12 BIGGEST DIY BRANDING MISTAKES HOME BUSINESS OWNERS MAKE AND HOW TO FIX THEM – PART 3
If you are creating your brand on your own you may be committing these biggest DIY BRANDING Mistakes – With no expert help, mentoring, coaching, and wondering how long it’s gonna take for your brand to become a staple in your niche or worse still if you’re getting it right?
You must be wondering what Part 1 &2 are about? Well its all about setting your building blocks for branding you or going back to basics ad doing it right, read it here!
Today we’ll show you the 12 most common DIY branding mistakes or pitfalls of creating your brand from scratch by yourself. Plus tips, secrets, and actionable strategies to help your brand convert prospects into buyers — FASTer.
With more than 17 years’ experience in corporate management, Business Admin Tutor and as brand strategists, Paul and I can show you what the big boys do right – and what smaller businesses and home business entrepreneurs so often miss.
It’s not magic. Just good old-fashioned know-how and SMART working. Your DIY branding can become a home staple for your target market.
We share the juicy top-notch branding secrets we’ve learned with time from investing in training and applying lessons learnt that you can implement yourself today.
SO WHAT ARE THE DIY BRANDING MISTAKES TO AVOID AND HOW DO YOU FIX THEM?
Let’s start by very briefly mentioning the common branding mistakes so you know what they are!
- Poor Name & Logo choice…hmm this is debatable in some cases! You want your audience to remember your name & logo fast or quickly relate it to who or what you offer. Could be a play on words or names e.g. juleskalpauli!
- Does a need for your product or service really exist? Not doing market research is a brand killer…!
- Do you know or undermine your competition? This is one of the worst DIY branding mistakes newbies commit and regret at leisure. Your competition has been there and is attracting your target audience, learn what they do! How?
Optin to their offers and BUY in. Learn how they follow up, how they market, and what they are doing right. Then avoid their mistakes will ya!
- Not knowing who your ideal client is – Similar to above. We do talk about how to fix this in the article before go read it here!
- Creating a brand you don’t LOVE…Your brand has to be something you are passionate about, so you can sustain it, persevere through the lows, valleys, and downright dirty tricks of the competition sometimes! So making this DIY mistake can cost you a pretty penny!
Now that we have looked at the most common and some of the worst DIY branding mistakes let’s look at the more specialty ones below.
#6 DIY Branding Mistake – Being Generic i.e. Everything to everyone:
Does anyone remember Kraft…neither do we! Sadly they failed to showcase who they were and down the tube their worth dropped. Stop being a People Pleaser, Today. Now. Stop it.
You can’t please everybody just as you can’t serve everybody. You have to know whom you are serving. Your target market, audience, customer, client, etc. Confusion won’t pay the bills, so you need to learn how to zone in. IF THIS IS A major issue please do reach out now, contact us NOW.
Remember you can’t miss out by zoning in, that’s a lack mentality! We have already given you a solution on how to zone in on your customers in Part 1 Go read it now if you haven’t!
[“You can’t please everybody just as you can’t serve everybody. #brandingquotes #MotivationalMonday”]
A Solution is still given: How about you visit the brand or website of your competitors. LOOK AT IT AS A CUSTOMER WOULD, what does it tell you?
What verbiage have they used?
What type of ads do they run? Dive deeper into the theme and images used. Maybe the colour is important too!
What DO YOU SEE, that’s what your ideal mutual customers see too!
Now look at your brand and if online your website…! Find who has been there, done that, duplicate/model their actions …attract similar people! DON’T BE A COPYCAT that’s different!
My friend when you zone in and are clear about who your ideal customer is, your DIY branding will take on a Professional slant! You will appeal to more people.
Watch the video below for the biggest DIY branding mistakes including Social Media Branding Mistakes!
And don’t you forget to book your domain names on Twitter.
You could find some smart A**e masquerading as your brand because they find it fab. That’s why we booked @juleskalpauli and most recently @WodinLiverpool on Twitter and both are growing like bush fires. (BY the way, follow us on both NOW)!
This also links into congruence! Make sure whatever content is out there represents your brand well for future clients and business partnerships! Keep it clean even if your industry may not be…If you haven’t watched the video you won’t know what am talking about, go watch it now!
If you have a bricks-and-mortar business, use the same steps. And it’s absolutely essential to stand out say on the high street otherwise why should I walk into your establishment as opposed to next door? Your specialty, customer care, shop, and product payout, and of course price in some cases! Really the difference between an online and offline brand is just simply that one is virtual, that’s it. So specialize, specialize, specialize…
Super Tip: To avoid any negative smears on your brand search engine results online or overcome any bad publicity that won’t go away. You need to google your name and Brand name to learn what’s out there on search about you. (See above).
You don’t have control of it and if the owner won’t take it down, you can take control of your results in search and on social media by creating content that is more relevant and more likely to rank higher and be seen. If SEO is a problem for you head over to our SEO Category and pick up some tips to start optimizing your content NOW.
We’ve learned to bury negative results with positive results. As a DIY brander, you can definitely do this too. By blogging regularly and optimizing your content to rank on search engines! Keep producing fresh content and updating your social media profiles to push the bad mentions down…If big brands can do it, so can you!
By the way, DIY Branding mistakes and hacks number 7-11 are in the video…Haven’t you watched it? I share some awesome resources in there too for your brand tracking, too bad, you missed them too… 
DIY Branding Mistakes #12 – DIY WITHOUT SKILLS OR TRAINING
This is a big one for some “DIY branding,” that a lot of SMEs make. Just because you have an eye for fabrics or can make a mean curry, don’t assume you can develop your own branding from a hobby; unless you are 200% passionate about it. If you aren’t skilled as a graphic designer or branding specialist, leave branding to the experts.
Have someone else do it for you so that you can focus on High-Value Activities in your business!
As a small business owner, you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for it either. You can have a web designer help you zone in on your color palette, and fonts, and then you implement it yourself.
We have a perfect package just for this type of need! You can check out our packages here. You could schedule a consultation with a designer. Have them look make a pro-review of your website, logo, etc, and give you an idea on how you can improve.
You could totally schedule one with me Julie Syl here! If you do so, I won’t bore you with a pitch of what we offer for hours. Although I totally believe in the value. Even if you are a DIYer at heart, let’s chat because we can help you make your brand the best it can be!
BONUS TIP. By the way one of the worst DIY branding mistakes is neglecting Pinterest as a source of website and brand traffic. It delivers targeted traffic and sales for the savvy marketer daily. We have seen a major influx of Pinterest traffic to our site and offers in the last 3-5 months! We have a time-limited offer below for you, click the image and enjoy xoxo
If you think anyone else needs to hear this, feel free to like and share it with them.
Did our Ultimate Guide to DIY Branding Mistakes to avoid Help? If so, we would greatly appreciate it if you commented below and shared it on Facebook
You absolutely are awesome and Deserve more so…
Live. Learn. Love
Julie Syl Kalungi
Email: julie[at]Juleskalpauli.com
Follow me on LinkedIn
Check out our Work with us tab where we Help People daily.
P.S: IF YOU DON’T HAVE A LIST OR YOU HAVE A NON-RESPONSIVE LIST AND HAVEN’T MADE MORE THAN 10 SALES OR RECRUITED ANYONE YET, YOU NEED THIS RESOURCE.
Very informative post! Blogging is a great way to stand out on the web and build your personal brand.
Cheers Yonca, thanks for stopping by 🙂
J&PK~
Great ideas! Branding is so important when building your own business.
Yes it is Amber, thanks for your time 🙂
J&PK~
Pinning this for later! Need to set my brand and want to do it right.
Absolutely feel free and thanks for stopping by Jenn!
These are very helpful tips. Branding is a little tricky. I have to admit that I made some of those mistakes in the past.
Awww we sure hope you corrected said mistakes and thanks for stopping by!
What a great resource for people. It’s nice that you took the time to compile it.
You are most welcome Rosey, Thanks for checking us out!
Great tips about branding, Julie, I always believe that a person should brand themselves not their company! If the company goes out of business, you still have your brand!
Halleluiah Lorraine,
We are the Brand…It doesnt matter how big it gets. Todate we still relate Disney world to Walt Disney’s Dream and he’s been gone how long?
So we better get cracking 🙂
Julie Syl~
Hi Julie, great post, knowing your avatar and branding yourself with everything you do is key. Thanks for this.
Yes know who you are targeting and why is very important Louisa. Thanks for your time hun xoxo
Julie Syl~
Very solid tips for businesses of any kind.
And I do think we have to use DIY only if we are really good at it when it comes to marketing.
Thanks for sharing!
we are glad you agree Colette Thanks for stopping by 🙂
J&PK~
This are great tips not only for bloggers but to a lot of people out there who are starting a new enterprise. Thanks for sharing
Hey Amy,
Glad you agree and yes they are indeed. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
J&PK~
market research is so key because what’s the point in pouring time & money into it if no one wants it
Exactly Michelle, we are glad you agree Cheers 🙂
J&PK~
You have to like and believe in your brand, if you don’t why should anyone else. I think, as you have mentioned, this is a key one for me. Why should I buy something from someone when they don’t believe in what they are selling!
Its true you gotta LOVE your brand and as a buyer its easy to see if a brand owner cares or not via the customer care and loyalty they show to existing customers.
Thanks for stopping by Tamason!
Julie Syl~
There’s so much to consider when you begin. I hope this helps people really think things through and make good choices.
That so helpful and informative. I will save this.
Glad you found value Lexi 🙂
J&PK~
Awesome tips and dead on !!
Glad you agree Laci 🙂
J&PK~
There are some places that we should never use DIY (unless we are expert in the area)
Thank you Mardene 🙂
Julie Syl~
Such helpful tips this is very useful for the bloggers. I’m so glad you share this
You are most welcome Nicole. Thanks for swinging by!
J&PK~
Very solid tips! Thanks for sharing. I found it very useful
Glad you found value Rika.
J&PK~
Lots of great info! I’ve been in marketing for 18 years and it can be super hard to DIY some of the work.
Wohoo 18 Years that’s a testimony right there that Marketing works! If done right. Thanks for your comment Paula…
By the way I Love ya name…my daughter’s name!
Julie Syl~
These3 are all great tips for the bloggers. and like me i love learning new things for blogging
Hi April,
we sure hope its not just bloggers coz blogging is just one of your brand strategies!
We are glad you got value 🙂
🙂
I really love making DIY videos and I really suck and branding them. Thank you for this wonderful tip love to hear more from you.
Ha haa We all sucked at videos when we first start trust me even with a team of pros helping you Edwin. S stop beating yaself up.
The important thing is you keep going, share your awesome value and lessons, someone out there is getting the value…Its not about you, its about them!
Thanks for your comment 🙂
J&PK~
Great tips here. Not undermining your competition is great advice.
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
J&PK~
Excellent advice as always, Julie!
Thank you Claudette
Julie syl~
Yeah, since its constantly changing, I’m sure I’m not doing it right, and when I finally figure it out, it will be so different again. I think blogging and I are done!
Hi Heather…
Blogging is just a teeny part of branding. And making mistakes, learning from them that’s all part of the challenge. Surely you didnt expect your lil seed to sprout nd grow all in a few weeks? A bamboo takes years to sprout did you know that?
I hope you aren’t quitting on YOU or your Brand? How can We help?
Like I said before. If I can help just shout out. That’s what we are here for 🙂
Julie Syl!
Branding is challenging, you really have to consider a lot of things especially what you want people to see about you and your products. I agree with the common mistakes, some I have committed myself.
Branding is fun a journey we face and keep going until we pass the baton to the next generation to mould, grow change and improve on!
And making mistakes is part of the course 🙂 Thanks for your comment Eliza 🙂
Julie Syl~
I agree the name and the logo says so much about your brand it is important to keep it clear and to the point!
A rose by any other name in this case don’t work in deed Ana 🙂
Keep it clear and attractive to your audience.
Julie Syl~
Awesome tips. I need to use some of that
Good on you Urvi!
J&PK~
Solid tips for sure! I knew many of them but learned a few new things too! Thanks!
Hi Joely,
Glad you learned something new too 🙂
J&PK~
Awesome and helpful tips! I totally agree that we cannot please everyone, so it’s best to know our target group before we even start branding. Also – research is way too important to be ignored!
Targeting A specific niche is branding in its simplest form Katarzyna.
And absolutely research is vital, esp. market research! Thanks for stopping by!
J&PK~
A good name and logo are so important. People definitely made mistakes when it comes to this, though.
I agree about that Robin…Your name will last and stick in your audience’s minds. It should be easy to remember. 🙂
Julie Syl~
Totally agree that you have to be specific with who you are marketing to! Awesome post Julie!!
Absolutely Jelena. Thanks for stopping by!
Julie Syl~
The most important asset in your business is YOU! People do business with those who they know, like and trust.
Dr. Lisa
So well put Lisa. Thanks for stopping by!
Julie Syl~
I did go over and follow you – was already following @juleskalpauli – YAY
Good and inspiring tips to remember – and you could also sign up for Google Alerts so see what is being said about you or your brand –
Yup You need to sign up for google alerts Donna we are already on it… & mention. Go check out what the world is saying 🙂
We truly appreciate the follow and support!
Cheers
Julie Syl~
How right you are. Was doing it on my own & getting nowhere. Hired a wonderful webmaster/coach & everything is so clear. Used your tips & confirmed we are doing it all right.
Ohh we do feel you Roz, glad you got some help and are on the right track!
J&PK~
Great tips. To be honest I never knew branding required so much thought. I will definitely keep these in mind. Again great information
Hi Monroe,
Everything worth having takes much thought and action! Glad you found value! 🙂
J&PK~
I never thought of some of these!!!
Glad to open your eyes Christia 🙂
J&PK~
Awesome tips and very value information in this post. Good blogs and thanks for sharing this info. I’ve bookmarked this page for reference. Thanks again for an awesome blog.
Hi Hammond,
we are glad you have found value, and our information useful. Thanks for appreciating our efforts too. we sure appreciate that!
Julie Syl~
Another fabulous post. I’m building my brand and staying consistent with my messaging and congruent with my target audience. Thank you for sharing.
Our absolute pleasure Kenny, Keep rocking! 🙂
J&PK~
All these tips are good for bloggers, too. We can all learn from these,for sure.
Indeed Carol most bloggers express their essence via their blog and its part of Your Brand!
J&PK~
Loved your info…. have to reevaluate my branding name… lots of great info and images here.
Hi Jerry,
Glad you got value 🙂 and thanks for swinging by!
J&PK~
Awesome Post! Thanks for sharing
You are most welcome Robin!
J&PK~
I am constantly trying to make sure my branding is good. That I am being true to me but also my brand. Thanks for the great tips.
Its essential to be true to oneself and your brand must reflect that essence, subtly in most cases but there!
Julie Syl~
Awesome tips on branding you Julie. You always bring it on. and i like the DIY Branding terminology. Thanks for the great information
Aww thanx bro, good to hear from you. And we are glad you got value! 🙂
Julie syl~
Great tips! Finding a niche is so important. I wish I had a more narrow one.
Hi Krystle,
Its all down to how yo craft your message to that niche…everything under the sun, is possible. Abundance abounds. So if you would like, allow us to help you narrow down your message and niche so you can get out there and crush it! Just shout out via out contact page of on Facebook PM. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
Julie Syl~
Learning a lot but also starting to second guess my choices.
Hi Rebecca,
My advice is get some help, zone in and save your self a longer route to your desired destination! We are happy to help. Thanks for swinging by! 🙂
Julie Syl~
Love these tips! Especially the tip about being everything to everyone. It’s so important to find a niche.
Hi Cyndi,
Just as we cannot be everywhere all the time, see even physical limits put aside by the www, we still can reach only those we can. So we gota be targeted in our efforts as to who sees our offers and brand! Thanks for stopping by!
Julie Syl~
wow lots of info packed into this post! Had to read it a couple of times to take it all in lol you have some really great tips here
Hi Idaintyit,
Glad you found the information useful and thanks for stopping by! 🙂
J&PK~
some more really great tips on branding… !
Glad you found value Cathy!
J&PK~
Great tips Julie!
Loved especially about not undermining your competition. I see that so much online as it’s not healthy for a person’s business!
Hey Alex, howdy bro,
Yup undermining the competition is a common mistake by NM as we imagine we are the same team! Yes and No!
Julie Syl~
Great post Julie. Jammed packed with heaps of info. Definitely need to referred to this a few times as there is heaps of information to take in. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Stephanie,
Glad you found the information useful 🙂 And you are most welcome!
Julie Syl~