Most people fall into one of two camps. They either launch right to client work when they start their business (without a brand), or they take forever making sure everything is just right before even announcing that they’re venturing into business.
Around here, we’re all in favor of launching quickly and making money asap. You can always grow and refine things as you go. That said, you need to be intentional about your brand from the beginning.
Your brand is the essence of your business. It’s how you do things, whereas your services are the what.
Whether you want to or not, you have a brand. If you don’t design one, then it’ll be people’s perception of you.
The good news is that you can easily build your brand. I’d argue that’s the best route to go if you’re starting. Over time, your business will evolve, as will your services and your ideal audience. So there’s no point in spending a fortune on a professional brand.
How to DIY your business brand on a budget
Your brand comprises de visual elements of your business along with the tone and feel of your communications. It is rooted in your brand personality.
Click here to discover your brand personality! And snag 15% off any template on the shop.
Typography (aka fonts)
Fonts are one of the most recognizable elements of a successful brand. The fonts you choose will show up in graphics, your website, emails, business cards, and more. You want something that’s readable in different sizes and colors but also feels special and reflective of your brand personality.
Click here to learn more and select the right fonts for your brand.
Color palette
Your brand colors do the heavy lifting for you. They elicit emotions and convey your message to your ideal audience. From a visual perspective, the right combination is essential to make sure your brand is readable, accessible, and looks good on screen.
While you want to love your brand (including your colors), you want to select colors that go beyond your personal taste. Colors have meanings and an impact on the people who see them, and certain colors are often associated with certain types of businesses and personalities. For example, brands that want to be perceived as fresh and healthy often use green.
Here’s how you can create your brand color palette.
Logo
Maybe the most obvious element is your logo. It combines the aesthetics you selected with your font, colors, and other elements into one recognizable graphic representation of your brand.
But don’t worry, you don’t need to spend $$$$ for a custom logo right off the bat. Canva is a great affordable tool for creating a DIY logo as you build your brand.
Click here to read more about how to make a DIY logo for your business.
Photography
Especially now that we live in such a visual world, your photography is paramount to transmitting your brand. Not sure what we mean? Scroll down your favorite brands’ IG accounts and you’ll find that they use a signature filter, similar elements, and a cohesive style in all photography.
You can achieve the same effect by selecting a style of photography that goes well with your brand personality. From there, choose a filter or two that help convey the same feeling, and the places and/or prompts to make your brand photography feel cohesive and like you.
Not sure where to start? Create a mood board on Pinterest to find some inspiration! Hint, it doesn’t have to be a huge production. Clean up your home office, add some fun props, and get started.
Download one of our FREE Mini Brand Kits to kickstart your business brand!
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