of your brand. Your brand actually consists of four foundational elements: your values, vision, voice, and visuals. If you want a lucrative business with a loveable brand, first get clear on your values, vision, and voice. Then figure out how to translate those elements into fonts, colors, and logos.
🐰 Wanna go down this rabbit hole? Here’s a fun & free exercise you can do to get instant clarity on your very own four Vs of branding.
4. Your visual branding is an embellishment, it’s not essential to hit your revenue goals.
HARD NO! If you dozed off in Psych 101, here’s what you missed: our brain loves shortcuts. Let’s call these shortcuts “heuristics.” Your visual brand is a type of heuristic that not only acts as your digital handshake, it also serves as a priming mechanism. Why?
Because your visual brand is priming people to stitch together information (i.e. make assumptions) about your brand. Is this person reputable? Do they deserve my money? Can I trust them? Will I enjoy working with them? Think about the signals a shoddy visual identity sends to your dream clients. Esh.
🐰 Wanna go down this rabbit hole? Then riddle me this. What’s the ROI of showing up? What’s the ROI of feeling confident? Of looking expensive? Of stopping the scroll? Of being unforgettable? Of attracting the right clients? Of quickening your sales cycle? That’s the ROI of branding. It’s essential.
5. DIY your branding to save money.
NEGATIVE! Your time has a cost to it too, boo. And the more time you spend pixel-pushing on Canva and searching for that perfect shade of pink is less time you spend doing what you love. Besides, an amateur-looking DIY job can quickly become a net loss if it repels the very people you’re seeking to attract.
🐰 Wanna go down this rabbit hole? Check out these 5 tips to communicate your vision to your graphic designer.
*****
Phew, I’ll practice self-control and stop there…but I could go on. Long story short, the internet is a dangerous place and full of branding bologna. Be on guard!
