Settling for ‘Good Enough’
It’s a trap a lot of entrepreneurs and self-starters find themselves falling into. They have grand ideas, want to build a great business and instead of ending up with something great, they end up with brands that are just ‘good enough’.
A lot of businesses start with small budgets and I get it. Sometimes the new business is just a side hustle you aren’t sure is going to work yet. Maybe you are saving for money to buy specialized equipment or software. WWhatever the reason is, a lot of business owners unfortunately decide that instead of spending money hiring a professional designer, they will go the budget route or they’re going to spend countless hours of their own time going the DIY route. It may not seem like a big deal at the time but it ends up costing in the end.
When you decide to do something yourself that you are not very skilled at you may be proud of what you finish with but You might have had better results had you just invested more wisely.
Storytime Example
I once was doing a tradeshow and decided to have a spinning wheel with prizes. At the time, a good spinning prize wheel cost about $80 online. Instead I decided to but the individual pieces and supplies from The Home Depot and Ikea which in total only cost me $45. It took me maybe 2 hours to put together. I thought it looked ok. It took me a bit of time but I saved almost $40.
When I was done I showed my wife. The look on her face told me everything I needed to know in 2 seconds. While it was ‘good enough’ it wasn’t great. It did not reflect the image I wanted to portray for the brand. How would this look to potential clients? Would they start wondering about where else corners are being cut. This could potentially loose a sale.
When you settle for ‘good enough’ you will always know that it could be better. Savvy clients will be able to tell the same.
Inspire Confidence
‘Don’t settle for good when you can be great’ doesn’t just apply to you personally. It applies to your brand too! Why would a potential client want to do business with a company or brand that is all over the place or seems to be cheaping out?
So what is the solution?
- Start small.
Make sure you are representing your brand well. For example, If you need a logo, look to work with a designer or agency that is going to take the time to learn about you and represent you best by helping you craft a brand and not just save you money by giving you something pretty that doesn’t have meaning. Make sure they provide you with a Branding Guide so you can ensure consistency in the future. They might even be willing to work with your smaller budget or let you pay in installments. - Treat your time as precious as you do your money.
Sure, saving money doing something yourself is nice but if you have to spend countless hours learning a new skill that you will rarely use then it’s not a good investment. Instead, find someone that loves to do what you don’t like to do, or have the time to do. You can use that freed up time to spend with friends and family or making more money.
Great brands don’t settle for good enough! When your brand is strong and your brand identity reflects that, you become more confident in your marketing materials, your why, your vision, and values. Clients will feed off of that confidence and understand that you offer great service and products, and not ones that are just ‘good enough’.
If you are a small business struggling with finding the time or creativity to craft the great brand you envisioned for your service-based business, we can help make your life easier! Contact us today for more information.