One of the things that most makes us human, are our errors and imperfections. But brands have it different. When it comes to brands, mistakes can have disastrous ramifications – ones one can’t prepare for.

There’s a lot of talk about what brands should do. We have a ton of resources on how to go about branding, but this time, we are taking you through a different way – let’s discuss the most common branding blunders that we should definitely avoid; and better yet, learn from.

Of course it’s not to say that if you avoid this set of errors, you’ll be perfect – or successful. But it does put you on a path that is more informed, prepared and rid of an otherwise longer route.
So here goes, our roundup of branding mistakes which if you can avoid, you’ll be well on your way to your definition of success.
Reaching the Wrong Audience
Figuring out the right audience for your brand is and always will be the first and the most fundamental step in Branding. You will fail if you serve your subjective interests, rather than something that aligns with your TG.

Ask yourself who they are, what do they do, where they are, their age, income and needs. Now make yourself seriously relevant or find the role that you will play in their lives. And do it well, consistently. Success awaits!

Hiring the Wrong Dudes

Hiring the right people is literally the most important thing. A brand can have the greatest offering and proposition, but you need a team to build from that point on. Your people can make or break you.

Remember to have an open mind guided by a vision when you are hiring someone. But for that, you need to know who you want. First, broadly define who you are looking for, and then find them.

Next step, put together your version of the Oceans 11 and bang bang baby!

Inconsistent Brand Identity
Brand consistency is the evergreen key for successful branding as it is the one concrete way of building a relationship with your audience. Without consistency your brand faded away from their minds.

If you are gourmet, then make sure you’re premium, international and indulgent. If you come across as cheap, you lose credibility. The key is to speak, show be who you are – in every way, every day.

Failing to Differentiate your Brand

Brands must think out of the box. There’s no other way. Think hard, fight for it – what do you do that only you do? What about you is different from your competitors? What do you bring that no one else does?

These questions can guide you. Honestly, this is a big journey of your brand’s self-exploration. And it’s worth setting off on, as it will give you clear aim and purpose, which can help you differentiate your brand better than ever.

Misusing Taglines
A brand tagline is more significant than you think. It can be a concise description of your brand, or the ultimate brand promise to your customers. It instantly tells a customer or potential buyer what to expect from you. It’s the first experience they have with the brand, along with the logo.

Many times, the tendency is to say generic or unrealistic things in a tagline – but it’s worth putting more thought into. Find a line that is you, and over years people will remember you for it. We promise.

Use of Imprecise Words
Want to know a simple trick? To make sure your brand stands out among the rest, ditch the same old jargons that everyone uses man! Instead, discover something extraordinary and unique about your brand and then own that like a boss.

Create a word cloud of all the words, phrases and figures of speech you would possibly associate with your brand – this becomes the universe of your brand language – now all you need is a writer’s magic touch.

Lack of Visual Consistency
Nothing lasts better than a striking visual in our minds. In the world of brands, no one brand can be remembered long enough without an attractive and consistent visual identity.

The important thing is to find your visual identity in all its forms and enforce it in every little aspect of your brand – from logos to ads to coffee mugs.

Failing to Track Brand Performance
Branding is not a onetime thing. It’s marriage. You will have to constantly work on brand. In the digital world, it’s relatively easier to see how you are doing. But it doesn’t end there – actively seek metrics that can help you understand how you are doing.

Ask people how they are learning about you, how they feel about your product and what they would more and less of. You consumers are the only ones who can give you genuine feedback.

This will guide you in your future actions.

Hindsight is a gift of the present. And that’s where all your action lies. If you can avoid some of these most common errors, it’ll make your roads smoother. And if you make your own mistakes, don’t fret.

Remember to use that as an opportunity learn from – it’ll only make you stronger.