Common Branding Mistakes SMEs Make

Brands are always competing to have the best SEO, the highest web traffic, and the most loyal customers. But many brands fail to recognize the importance of having strong branding. Having a recognizable brand will separate you from competitors, boost potential website traffic, and create a lasting relationship with your customers. Here are five common branding mistakes that SMEs are continuing to make:

1. Neglecting Your Copy

Often, businesses equate branding with only visuals and design elements. While having a strong logo, a sophisticated color palette, and a visually appealing website are essential aspects of branding, you cannot overlook your copy. After all, your copy is your brand’s voice; you must use it to create a relationship with your customers.

2. Lacking Clear Brand Guidelines

Creating clear brand guidelines should be the first step in developing your business’ branding. These guidelines act as the foundation for the rest of your branding, and without these, you run the risk of using clashing colors, visuals, iconography, etc. Not only is this visually unappealing, but it can make your brand look unprofessional.

3. Inconsistency Across Platforms

Ensuring that your branding is consistent across all platforms and channels is essential. When your social media pages do not align with your website, customers can become confused and ultimately opt-out during their purchasing decision process.

4. Relying too Much on What’s “Trendy”

In today’s highly competitive market, SMEs are constantly trying to differentiate themselves from competing brands. This oftentimes causes SMEs to rely heavily on what is currently trending. While this may work in the short term, trends usually end up dying out. Avoid using branding that will result in being “just a fad.”

5. Lacking Professional Help

While it’s understandable that you’re protective over your branding, not everyone has a solid understanding or the capability of creating a brand that sticks. This is why you should always look to hire a professional agency that specializes in branding.

Is your SME guilty of any of these common branding mistakes? If so – no worries – Kraus Marketing is home of the creatives; we are here to help you throughout the entire creation process to develop the ultimate brand for your business. Don’t hesitate to contact us today to get started!