5 Signs Your Brand Isn’t Working for You (and How to Fix It)
Have you ever looked at your branding and thought, “Something just doesn’t feel right”?
Maybe your logo feels outdated, or your Instagram grid doesn’t quite feel like it aligns to your business vision or your website. If you’re like many small business owners and you’ve found yourself not only a specialist in your field, but now chief designer, accountant, administrator and more - it’s easy to see how your brand can start to feel a little out of sync.
The good news? If this sounds a little familiar, but you’ve got the basics there, then it’s not a case of starting from scratch. What you need is a a few focused tweaks to help bring everything back into alignment.
Here are five signs your brand might not be doing its best work for you - and what to do to fix it.
1. Your visuals don’t match your vibe
Your brand should feel like you. If you’re fun and vibrant in person but your visuals are muted and corporate, there’s a disconnect. On the flip side, if your brand looks playful when your work is more refined, you may not be attracting the right audience.
Fix it: Start by clarifying your brand personality. What are three words that best describe what your business is about and what is unique about how you do it? Use that to select colors, fonts, and design choices that reflect your personality.
2. Things look inconsistent across platforms
If your website, Instagram, business card, and email header all feel like they belong to different businesses, your brand isn’t building recognition. Consistency helps people remember you, and builds trust in you.
Fix it: Create consistency by preparing a simple style guide that you can keep on hand for clear instructions on which logo variations, colour palette, fonts, and imagery to use when. You don’t need to go down a rabbit hole creating a complex expansive document, even a clearly defined one-page document can make a big difference.
3. Your materials look a little dated
Design trends change quickly, and that look and feel that was fresh five years ago might now feel tired. Fonts, colour schemes, and logo styles all age so sometimes it needs a small refresh to inject more life in your brand identity.
Fix it: Update your brand with subtle tweaks to transition your current look to something that feels fresh and new. Simplify your logo, refresh your fonts, or introduce a secondary color palette that feels more current. You don’t always need a full rebrand - sometimes a light lift is all it takes.
4. People aren’t remembering your business
Staying top of mind is a key aspect of your brand and your marketing, but if you’ve handed out business cards, shared posts online, or emailed potential clients and they don’t remember who you are a week later, your brand may not be sticking in their minds.
Fix it: Look for ways to simplify and strengthen your visual identity and align it more closely to what and how you do things. Cohesive design elements that spark recognition, like a strong logo mark, a consistent font pairing, or a signature colour, can create the recognition your business needs.
5. You don’t feel confident showing your brand
Hands up if you’re guilty of this one. If you cringe a little when you hand out your business card or find yourself rushing to make excuses for your website, then your brand isn’t supporting you. A strong brand that truly reflects how you want your business to be percieved will give you confidence. Don’t let your brand that feels ‘off’ hold you back.
Fix it: Focus on making your brand feel aligned with who you are and how you want to be seen. Even small updates (like adjusting your colour palette or creating fresh templates) can rebuild that confidence - and help you build momentum in your business.
Wrapping it up
If any of these signs feels a little too familiar, know that you’re not alone. The good news is, a few strategic steps can help you get back on track. Branding doesn’t have to be complicated - and a simplified brand that truly aligns with your business can take you a long way.
Next step: Want to check where your brand stands?
Download my free Brand Essentials Checklist to make sure you’ve got the foundations covered.
Or, if you’d like a second pair of eyes, book a free mini brand audit and I’ll walk through it with you.