Let’s be real: building a brand for your small business can feel a bit sketchy, but it doesn’t have to be! With a few clever designer hacks, you can create a brand that looks polished without all the stress.
Good design is one of the easiest marketing strategies for small business success as it gets you noticed and keeps things consistent. So, grab your virtual paintbrush, and let’s make branding fun and easy, shall we?
1. Create branding guidelines
Think of branding guidelines like a rulebook for your business’s look and feel. It’s a simple set of instructions that ensures everything you create, like your logo, colors, and fonts, looks the same, no matter where it’s used.
It sets a foundation so your brand always feels consistent and professional, whether you’re posting on social media or designing a flyer. We’ll dive deeper into some of these details later on, but setting this business design strategy is the first step in ensuring your designs always match the vibe you want to show the world.
2. Create a logo that showcases your business
Your logo is like the face of your business. It should represent who you are and what you stand for. It doesn’t have to be complicated; just something simple and memorable. If you’re not a designer, no worries! You can easily use PosterMyWall’s small business logo templates to find a design that fits your style, and then customize it to make it your own.
Here are a few things to keep in mind while designing your logo:
- Keep it clean and easy to recognize.
- Make sure your logo reflects your business and what you do. It should speak to your brand’s personality.
- Your logo should look great no matter the size; on a business card or a billboard.
- Pick colors that complement each other and match your brand’s vibe.
- Aim for a design that won’t feel outdated in a few years. A great logo should stand the test of time!
3. Pick colors that complement your logo
Picking colors for your logo is like picking the right clothes for a big day as it defines the vibe for your brand. Colors can totally change how people feel about your business.
For example, green can make people think of nature or health, while blue gives off a calm, trustworthy vibe. The key is to make sure the colors you choose work well together and match what your business is all about. When your logo and brand colors complement each other, everything just clicks and feels more professional!
Think about Nike. Their logo uses black and white, which keeps it sleek and timeless. Black symbolizes strength and power, while white adds a clean, minimalist feel. This simple color combo reflects Nike’s brand ethos: athletic, empowering, and focused on performance.
It’s a great example of how less is more when the colors you choose perfectly align with your brand’s message.
4. Pick a few readable fonts for all brand communication
When it comes to picking fonts for your brand, less is more. Stick to just one or two fonts that are easy to read and match your vibe. You want something clear for your customers, whether it’s on your website or social media posts. PosterMyWall has tons of font options, from sleek and modern to bold and playful.
Just choose a couple that work well together and keep things consistent across everything you do. It makes your brand feel professional and easy to connect with!
Look at Coca-Cola for example. They’ve stuck with their classic script font for years. It’s instantly recognizable and has become part of their identity. It’s bold, friendly, and easy to read, whether it’s on a billboard or a bottle.
5. Incorporate brand personality
Your brand’s personality should be at the heart of everything you design. It’s what makes your business feel unique and connects with your audience. Whether you’re going for a playful vibe or a more professional look, make sure your designs reflect that.
PosterMyWall’s Brand Kits are super helpful for this, they let you keep your colors, fonts, and logos in one place, making it easier to stay true to your brand’s personality across all your marketing materials.
6. Create a unique brand voice
Creating a unique brand voice for social media is about how you talk to your followers. It’s the tone and style you use in your posts. It can be friendly, funny, serious, or professional. Just stay consistent so your audience knows exactly what to expect from you.
When you’re replying to comments or posting updates, your brand’s voice should always feel the same, as it makes it easier for people to connect with you.
A great example here is from Innocent Drinks. They use humor and a casual tone to connect with their audience. In the above example, the playful, self-deprecating voice makes their brand feel approachable and fun. It’s a perfect example of how a unique brand voice—lighthearted and honest—helps them stand out and engage their audience in a way that feels personal and relatable.
7. Keep visuals consistent across all platforms
Keeping your visuals consistent across all platforms is a smart move when it comes to effective marketing strategies for small businesses. It makes your brand look polished and easy to recognize, no matter if you’re posting on social media or printing flyers.
Using design templates, like those on PosterMyWall, can help keep things simple and cohesive. And with their Resize tool, you can easily adjust your designs for different platforms—no need to worry about starting from scratch each time. This way, your brand will always look its best, no matter where it’s seen!
8. Use customizable templates
One of the best design hacks for small business branding is using customizable templates. They save you time and ensure your designs stay consistent and professional. PosterMyWall offers a wide range of small business design templates.
All you have to do is swap out your logo, colors, and text, and boom—you’ve got something that looks super polished. Plus, they’re made for all kinds of marketing materials, so you can keep everything looking cohesive across your website, social media, and even print pieces.
9. Repurpose content for various mediums
Repurposing content for different mediums is one of the smartest marketing strategies for small businesses. Instead of creating something totally new every time, you can take one piece of content, like a blog post, and turn it into a social media graphic, an email newsletter, or even a video.
It saves you time and makes sure your message reaches people no matter where they’re looking. Plus, it helps build brand recognition because you’re putting your content in front of your audience in multiple ways!
Here are a few things to keep in mind when repurposing content:
- Tailor content to fit the platform and the people who will see it.
- Convert blog posts into social media posts, videos, or infographics to engage different types of learners.
- Ensure that all repurposed content matches your brand’s tone, colors, and voice.
- Adapt your content to the platform, so it feels fresh and relevant.
- Monitor how your repurposed content performs across different platforms to learn what works best.
10. Make use of negative space
Negative space is like the art of leaving room for magic to happen. It gives your design some ‘wiggle room,’ so the main elements can truly shine.
Instead of cramming everything together, you create space where your design can breathe and feel alive. This makes everything stand out more. It’s one of those little graphic design tips that makes your brand feel polished, organized, and not at all chaotic.
11. Add animations and stickers to designs
Adding animations and stickers to your designs is a simple way to make them more eye-catching. Think about how much easier it is to scroll past a static post versus one that has some movement or a fun sticker. A little animation can make your content feel more dynamic and grab attention in those first few seconds—something that’s crucial in the fast-moving world of social media.
Stickers, on the other hand, are like a fun, personal touch that gives your designs personality and can help express your brand’s vibe. It’s a way to make your content feel more approachable and engaging, encouraging people to stop scrolling and engage with your post.
The best part? You don’t need to be a design expert to add these elements to your content. PosterMyWall makes it super easy by offering a wide range of animations and stickers you can easily incorporate into your designs
12. Ensure high-quality visuals
High-quality visuals are a game-changer, especially on social media where first impressions count. Crisp, clear images make your brand look professional and polished. With PosterMyWall’s AI tools, you can easily improve your designs.
The AI Background Remover helps you get rid of any distractions, while the AI-generated images make it simple to find visuals that perfectly fit your brand’s style. It’s a quick and easy way to make sure your visuals always look top-notch.
Simplify your small business branding
With these 12 design hacks and marketing strategies for small business in hand, you can create something that looks professional, speaks to your audience, and keeps your marketing on point. From customizing templates to adding fun animations and ensuring your visuals are top quality, it’s all about making things work together to build a consistent, eye-catching brand.
And if you want an easy way to pull it all off, PosterMyWall is a great choice. It’s got everything you need, from design templates to AI tools, to help make your marketing effortless and effective. It’s an easy way to take your business to the next level without the stress!
