Your brand might be costing you, without you even realising it.
We’ve all seen it.
That business with a gorgeous Instagram grid but a website that looks like it was left in 2009. A logo that changes shape, colour, and style depending on where you find it. Or the classic – someone still clinging to Comic Sans in their email signature (yep, we noticed).
The culprit? Inconsistent branding.
It might seem insignificant, but consider this: inconsistent branding is quietly diluting your credibility, confusing your audience, and costing you money.
Why does inconsistent branding matter?
Inconsistent branding occurs when your brand elements—logo, colours, fonts, tone of voice— don’t align across all touchpoints. Maybe your website looks one way, your social media another, and your email signature… and that’s just the digital stuff.
The problem isn’t just visual. When your brand feels disjointed, it sends mixed messages to your audience. And mixed messages create confusion, not confidence.
1. Inconsistent branding breaks trust
This is the big one. When your branding looks like a patchwork quilt clashing colours, mismatched fonts, and a tone of voice that changes with the weather, your audience notices.
They might not say anything, but deep down, they’re thinking: Can I trust this business?
And if people doubt you, they don’t buy from you.
Trust is built with consistency. Research shows that consistent branding can boost revenue by up to 23%. That’s not just design; that’s smart business.
2. Your marketing turns into a guessing game
When your brand isn’t consistent, every new piece of marketing feels like starting from scratch: Where’s the latest logo? Which shade of blue did we use last time? What tone did we write that email in?
When things are messy. It’s time-consuming. And it makes every campaign harder than it needs to be.
Think of it like trying to run a marathon in odd shoes. You might finish, but it’ll be awkward and unnecessarily painful.
3. You lose out on recognition (and repeat business)
Strong brands stick in your mind: Amazon. Virgin. McDonald’s. Why? Because they show up the same way –every single time.
Consistency builds recognition, recognition builds trust, and trust leads to repeat business.
When your branding is inconsistent, you are easily forgotten. And if they don’t remember you, they won’t come back.
4. Inconsistent branding holds you back
When you’re ready to grow –whether that’s hiring staff, outsourcing marketing, or briefing a web developer –brand inconsistency becomes a huge roadblock.
You’ll waste time hunting for logos or redoing work because your brand guidelines don’t exist (or they’re too complex to follow).
That’s why every branding project we deliver includes practical, easy-to-use guidelines –so everyone is on the same page from day one.
What can you do to avoid Inconsistent Branding?
Here’s where to start:
Step 1: Audit your brand touchpoints
Take 30 minutes and check:
- Website
- Social media profiles
- Email signature
- Printed materials
- Digital ads
- Logo files
Do they look and feel like the same brand? If not, that’s your starting point.
Step 2: Lock in your brand essentials
You’ll need:
- A logo system (main logo, secondary version, icons)
- A defined colour palette and font family
- A consistent brand voice and messaging style
- Practical usage rules
Missing any of these? That’s where we come in. We’ll build you a brand kit that works.
Step 3: Stay consistent (or get support to do it)
Brand consistency isn’t a one-off job –it’s a necessity. That’s why we offer monthly brand support packages, giving you:
- Priority access for design updates
- Consistency across all your platforms
- A designer who knows your brand inside out
- Monthly check-ins to keep things aligned
The cost of inconsistent branding
- Wasted time: Hunting for files, recreating files, or fixing mistakes.
- Higher costs: More design hours, more revisions, more stress.
- Missed opportunities: Confused prospects go elsewhere.
The good news? Fixing inconsistent branding doesn’t need to be painful. With a plan and a set of your own rules, your brand can be as smooth as your best brew.
Final thought: Don’t let inconsistent branding hold you back
You’ve poured your heart and soul into building your business –don’t let mixed messages undo the good work. Being consistent isn’t just about ‘looking good’. If you want to know how we can help you ensure brand consistency across your business, then book a brew and let’s chat.
