Often, when you first start your business, you have a vision of how you want it to look and the results you want to achieve. However, sometimes that isn’t how the cookie crumbles. You could be doing absolutely everything right with your business, but your marketing and brand presentation may be the weak link. Once you identify the problem, though, it’s easy to get back on the right track. Here are 5 signs your brand looks unprofessional (and how to fix them).
1. Lack of consistency across platforms.
Consistency is key. Ultimately, a consistent appearance on your website, social media, printed marketing materials, and anything else you utilize to advertise your business will help you so much in the long run. When you have a specific set of colors and a stellar logo, your clients and potential clients will begin to associate those with your brand. More on that later.
But essentially, keeping a consistent “look” to your brand will boost your brand’s recognition and potential for spread by word of mouth. We’re not saying you can’t use colors outside of your brand’s colors to advertise, but make sure that your colors are at the forefront of your marketing. This is one simple step in maintaining consistency and avoiding looking unprofessional. Another great start to maintaining that consistency is to have an awesome logo. Our designers at Blackwood Creative would be more than happy to help you with that!
2. Unprofessional and outdated website.
We don’t mean to be harsh, but if your website still looks like it was created in the early 2000s, it’s probably time for a change. Your website is often your potential client’s first impression of your business. As such, you want to make sure it represents you well! Having a beautiful, easy-to-navigate website goes a long way nowadays.
3. A logo or colors that do not reflect your business as a whole.
Previously, we’ve talked about the psychology behind colors and how that relates to your marketing. You may not realize it immediately, but the colors and logo you choose convey a lot of things about your business. Check out our blog posts about how to pick your colors and how to pick your font for more detailed information; it may be time to update and redesign your brand!
4. No clarity about who (or what) your brand is for.
It is perfectly normal to fish around a bit during the beginning stages of your business to find exactly what you’re about. However, once you’ve found it, it’s important to make sure that your business’ mission is at the forefront of everything. Ideally, you should stick to one message that you really drive home with your potential and current clients.
For example, here at Blackwood, our motto is “building remarkable brands.” It’s straight to the point, and it also carries a lot of meaning with it. We don’t just give you marketing services; we work with you long-term to build your brand. We want your brand to be remarkable – the idea is to get people talking. Your motto can be as simple as ours or a bit longer, but the idea is that people are aware of what your business stands for and how you can best serve your clients.
5. No social media or online presence.
We live in a digital age. If your brand isn’t online, you’re going to look quite unprofessional. The idea isn’t to go absolutely crazy with your social media; rather, you want to use social media as a method of outreach and a positive look at your brand. Facebook and Instagram are an excellent place to start! They’re relatively easy to figure out, and they’re an excellent way to show people what goes on at your business. Additionally, with their advertising features, Facebook and Instagram can be great tools to bring in more clients!
The last thing we want is for your brand to look unprofessional. While it can be a lot of work to spruce up your brand, it’s bound to benefit you in the long run. You don’t have to do it alone, either – reach out to us here at Blackwood Creative! Our team of experts would love to work alongside your team to make your brand remarkable.
