5 Tips To Create A Professional Looking Brand On A Small Budget
Brand identity has always been important, but in 2021, it’s more important than ever before. That’s because everything has gone digital.
If you don’t have a good-looking or easy to navigate website or social media page, people are likely going to click away before they realize how amazing you are.
But how do you source professional design for your brand without spending a ton? Here are 5 simple and low-cost ways to get a professional-looking brand.
5 Tips To Create A Professional Looking Brand on a Small Budget
Define Your Brand Identity
The first step to creating a professional-looking brand is to develop a cohesive brand look and feel.
What is the image you want to portray, or the vibe you want to give off?
How do you want people to feel when they interact with your brand?
How do you want your brand to look?
When you write, what is the tone of voice?
Answer these questions before exploring visuals.
2. Create a Mood Board
Once you have answered the above questions and are clear on the direction you want to go in with your brand, the fun part begins - finding images that are in line with the brand identity you’re after.
Use a platform like Pinterest to create a mood board and pin images, fonts, colors and anything else that is in line with the look and feel you are going for.
At first pin any and everything that speaks to you, but later, you may want to narrow it down to a more cohesive set of images that work together. If you are clear on the design aesthetic you like, it’s more likely that you’ll be able to find the right designer to work with (because you will make sure their portfolio is in line with your style before hiring them) and that you’ll be happier with their final designs.
3. Hire A Freelancer Instead Of An Agency
Design agencies make beautiful brands, but they are expensive. If you have money to spend, go for it. But if you have a smaller budget, you can still create a beautiful brand at a lower cost.
Check out platforms like Upwork and Behance to find a graphic design freelancer. Not all freelancers are created equal, though. Make sure to look at their portfolio to ensure it’s in line with the style you are going for.
Also, look at their reviews to see what other clients have had to say about their work. Interview a few designers before deciding on one.
Once you sign someone on, you can share your mood board with them to start, and they should have you fill out a questionnaire before they start designing, to make sure they design something within your expectations.
4. DIY Smaller Design Needs
Once your brand identity is solidified, which should include your brand colors, fonts, and logo, then you should be able to create everyday graphics you’ll need, like social media or blog graphics, on your own, using a platform like Canva or Adobe.
To ensure the most consistent brand image, ask your designer to create templates for any graphics you’ll need regularly. You’ll easily be able to edit the text or images yourself, yet the graphics will still look cohesive.
If you have a very tiny budget, then you can of course DIY the whole thing, including your brand identity, to get started.
Personally, I love a good DIY, and although I work with professional designers now, in the beginning, I 100% DIYed it. (And now I still do a lot of my own stuff, like social media graphics…and I even built this website myself). I would only recommend DIYing your entire brand for people who are comfortable with technology and who have a good eye for design. (Otherwise, save up for a freelance designer - you can find them at all price points).
That said, even someone who is not very tech-savvy or visually inclined can create a beautiful brand and website with Canva or Squarespace, which both provide plenty of gorgeous templates and design ideas.
5. Use A Website Builder
Ten years ago, if you wanted a beautiful, functional website, you needed to pay a designer and developer to make it for you, it would take months, and it would be expensive. Today, you can make a gorgeous, design-award-worthy website yourself, in a matter of hours, for less than $150/year.
I highly recommend using a website builder like Squarespace (use Coupon Code PARTNER10 for 10% off) as it allows you to create your own beautiful website in a few simple steps. No coding needed. (In fact, it’s what this site is built on).
You will save thousands on web design/development.
After you’ve created a SquareSpace (or similar platform) account and choose a template you can then start working on the content. In my Health Coach Business Bootcamp, I teach you how to write compelling copy that turns browsers into buyers, how to layout your site for easy navigation, get killer photos, and overall optimize your site and turn it into a sales machine.
If you’re unsure or overwhelmed about how to get a professional-looking brand and where to start, sign up for my Health Coach Business Bootcamp today. You’ll learn how to create your brand identity, build a website that converts, market yourself like a pro, and so much more!
