Most entrepreneurs spend weeks picking a business name but 5 minutes on their visual brand. Then they wonder why nobody takes them seriously.

Here are the 5 biggest branding mistakes I see every day:

1. Using 4+ fonts on your website. Pick two. One for headers, one for body text. That's it. Consistency = trust.

2. Logo made in Microsoft Word. Your logo doesn't need to be complex, but it does need to look intentional. A clean, simple mark beats a clipart collage every time.

3. Inconsistent colors across platforms. Your Instagram, website, and business card should all feel like the same brand. Pick 3 colors and stick to them everywhere.

4. Stock photos that scream "stock photo." If it looks like a generic corporate handshake, your audience will scroll right past it.

5. No brand guidelines document. Even a simple one-pager with your colors, fonts, and logo usage saves you hours of second-guessing every time you create content.

The fix doesn't require hiring a $5,000 designer. A solid set of customizable templates handles 90% of what a new business needs.

That's exactly why I built the Brand Starter Pack — professional Canva templates and logo designs you can make yours in minutes, not weeks.