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Look, I get it. You’re an artist, not a branding expert.
But if your creative business is flopping harder than a toddler who just got told “no,” it might be time for a brand intervention. Branding isn’t just a pretty logo—it’s how people remember you (or completely forget you exist).
Let’s face it—branding is often the last thing we creatives want to deal with. You’re out here painting masterpieces, sculpting dream worlds, or making epic jewelry, and someone’s telling you about fonts and logos? Ugh. But here’s the deal—if your branding is all over the place, your business is never going to grow the way it should.
So buckle up, because we’re diving into the seven biggest branding mistakes that could be sabotaging your art marketing—and keeping your creative business from reaching its full potential.
1. Your Brand Is Having an Identity Crisis
s your brand a classic, sophisticated art studio? Or a funky, free-spirited art collective? Or a mix of 7 different things that leave people scratching their heads? If your branding is all over the place, customers won’t know what to expect, and that uncertainty means they’ll scroll right on by.
If you’re torn between several vibes, pick the one that feels most you, and stick to it. It’s okay to evolve over time, but you have to start with a solid, consistent brand identity. Keep it clear: Are you the minimalist designer, or the eclectic painter? Pick a lane, and own it like you own that paint-stained hoodie.
2. Your Logo Looks Like It Was Designed in Microsoft Paint (In 1997)
Listen, I love Canva as much as the next person—it's a great tool for quick designs, but if you’re using those free templates for your logo, we need to talk. Your logo is your business’s first impression, and a generic logo template from Canva is like showing up to a fancy dinner in flip-flops. Not cute.
Here’s the kicker: If you’re using a Canva logo template, so is everyone else. Yep, pretty soon you’ll start seeing your “unique” logo popping up on your competitor’s website, social media, and maybe even their business cards. Want to know why? Because those templates are everywhere, and anyone who thinks they’re being crafty is using the exact same one.
But here’s the thing: Your logo is just one small part of your brand system. You need more than just a cute graphic. You need a whole system—colors, fonts, icons, and design elements that come together to make your brand feel like a cohesive experience. And this isn’t just about looking pretty on Instagram. Think about how your logo and design elements will interact in different environments—on packaging, signage, websites, promotional materials, etc. You want to make sure everything from your business cards to your store signage feels like it belongs to the same family.
Pro Tip: A logo is not a magic fix. If you slap a cute logo on a basic business card and call it a day, your brand is going to feel disjointed. Build a system where every element—your logo, colors, fonts, photography, and even your tone of voice—plays nicely together. Think of it like a recipe: the right ingredients, in the right amounts, will make your brand deliciously memorable.
So don’t just rely on a free template—get intentional about building a system that works for your creative business across every touchpoint.
3. You’re Hiding Like a Mysterious Art Hermit
What is it with creatives being allergic to self-promotion? Look, I get it—shouting “LOOK AT ME!” can feel awkward. But here’s the cold, hard truth: Marketing is not something to joke around with. If you think you can just sit back, make your art, and wait for people to find you—well, you’re in for a rude awakening. Most artists who skip the marketing part never make it.
You need to show up. Consistently. And I’m not talking about a post once every three months when you remember to snap a photo of your latest piece. I mean regularly sharing your work, telling your story, and engaging with your audience. If you’re not out there promoting your art, how are people supposed to know you exist? Just because you’re pouring your heart and soul into your work doesn’t mean anyone will notice it if you’re not showing up to share it with the world.
Seriously, if you aren’t showing up for your audience, you won’t make it. It’s not enough to create—if you’re not getting your art in front of people’s faces, you’re not building a business. In fact, you’re not even building an audience.
Pro Tip: You are the CEO of your creative business, and part of that responsibility is showing up and putting your art out there, even if it feels uncomfortable at first. Market your work like it’s your best friend—because it is. You have to advocate for your art. And the more you show up, the easier it gets. So stop hiding behind your art, and start building that relationship with your future customers.
4. Your Brand Voice Is As Confusing As Your Toddler’s Dinner Preferences
One day you sound like a quirky, whimsical dreamer. The next, you’re talking like a boardroom CEO. No wonder your audience is confused—who the heck are you?
Your brand voice needs to reflect your personality, but it also needs to be consistent. Are you playful and casual? Educational and inspiring? Authoritative and polished? Whatever you choose, stick with it, especially in your art marketing. If you talk like you’re on a TED stage one day and a TikTok teen the next, you’re going to lose trust fast.
Pro Tip: Know your vibe and talk like that person across all platforms. Your followers want authenticity, not a brand that feels like it has multiple personality disorders.
5. You Have Too Many Fonts (And They’re Fighting)
Stop trying to squeeze every font you’ve ever seen into your branding. If your website looks like a typography battlefield—Comic Sans, Times New Roman, and Arial in the same post—you’re not helping your case.
Fonts are like shoes. A few good ones can elevate your look. But a bunch of mismatched ones? Sis, that’s a nightmare. Keep it to two or three fonts max—one for headings, one for body text, and maybe a fun one for accents. And for the love of everything creative, make sure they actually go together!
Pro Tip: Invest in quality fonts. They’ll make a huge difference. A well-chosen font can give your brand an elevated, cohesive feel—like you know what you’re doing (even when you’re winging it).
6. Your Website Looks Like a 2001 MySpace Page, and Your Photos Look Like a Bad Blind Date
Ever been to a website that made you want to hit the back button faster than you can say “bad design”? Yeah, me too. Photography matters—it’s the first impression your potential customers have of your art and your brand. If your photos are blurry, poorly lit, or just plain unflattering, you’re sending the message that your work is low quality. And guess what? No one’s going to buy art from a website that looks like a DIY disaster.
Here’s the thing: Your website is your virtual storefront. Just like you wouldn’t expect to walk into a store with mismatched shelves, bad lighting, and broken signs, no one wants to browse a website that’s hard to navigate or feels unprofessional. If you’re not presenting your work in the best possible light, you’re missing out.
Pro Tip: Your website is a tool—use it for marketing, connecting with your audience, and telling your story. Make sure it serves your business, not just sits there looking pretty. It’s your online home base where people can discover who you are, what you stand for, and how to buy your stuff. Don’t make it look like an abandoned project from 2005. Treat your website like the sales tool it is. Invest in good photography, make your layout clean and functional, and use it to tell the world exactly why they should want to buy your art.
No one wants to buy from the online equivalent of Goodwill. So, get your photos on point and create a website that sells, not just shows.
7. You’re Copying Instead of Creating
I know it’s tempting to see what’s working for other creatives and try to mimic it. But here’s the thing: no one buys from someone trying to be someone else. Your brand needs to be as unique as your art. If you’re copying trends or reusing other people’s ideas, you’re not creating a brand—you’re creating a shadow of someone else’s.
Pro Tip: Be yourself. Trust me, it’ll pay off. Your originality is what will set you apart from everyone else.
The Fix: Build a Brand That Actually Feels Like You
Listen, your art is amazing. But your creative business needs more than talent—it needs a strong, clear, and authentic brand. It needs a logo that represents your unique vibe. It needs a voice that feels real. And it needs consistency across all your platforms.
So get out there, fix these mistakes, and build a brand that you’re proud of—because you deserve it.
And if you need some guidance (or just a friend to vent about branding mishaps), I’ve got your back. Drop your questions below, and I’ll answer them between diaper changes and my 87th cup of coffee.
