It’s my birthday, and here’s my gift to you 🎂
Birthdays usually bring new insights, ideas, revelations, and reality checks. And though it’s my birthday, today’s newsletter comes with a reality check from my previous business that I want to share with you—so you won’t make the same mistakes I did.
My friends know me to be someone who’s quite frank and straight to the point. So this morning’s newsletter might be a bit of tough love, but hang in there, I promise you, it’ll be good and full of love in the end! PLUS I promised you a goodie for your brand in my last email!
It might be my birthday, but here's my gift to you! 🤗 And what better gift than a bit of advice that helps you dodge a mistake and maybe even save you thousands of dollars in the process?
Ever found yourself wondering why your business isn’t standing out, even though you’ve got an "okay" or “that should work” logo?
In 2017, I started a blog with the aim of building a community to equip and empower young women to live fulfilled lives, and I called it Her Progress. I imagined it to be hosting conferences with incredible female guests from different industries, and selling books, stationery, and merch. The whole nine yards! If you know Create and Cultivate, that’s what I was kinda aiming for.
I knew from the start that aesthetics would matter so when it came to branding (with my limited knowledge of it), I used to think a sleek logo was my golden ticket to success. I would spend hours obsessing over every little detail and pixel, convinced it was the secret sauce that would make my biz pop.
So convinced that in my first 6 months, I rebranded once and did multiple refreshes. But spoiler alert: Boy, was I wrong!
Here’s my reality check: A logo alone won’t build a brand that anyone cares about, let alone a community.
(This is why from the get-go I never offered logo-only services to clients because I learned the hard way from my previous business that it was not enough. And by the time I’ve realised this, I was already at the brink of burnout trying different things to make the business work, and ended up shutting it down.)
So sure, some of your audience might give your logo a quick glance, maybe two, but the moment they don’t feel anything towards it (and you can’t control this), and realise there’s no real substance behind it—no story, no mission—they’re outta there faster than you can say “business fail.” 🚫
Your business ends up as just another forgettable option (sorry for the harsh truth). And let’s be real: nobody wants to spend their hard-earned cash on an empty shell that lacks personality.
Business owners might chalk it up to the current economic climate. And sure, they’re partly right, but here’s the thing—people are still spending. You’re still spending.
The difference? Their decision to invest isn’t just about how things look anymore; it’s about how it makes them feel.
So you are more than welcome to stick with just a logo if you’re okay with these things happening (if they haven’t already):
Your Business Feels Empty: Without a brand that resonates, it’s hard to connect with customers, and without connection, sales will struggle to follow.
Leaving Money Behind: A weak brand means missed opportunities, and potential revenue may be slipping through your fingers.
Keeping Your Business Small: By settling for just a logo, you could be holding your growth back while the real players take centre stage.
When I started Kaaio Studio, even in its early days as a creative outlet, I knew I didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes—especially if I was serious about making design our main source of income.
So before I head off to celebrate my birthday (taking the day off today!), here’s a little golden nugget:
Shift your thinking from ‘my business just needs a logo’ to realising that your business deserves a full brand—so it can help you build the dream life you’ve always wanted.
Because, my friend, you’re far too amazing to settle for anything less.
Always in your corner,
Valerie
