Feeling Flat? These 10 Brand Essentials Will Wake Things Up

It's time to be honest with yourself. Is your brand shouting "hell yes", or is it giving off total "meh" vibes?

You've got a great product. A killer service. But your brand? It’s feeling a little... beige. That may sound presumptuous, but if it wasn't, you wouldn't be reading this blog, right?

Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been in business for a few years, here’s the truth: great brands don’t just happen. They’re built with intention, personality, and a whole lot of un-blanding.

If your brand isn't making people stop, feel something, or click that glorious follow button, it might be time to shake things up. A flat brand is forgettable, but a bold brand? Magnetic.

Look... being a bit of a rebel, I don't like using the word 'should', but the whole point of branding is to help your business show up with energy and clarity — not confusion. It should (yuck) connect, attract, and convert your ideal clients. Not just look good.

And that’s one of the biggest issues I see: brands that look polished but have zero personality, or worse, a personality that's completely unaligned with their business goals and/or target market.

The Un-Bland Brand Checklist is designed to change that. It’s your no-fluff guide to rethinking how your brand feels, looks, and sounds — and what it's really saying about your business. Print it out, use it as your to-do list and 'tick' your way through each point. But first, I'm going to give you the Cliff notes, plus a few tips to help you action them.

Here are the 10 essentials every bold brand needs to be scroll-stopping, client-attracting, and totally unforgettable:

The 10 Essentials of an Un-Bland Brand

1. A Distinct Visual Identity

Think colours that pop, fonts with flair, and a logo that stands out in the scroll.

Pro Tip: Add a contrast or accent colour that gives life. Visuals should reflect your brand’s vibe and stand out everywhere.

2. Clear Brand Personality

Are you cheeky? Luxe? Playful? Professional with a twist? Knowing your brand personality helps you speak consistently and authentically.

Quick Exercise: Give your brand three human traits. Is she/he the confident rebel or the nurturing bestie?

3. Bold Messaging

Say it with your chest. No vanilla vibes here. Great messaging is clear, brave, and speaks directly to your dream client.

Red Flag: If your copy could belong to anyone in your industry, it’s time for a rewrite.

4. A Consistent Look & Feel

Great brands are consistent across platforms and touch-points, in look, tone-of-voice and messaging.

Example: Even your invoice email can carry your brand vibe. Consistency builds recognition and trust.

5. A Signature Element

This is the magic thread that ties it all together — a tone of voice, a signature colour, a design quirk.

Think: Tiffany Blue. Apple’s clean white. Or a go-to phrase that only you say.

6. Scroll-Stopping Socials

Your socials are your digital storefront. If they're forgettable, you're invisible. And if they're not on-point for your brand, it's pointless spending time on them.

Ask Yourself: Would you stop scrolling for your own content? Be honest.

7. A Killer Bio or About Page

This isn’t just a list of qualifications — it’s your story. Make it personal, punchy, and powerful.

Make it count: People want to know who they’re buying from. Show them why you’re the one.

8. Testimonials with Personality

"Jane was great" won’t cut it. Great testimonials highlight transformation, emotion, and results.

Pro tip: Ask clients, “What changed after we worked together?”

9. A Memorable Tagline or Slogan

A killer tagline is like a great outfit — breath-taking and unforgettable. Okay... maybe not breath-taking, but you get my point. People remember a good tagline. 'Just do it' ring a bell?

Pro Tip: "what’s the one thing you want people to remember or feel about your brand? Then plug it into this formula:

[Your vibe or benefit] + [a twist or hook]

Your tagline doesn’t have to explain everything — it just needs to spark curiosity and give people a taste of your tone and magic.

Bonus tip: Aim for 5–7 words max. The punchier, the better.

10. Brand Confidence

This is the secret sauce. If you’re not proud to show up with your brand, it’s time for a glow-up.

As someone who ignored my own professional advice for years... over a decade in fact... (yep... literally.)

>> Here's a side quest for those who can jump thought trains: I started Brand Artisans in 2012 (as Dream Weavers Creative back then), and only in the last few years - interestingly since my AuDHD diagnosis - have I been open to allowing my weird and wonderful personality to influence our brand. Professionally and intellectually speaking, I knew what I needed to do, but I let my own personal hang-ups and fears call the shots. There's a lot of layers to that which, no doubt, will become my next blog post, but I just wanted you to know that if you're struggling to let go of the 'shoulds', you're not alone.

Now back to the main quest....

As someone who ignored my own professional advice for a [very] long time, I can tell you with certainty, that once your brand is aligned with your goals (and your soul), things flow sooooo much easier!

Bottom Line: Confidence is contagious. When you love your brand, others will too.

Well, that's great Nik, but what next?

Here's the sitch: your branding can either work for you or against you, so let’s make it work (hard) in your corner.

Step 1: Download the Un-Bland Brand Checklist and use it to keep you on-track and accountable — it’s free, fast, and it gives you juicy prompts for what we've just covered. Pin it to your wall, keep it by your desk, and use it as a bold branding check-in anytime your business starts to feel a little... meh.

Step 2: Grab the $7 Unmask Your Brand Vibe Decoder and discover your brand alter ego (aka: your brand archetype), and what it wants to say to your audience.

Step 3: When you're ready to ditch the DIY hustle, we’ll help you build a brand that glows online, on stage, and in real life, so jump over to the website and book a call... OR if you're loving the DIY, explore our DIY packages, or the rest of our branding tools.

Final Thoughts

A bold brand doesn’t just stand out — it calls people in. It doesn’t whisper "I’m here." It walks into the room like it owns the damn place.

So let’s make your brand un-bland.

>>> Download the Checklist