You think you might be ready for a custom brand, but you’re not sure just yet. How can you really know? What are the signs that you’re outgrowing your old one?
Today I’m sharing the common situations I see, patterns to look for, and what a custom brand can do for some of the growing pains you might be experiencing in your business — 5 scenarios, to be exact.
But first…
What is a custom brand?
By definition, a brand is the visual and emotional feeling that a person gets from a business, or (as I like to think about it) what people say about your business when you’re not in the room.
For example, think of some brands you know well — like your go-to for fashion (hiiiiii, Sézane!), the coffee brand you can’t live without, or your favorite dreamy destination. (Oh yes, countries work on their brands, too.)
What words and feelings come to mind when you think of them? Are they the same words and feelings the brands would want you to have? If these companies are international, would you have the same experience with them halfway across the world?
I bet you said YES to those last two questions. Why? Because every high-profile company you know has a custom brand created just for them. Their brands are not accidents or scattered experiences. They’ve created a persona that controls the conversation, has a unique mission, and collects swooning fans effortlessly.
That’s the power of a custom brand. Are you ready for it?
5 Signs that Your Business is Ready for a Custom Brand
If you’re experiencing any of these signs, it means you’ve reached another milestone and opportunity for growth… congrats! A custom brand might be just what the doctor designer ordered.
Sign #1: You’re having a hard time moving product or standing out in your industry.
When most business owners are struggling with sales, it usually means they aren’t standing out in their market. They haven’t differentiated themselves or showcased what makes them special.
One of the main villains keeping you from leveling up? You guessed it… your template or DIY brand. 90% of the time, templates look like templates, making your brand feel generic instead of special.
I know that you’re ah-mazing. You know you’re amazing. Your dream customers… well, that’s where a custom brand comes in to show and tell them just how great you are.
Bonus? Good, strategic design adds more perceived value to your product or service. You can charge twice as much for a product that looks elevated and unique than if that same exact product was presented in a way that looked cheap. Your brand is a smart investment!
“Standing out in your industry solves several problems at once: you rise above your competition, your target audience can finally see and hear you, and your products practically sell themselves.”
Sign #2: You’re bogged down by too many emails or sales calls.
If you’re bogged down by emails and/or sales calls, it’s likely that something is getting lost in translation… or is missing entirely. This is especially true if you find yourself typing or speaking the same ideas on repeat.
No surprises here — a custom brand can help save you time, energy, and stress.
In other words, your brand should take each person who discovers you on a journey from curious stranger scrolling the ‘Gram, to raving fan, to eager client — and beautifully inform them every step of the way. This means fewer questions and far less “selling” when they finally get to you. Pressure lifted.
Also worth mentioning… your business is best served when you are working on the aspects that YOU do best. If you’ve reached a point in your growth where you’re working in your zone of genius and don’t have time for anything extra, outsource, outsource, outsource. Yes, your custom brand, too. You and your bottom line will thank you.
“A custom brand is far more than graphic design. It’s a highly intentional experience with planned touchpoints, strategic messaging, and real relationship-building.”
Sign #3: You’re struggling to connect with your dream audience.
If your dream audience isn’t listening to you, it doesn’t mean you aren’t shouting loudly enough. In fact, I’d say shouting isn’t even necessary. Do you remember in the beginning of The Devil Wears Prada when Miranda Priestly is about to arrive and everyone is scampering around terrified? She struts through the lobby, goes up the elevator, runs into the fabulous Emily Blunt, and… practically whispers.
I don’t think Meryl Streep shouted once in the entire movie, but I bet you leaned forward (or turned up the volume) so you could hear her every word. Right there — that’s the same power of a custom brand, one designed for you and your success alone.
“A custom brand has a unique presence, bearing, and energy that inspires your dream audience to listen… without you ever raising your voice.”
And once they’re listening? Your custom brand builds a long-term relationship that keeps them coming back again and again for more.
Sign #4: You want to collaborate with bigger + better brands.
If you want to collaborate with bigger and better brands and you’re hearing nothing but crickets, your branding may be to blame. Many businesses start with a DIY or template brand to keep costs low while they get proof of concept and scale — which is a great way to get your feet under you. But at some point, you start to outgrow that DIY brand.
How do you know if that’s the case? Maybe you’ve felt some of these growing pains…
- You feel that bigger brands are writing you off as an amateur.
- You feel more successful than your current brand implies.
- Potential clients or customers are questioning your prices or value.
- You’re experiencing Signs #1 and #2 above.
If any or all of these are the case, you are ready for an upgrade, my friend.
“When your brand is custom and 100% unique, you won’t look like everyone else — and big brands will assume that your offering isn’t like everyone else’s either! When you stand out for the things that make you different, you can’t help but rise to the top.”
Success Story: A former client reached out to me about a month after we launched her new brand and website. She told me that even though she’d only been in business for ONE MONTH, she had already locked in several major collaborations with other high-end businesses!
Even though they had never heard of her business before, they liked and trusted what they saw, and that made her conversations ef-fort-less. That’s the power of an incredible brand, my friends.
Sign #5: You’re mentally ready for massive growth… but if it happened tomorrow you wouldn’t be prepared.
I know, you’re driven like me, right? You’re ready for next-level, massive growth. But… what if that growth happened *gulp* tomorrow? What if 10x the number of people wanted to hire you, buy your product, feature you, or hey, what if you went viral?
Would you be prepared to handle that growth? Would all of your clients or customers get the same experience from you? If Beyoncé (yep, the Queen B herself) posted a picture of your product, would you be proud of how it looked on her vanity?
Many business owners are mentally ready to reach the next level, but their businesses aren’t physically ready. And that’s okay. That’s part of growing. The best thing you can do is lay the foundation for your success. Establish your brand experience, uplevel your client experience, and let it lead the way to exponential growth.
“A custom brand not only helps with growth itself, it also ensures that every client or customer gets the same level of quality and experience — even at 10x capacity.”
Well, there you have it, some symptoms and cures for several growing pains you might be experiencing. Did any feel familiar? Does a custom brand feel like the next logical step for your business?
If so, let’s chat and continue your journey to the top!
xx,
Ariel
