The blog

If we’re being honest, branding can make or break your business, and most small business owners don’t realize how much damage those “small” mistakes can cause. I see it all the time: good businesses hidden behind bad branding. Let’s fix that.

1. Inconsistent Visuals
If your Instagram feed looks like a different person designed it every week, we’ve got a problem.
Why it’s a killer: Consistency builds recognition. Without it, your audience won’t remember you.
Fix it: Choose your colors, fonts, and visual style, then commit. Every post, print piece, and email should feel like it belongs to the same family.

2. Skipping the Strategy
A logo without strategy is just…a pretty picture.
Why it’s a killer: You’re missing the story, the “why” that makes your brand connect.
Fix it: Before you pick a font or a shade of beige, define your mission, your dream clients, and your message. Build the visuals to support that, not the other way around.

3. Over-DIY-ing It
I love Canva for quick mockups, but your brand should not be a copy-paste of a free template.
Why it’s a killer: You’ll blend into the sea of businesses that look exactly the same.
Fix it: Invest in at least a few custom, professionally-designed elements...your logo, your social templates, and your core brand photography.

4. Branding for You, Not Them
Your brand isn’t about what you like. (Yes, I said it.)
Why it’s a killer: If your ideal client can’t see themselves in your brand, they’ll keep scrolling.
Fix it: Know your audience’s style, tone, and needs, then design for that. Your personal taste still matters, but it should merge with what attracts them.

5. Thinking Branding is “One and Done”
Brands are living things — they grow, shift, and evolve.
Why it’s a killer: A stagnant brand can start feeling outdated fast.
Fix it: Revisit your brand at least once a year. Keep the foundation, but be open to refreshing elements to stay relevant and sharp.

✨ Bottom line: Your brand is your first impression, your handshake, your “nice to meet you.” Make it impossible to forget.

branding

If we’re being honest, branding can make or break your business, and most small business owners don’t realize how much damage those “small” mistakes can cause. I see it all the time: good businesses hidden behind bad branding. Let’s fix that.

1. Inconsistent Visuals
If your Instagram feed looks like a different person designed it every week, we’ve got a problem.
Why it’s a killer: Consistency builds recognition. Without it, your audience won’t remember you.
Fix it: Choose your colors, fonts, and visual style, then commit. Every post, print piece, and email should feel like it belongs to the same family.

2. Skipping the Strategy
A logo without strategy is just…a pretty picture.
Why it’s a killer: You’re missing the story, the “why” that makes your brand connect.
Fix it: Before you pick a font or a shade of beige, define your mission, your dream clients, and your message. Build the visuals to support that, not the other way around.

3. Over-DIY-ing It
I love Canva for quick mockups, but your brand should not be a copy-paste of a free template.
Why it’s a killer: You’ll blend into the sea of businesses that look exactly the same.
Fix it: Invest in at least a few custom, professionally-designed elements...your logo, your social templates, and your core brand photography.

4. Branding for You, Not Them
Your brand isn’t about what you like. (Yes, I said it.)
Why it’s a killer: If your ideal client can’t see themselves in your brand, they’ll keep scrolling.
Fix it: Know your audience’s style, tone, and needs, then design for that. Your personal taste still matters, but it should merge with what attracts them.

5. Thinking Branding is “One and Done”
Brands are living things — they grow, shift, and evolve.
Why it’s a killer: A stagnant brand can start feeling outdated fast.
Fix it: Revisit your brand at least once a year. Keep the foundation, but be open to refreshing elements to stay relevant and sharp.

✨ Bottom line: Your brand is your first impression, your handshake, your “nice to meet you.” Make it impossible to forget.

5 branding mistakes small business owners make (& how to avoid them)

Color is everywhere. It’s the lipstick you wear, the way your living room feels warm because you chose a golden lightbulb instead of a cool one, the navy sweater you gravitate toward without thinking. As a designer, I can’t not notice it. It’s my favorite silent storyteller, and it shapes the way we feel every single day.

1. The Emotional Language of Color
Break down how colors speak without words.

Warm tones → Comfort, energy, passion
Cool tones → Calm, trust, focus
Neutrals → Timeless, grounding, effortless
(This is where you could add swatches in your brand style.)

2. Color in Your Closet
How fashion choices aren’t just about style, they’re about setting the tone for your day.
Example: wearing a bold red blazer to an important event vs. soft sage for a slow day.

3. The Mood Board of Your Home
Small ways color impacts your environment, from your couch throw to your coffee mug.

4. How I Use Color in My Work
Show your personal process, a peek at your palettes for a brand or photo session, why you pair unexpected colors together, and how you make them feel cohesive.

5. Playing With Color in Everyday Moments
Encouragement for readers to experiment:
Pick your coffee cup color based on your mood.
Add a single bright accent to a neutral outfit.
Try arranging your desk with a seasonal palette.

Once you start seeing it, you can’t unsee it. And that’s when life starts looking a little more like art.

visual

the power of color in everyday life