Why Branding Matters (Even If You’re Just Starting Out)
Your brand is more than just a cute logo, bestie! Ever seen a brand and immediately recognized it without even seeing the name? That’s the power of a strong business aesthetic. Your branding is what makes your business memorable, professional, and trustworthy. It’s what turns a casual browser into a loyal customer.
And no, you don’t need to be a graphic designer or spend thousands on a branding expert. You just need to create a vibe that reflects your business and sticks in people’s minds.
This guide will walk you through choosing your colors, fonts, and visuals, plus creating a brand personality that feels authentic and instantly recognizable. Let’s make your brand stand out!
Step 1: Choose a Business Name That Actually Feels Like You
Your business name is your first impression. Why should your business name feel like you? Because you’re going to be the face of it! If your personality doesn’t match the vibe of your business name, it:
- Content will take less effort.
- Your customers will connect with YOU, not just your products.
- You’ll attract the right customers (Who actually like your vibe)
- It keeps you from feeling trapped in a persona.
- It will be easier to keep your brand cohesive.
Now that you know your brand should feel like you, here are some tips for coming up with a brand name. It should be:
- Easy to spell and remember (No weird spellings unless they really work!)
- Not too trendy (You don’t want it to feel outdated in five years.)
- Available as a domain/social handle (Check Instagram, TikTok, and Shopify before committing.)
💡 Pro Tip: If your dream name is taken, try adding “Co.” “Studio” “Shop” or another creative twist. Also, please make sure that name is not trademarked! You can do a trademark search here.
Step 2: Pick Your Brand Colors (Without Overthinking It)
Your brand colors set the mood and personality of your business. Think about how you want your customers to feel when they see your brand.
Here’s a quick breakdown of color psychology:
Blue = Trust, reliability, calm
Red = Bold, energetic, passionate
Green = Fresh, natural, growth
Yellow = Cheerful, happy, optimistic
Black = Luxury, modern, edgy
If you want to learn more about color psychology, click here to head to my post!
How to Choose Your Palette:
- Pick one main color that represents your brand’s personality.
- Add 1-2 accent colors for depth.
- Choose a neutral (white, gray, beige) for balance.
💡 Use Free Tools: Try Canva’s Color Palette Generator or Coolors to find combos that work together beautifully!
Step 3: Select Your Fonts (Because Fonts Have a Vibe Too!)
Fonts are more than just pretty letters. They shape your brand’s personality.
Best Font Combos for Small Businesses:
- Modern & Minimal: Poppins + Lora
- Elegant & Chic: Playfair Display + Raleway
- Fun & Playful: Montserrat + Quicksand
- Edgy & Bold: Oswald + Roboto
You don’t have to use fonts from Canva. Websites like Creative Market are filled with fun and diverse font’s you can buy and use! Click here to find your business’s new font!
💡 Pro Tip: Stick to one bold font for headlines and a clean, easy-to-read font for body text.
Step 4: Design a Simple Logo (Yes, Simple!)
Your logo doesn’t need to be fancy. It just needs to be clear, recognizable, and easy to scale.
DIY Logo Tips:
- Keep it minimal and legible
- Avoid too many details (they get lost in small sizes)
- Create one full logo and a simple icon version for versatility
💡 Use Free Tools: Try Canva, Looka, or Fiverr for affordable logo design! But PLEASE only use the templates as a guideline. You don’t want your logo to look like everyone else’s.
Step 5: Define Your Brand Personality & Voice
Branding isn’t just visuals, it’s how you sound and connect with customers.
What’s Your Brand’s Personality?
Ask yourself: If your brand was a person, would they be…
✨ Fun & playful?
✨ Chic & sophisticated?
✨ Minimal & modern?
✨ Cozy & nostalgic?
Find Your Brand Voice
- Casual & Friendly: “Hey bestie! Ready to glow up your biz?”
- Luxury & High-End: “Elevate your business with premium, handcrafted products.”
- Professional & Trustworthy: “Helping small business owners grow with proven strategies.”
💡 Pro Tip: Keep your brand voice consistent across your website, emails, and social media.
Step 6: Apply Your Branding Everywhere
Once you’ve chosen your colors, fonts, logo, and brand vibe, it’s time to make sure everything is cohesive across all platforms.
Where to Apply Your Branding:
✨ Your website (header, buttons, text)
✨ Social media (profile pics, highlight covers, post graphics)
✨ Product packaging (labels, stickers, thank-you notes)
✨ Emails (your logo, brand colors, and tone)
✨ Business cards & marketing materials
💡 Pro Tip: Create a Brand Mood Board in Canva to keep everything visually consistent!
Final Thoughts: Branding is a Work in Progress!
Your brand isn’t just a logo, it’s the entire experience people have with your business. The most important thing? Stay consistent. The more people recognize your brand, the more they’ll trust (and buy from) you! For more information about starting a business, check out the Ultimate Guide To Starting A Small Business!
Next step: Download my free Business Branding Checklist to make sure your aesthetic is on point!
xx CBBC
PIN IT
