Custom Branding really is a game-changer. Branding your business can be difficult, trust me, I know. It seems to have become a bit of a trend for brand designers to offer pre-made brands as a quicker and cheaper solution. But let’s talk about why grabbing a logo template off the digital shelf just doesn’t cut it anymore. I’m here to share some real talk – no jargon, just the info you need. Here’s why I believe custom branding is where it’s at.

Your brand isn’t a one-size-fits-all

Sure, picking a pre-made design might save you a bit of cash and may even serve you well for a while. But when it comes to branding, it’s not just about looking good. It’s about communicating your story, values and unique selling point. All of these things can’t be achieved with a cookie-cutter brand. Custom branding is what interlaces your personality with your brand.

Investing in custom branding isn’t a waste of money

Your business is like no other. Literally. So why settle for a design that could be mistaken for someone else’s? Custom branding is an investment that allows your visuals to align with your individual needs, goals and values.

It’s important to know what makes you unique as a business so you can have a brand identity and maybe even a marketing plan that actually brings results for your business. It’s understandable that not every business knows exactly what makes them unique, and that’s what brand strategy is for.

Custom branding allows you to work in collaboration with a brand designer to make sure everything you’re doing in business aligns with your long term goals. What’s the point of doing it if it’s not growing your business or serving your community? Strategy also helps you carve a path for what’s next, allowing you to grow and change.

This is your business and if you’re feeling unclear about it then that needs to change. And this won’t be done with a pre-made branding template.

Custom Branding brings connection opportunities!

A pre-made logo design might catch eyes sometimes, but it won’t actually share what makes your brand special. It’s those unique features that resonate with your audience and create connections. Investing in custom branding ensures these opportunities to connect with your audience don’t go overlooked.

Custom Branding VS Template is like a tailored suit VS suit off the rack.

That’s the difference between pre-made branding and custom branding. They both might look good, but only one of them is crafted to match you perfectly.

Your ideal clients often don’t care about what you can do. They care about how you can help them.

Using storytelling to boost your brand through visual design can be really impactful.

It allows a client to get to know you and your story while still understanding the things that you can do for them which ultimately is why they’re there. Custom branding allows you to weave this story into every aspect of your brand.

Look at the image below. This is a brand I built for a women’s-only gym, Elixir.

Elixir is dedicated to empowering women through efficient fitness sessions, creating a supportive community, and providing education to unlock their inner strength and lead a healthier, happier life.

The main reason we chose a brand identity that looked feminine, fun and playful was because the owner wanted women to feel comfortable at the gym not matter what ‘level’ they were at. Whether they’d been a gym goer for a while or whether they were brand new, Elixir is a safe place for women to be supported. This tears away from the traditional stereotypes of gyms feeling intimidating.

That’s why their brand looks like this:

Break Free from the template trends!

Listen, there’s nothing wrong with designers who create pre-made brands. In fact, I praise these designers for turning previously completed work into extra income. There is no shame on anyone who thinks this is the best route for their business.

Obviously when you buy a logo template or a premade brand, it doesn’t have your business name in it and needs to be amended. This is usually carried out by the designer. I know some designers who will offer a discovery call and a mini strategy session to make tweaks and make sure that this premade brand can work for the business who is purchasing it

And that’s great!

In the end, it’s your business, your branding.

In conclusion, your brand is more than just a visual aesthetic – it’s your identity. Investing in custom branding is not just about what looks good today; it’s about building a visual representation of your business that lasts, grows, and resonates with your audience.

Whether you choose to go the premade brand route or hire a brand designer to create a custom brand strategy and brand identity is totally up to you.

You should take some time weighing up the pros and cons and figure out what is best for your business.

And if you’re looking for a brand identity designer to build a brand that goes beyond logos and visuals, check out my branding services here. I wanna collaborate with some amazing, passionate (and often unconventional) business owners to bring their brand to life.