My Most Asked Questions (Brand Designer FAQ)
After years of working as a brand designer and strategist, I’ve noticed certain questions come up again and again in inquiry forms and initial discovery calls. And while none of these are bad questions- they usually come from being new to business or not fully understanding how branding supports your business- I thought it was time to address them all in one place.
So consider this a love letter to the most common questions I get asked. And if I had a dollar for every time someone asked, “Can you just design a logo for us?”… well, I’d have enough to trademark that sentence twice over.
“Can You Just Design a Logo for Us?”
This is the number one question I get, and I totally understand why. A logo feels like the very first step- it’s visible, tangible, and easy to point to and say “this is our brand.”
But a logo is like one really great shoe. Stylish? Yes. But you’re not walking around with one shoe on, and you’re not walking into a meeting half-dressed and calling it an outfit.
Even if you have a logo- or maybe two variations- then what? A logo won’t support your brand on its own. It’s not branding; it’s an element of branding. Technically, it’s not even your brand.
Think about it: What goes on your website? What fonts do you use in a course, pitch deck, or social media post? What colors appear on everything? How do you stay consistent across platforms? What do you send your website developer, your printer, your VA?
Just a logo won’t help with any of that.
What you actually need is a full visual identity that includes:
- A logo suite (horizontal, stacked, badge, icon- because you’ll need options)
- A color palette aligned with your message and backed by color psychology
- A typography system that keeps things cohesive
- Brand guidelines that anyone on your team can use
And that visual identity should be backed by brand strategy. When I know who you’re trying to reach, how you want them to feel, and what makes you unforgettable, your visuals become tools- not just pretty decoration.
So no, I won’t just design you a logo, because it’s not going to serve you long-term. And I want to do my best by my clients.
“Can You Just Design Us a Website?”
This question is honestly a cousin to the logo conversation. And yes, I could design you a beautiful website. But we have to answer a much bigger question first: What’s going on that website?
A website without strategy and SEO is like renting a storefront and not putting anything in it. No signs, no layout, no inventory- just empty space.
Before I ever open up design software or touch your wireframes, we need to know:
- What’s your goal for the site?
- What journey do you want people to go on?
- What content do you actually need?
- How does this tie into your brand voice, customer experience, and offers?
I get this question a lot for website redesigns too, usually because someone’s site isn’t working or they DIY’d it and it’s “kind of ugly.” That might be true. But if we want it to both look good AND work, we need clarity on these fundamentals first.
Websites are engines for visibility, conversion, and connection. So yes, I design websites, but we’ve got to do the deeper work first so the website actually works for you.
“How Do I Get Found on ChatGPT or by AI?”
I love this question because I get why people are asking it. The rules are changing every day, and AI is revolutionizing how people search for information.
ChatGPT doesn’t invent your information. It scrapes the internet. That’s where it’s pulling from. So if you’re not being found on Google, you’re not going to be found on ChatGPT either.
If you want to show up in these AI tools, your website needs to be optimized and updated. There’s actually a new sitemap specifically for AI now (you can turn it on with Yoast), which allows AI to scrape your site more effectively.
Other things that help you show up:
- High-authority platforms like LinkedIn
- Podcast guest spots
- Industry-specific directories
- An optimized Google Business Profile
- Backlinks from reputable sites
This is literally the same thing that helps SEO. You’re still feeding the same machine- you just need to be optimizing for it. There’s no shortcut where you just tell ChatGPT about your business and everyone finds you there.
This is also why brand strategy matters. Your keywords, your positioning, the way people talk about you online- aka your brand- that’s all part of your brand strategy. And that’s step one. Step two is supporting it with your marketing efforts, including SEO.
I’m actually found on ChatGPT all the time now. I’ve had multiple inquiries in recent months where people say they found me there. But that’s because I already have SEO working for me.
“Can You Use What We Already Have and Just Make It Work?”
Probably not.
I actually have a clause in my contract that says I’m not required to use any existing brand assets during a rebrand (with the exception of trademarked elements). Occasionally I’ll make an exception if it makes sense for the brand, but if something’s not working, why are we trying to tape it together?
Rebrands are a chance for a refreshed start that reflects the right now of your business and prepares it for scaling and growth- not the DIY version you’ve outgrown.
I don’t think it’s helpful for me to polish up something that’s broken. I want to build something strong from the inside out.
Lightning Round: Quick Questions with Bigger Implications
“Can you make us look more professional?”
Absolutely. But what does “professional” mean to your audience? Let’s define that first. Otherwise we’re just picking fonts that feel legit and hoping for the best.
“What platform should I build my site on?”
It depends. Are you selling products? Booking clients? Blogging weekly? There’s no one-size-fits-all- just the right tools for your goals. We build on WordPress, Shopify, and Squarespace. That’s definitely something we can chat about on a discovery call.
“Can I just use Canva for everything?”
Yes, if you already have a strategy and visual identity in place. Otherwise, Canva is just enabling brand chaos with prettier templates. After I build a strategy and brand for clients, I create templates in Canva with their established visual identity so it’s easy for them to maintain consistency. But using whatever Canva generates won’t create brand consistency- and consistency directly impacts your bottom line. Brands that are consistent make 33-50% more revenue.
“Can you help us get more followers?”
Maybe, but branding isn’t about chasing followers. It’s about building recognition and connection. If you want conversion, focus on consistency and clarity, not virality. I’ve had plenty of clients and potential clients with large followings and little to no budget because the followers aren’t converting. There’s no consistency, clarity, and connection between followers and offers.
Brand strategy comes first and informs your brand, design and website. Marketing strategy comes second and supports what your brand foundation has already laid down. And marketing should be an ongoing effort using data. A lot of people will piecemeal something together and DIY it, then jump into working with a marketing firm because that sounds like a good idea. And while that may give you more followers- more followers doesn’t automatically translate to more revenue. We offer monthly retainer and brand support for our clients to make sure they are supported in their brand mission on social media.
“How do I make my brand look unique?”
If you want to be unique, you actually need to BE different. And let that show through your visuals, your voice, and your full experience. That starts with strategy- and that strategy starts by knowing your people.
“I don’t really want to do anything on social media / I don’t have the time.”
I understand that comes from a place of overwhelm. And you don’t necessarily have to be on social. But if your audience is on social, what’s the plan for reaching them? We can’t send a carrier pigeon.
If you’re not showing up there, you need to show up somewhere consistently and with intention where your people can find you. Other options include SEO, Google Business Profile, and industry directories (i.e. Psychology Today for therapists). But social media is often the next step after establishing those foundations.
The Real Answer to All These Questions
All of these questions come from a good place- from wanting your brand to feel aligned and effective. But the real answer to all of them breaks down to this:
Start with strategy, then design, then amplify.
That’s the order. That’s the process. That’s how you stop duct-taping your brand together and build something that actually lasts.
So the next time you’re tempted to ask “Can I just get a quick logo?” or “Can you just tweak our colors?”- pause and zoom out. Ask yourself: What am I trying to build? And what do I want people to see, feel, and remember?
That’s the work. And it’s way more fun when you do it with intention and keep your people front and center.
If you’re ready to build a brand foundation that actually supports your business growth, I’d love to chat about working together. And if this episode resonated with you, forward it to a friend- chances are they’ve wondered about these same questions too.
