Your small business needs a strong brand to help it grow. However, if your branding is done incorrectly, there could be long-term negative effects on your business. Many entrepreneurs have been in this position before and have learned from their experiences. These are some of the most common branding mistakes that entrepreneurs make when starting a new company:

1) Choosing a name that won’t work in every market

2) Not doing enough research about the industry you’re entering

3) Assuming you can just create a logo in 5 minutes

4) Thinking your brand doesn’t need a cohesive design system

5) Not being clear about who your target audience is.

Why do you need a strong brand

• Having a strong brand is the key to success for any small business.
• The first step in branding is coming up with a name that will work in every market.
• It’s important to research the industry you’re entering and ensure your name can stand out among competitors.
• Your logo should be clear, distinguishable, and memorable.
• It’s also important to create a cohesive design system that will give your brand an identity people can associate with. Your target audience should be determined so you know who to market to and what messages you need to communicate.

The first branding mistakes: Choosing a name that won’t work in every market

• The first branding mistake that entrepreneurs make is choosing a name that doesn’t work in every market.
• This is a common mistake many small businesses make because they might not have the funds to purchase new names for different markets. However, this can lead to some confusion and trouble down the line if you don’t take this into consideration. 

The second branding mistake: Not doing enough research about the industry you’re entering

• The second branding mistake that entrepreneurs make is not doing enough industry research.
• If you’re starting a clothing line, for example, it would be important to know your competition and what your target audience is interested in.
• This helps you align your strategy with what people are looking for.
• If you don’t do the research, then there’s no way you’ll know what people want or need. It will be difficult to create a marketing plan without knowing your target audience.

The Third branding mistake: Assuming you can just create a logo in 5 minutes

• Many entrepreneurs think their brand doesn’t need a cohesive design system.
• What this means is that they don’t take the time to create a brand identity for themselves.
• A cohesive design system often has a logo, color palette, fonts, and more.
• This project will help you establish an authoritative online presence that people will remember you by.
• Take some time to think about what your company stands for and what type of aesthetic you want to portray.
• If it’s entertainment-based, use bright colors with lots of graphics.
• If it’s about technology, use sleek lines with minimal colors.

The fourth branding mistake: not having a cohesive design system

• Having a cohesive design system is an important part of branding your business.
• Your brand identity should be recognizable and consistent.
• This includes the colors, fonts, and logos that you use on all of your marketing materials.
• If you have a logo, for example, it should be the same color as other logos in your branding package to avoid confusion among customers about what product or service they are interacting with at any given time.
• Inconsistent design can lead to customer confusion and frustration because your customers will have trouble figuring out which products or services you offer at any given time.
• It also gives off an unprofessional vibe to potential customers who may think you don’t put enough effort into your business.
• For example, if one of your logos is red but then 50% of your marketing efforts are using blue logos, then customers will likely feel confused because there’s no consistency across the board.
• Additionally, if a lot of businesses in your industry use blue logos instead of red ones, then customer confusion could skyrocket because they may not know what company the logo belongs to – meaning it could belong to anyone in the industry!

The fifth branding mistakes: is not being clear about who their target audience is

• Believe it or not, your target audience will vary depending on the industry you’re in and the products and services you offer.
• For example, if you own a bakery and your products are gluten-free, you’ll want to market to people with gluten sensitivities.
• If you cater exclusively to vegans, then your target audience would be different than if your catering business caters to both vegans and non-vegans.
• It’s important that entrepreneurs know who they’re targeting so they can create a cohesive brand identity. Otherwise, it will be difficult for customers to understand what your business is all about and why they should buy from you.

In conclusion, entrepreneurs who want to build a successful business should make sure they are branding effectively. The 5 most common branding mistakes that entrepreneurs make are not getting the right logo, not having a cohesive brand identity, not designing a consistent logo, not effectively marketing your brand, and not understanding your target audience. If you want to avoid these mistakes, you need to work with a professional branding company.

Taiff hopes that you have enjoyed this article, and now you have a clearer understanding of what mistakes to avoid in branding, will be glad to work together! For any further comments feel free to contact us!