TL;DR
Wondering how to create a brand that looks good and gets results? In this guest expert episode, I’m joined by branding designer Anna Brand to unpack what makes a visual brand truly work. From cutting through the noise to staying recognisable, you’ll leave with three practical principles to apply right away.
Plus: a Cuba Libre, a few brilliant brand examples, and a little tough love on competition, consistency, and showing up as you.
This Is for You If…
- You’re building your brand solo and feel stuck between Canva chaos and perfection paralysis.
- You want your visuals to feel like you, without losing clarity or professionalism.
- You’ve outgrown your DIY brand, but don’t know where to start next.
Why Looking “Good” Isn’t Enough
There’s no shortage of beautiful brands on Instagram. But how many of them are working?
By working, I mean: attracting the right people, building trust, and supporting the big-picture goals of the business. That’s why today’s guest expert, Anna Brand, is here to unpack the real magic behind visual brands that look good and work even better. If you’re still unclear on how brand strategy connects with visuals, this breakdown of what a brand strategist does will help.
We recorded this as part of my YouTube series with a Cuba Libre in hand (her chosen cocktail). But whether you watch or scroll, you’ll get insight, examples, and strategic commentary you can use straight away.
Let’s dive in.
3 Rules for Creating a Brand That Looks Good and Works
Rule 1 – Keep It Simple
“The more colours, typefaces, and different styles of images you have, the less memorable and recognisable you’re going to become.” Anna Brand
Minimalism isn’t boring. It’s bold. Simplicity helps your brand cut through noise and make a lasting impression.
My Take:
Most of the over-designed brands I’ve seen try to do too much. Don’t cram it into your visual brand if you wouldn’t wear it all in one outfit.
Try This:
Limit yourself to 2 fonts and 3 brand colours max. Stick to them everywhere. Even your email signature.
Rule 2 – Make It Meaningful
“The design is meant to communicate the right message to the right audience.” Anna Brand.
Good design without substance is just decoration. If you haven’t defined your brand’s personality yet, start here before choosing your colours and fonts. Your visuals should be built on a clear understanding of your values, your voice, and what you stand for.
My Take:
This is where personal branding gets powerful. When your visual style grows from your actual strategy, it stops feeling performative.
Try This:
Write one sentence that sums up what your brand stands for. Build your visuals from there.
Rule 3 – Be Consistent
“Consistency is one of the simplest things to do, but most businesses fail at it.”
Anna Brand.
This is the secret sauce. It doesn’t matter how gorgeous your brand looks if you only show up with it once a month. Repetition builds trust.
My Take:
Inconsistency makes people feel unsure. A strong brand is one you can recognise before the logo even appears.
Try This:
Scroll through your last 9 Instagram posts. Are your colours, fonts, photo style, and tone consistent? If not, start there.
The Cocktail: Cuba Libre
For this episode, Anna picked a Cuba Libre – a zingy mix of white rum, Coke, and lots of lime. If you watch the episode, you’ll catch the hands-only cocktail demo we add to each expert segment. Hypnotic. Frivolous. On-brand.
Let’s Talk About Competitors
But before you go all-in on design, we need to address a deeper fear that holds people back: competition.
“Once you stop mimicking people and you do it in your way, then you don’t have any competition.” Anna Brand
This is where Anna and I align, with a slight twist.
Anna champions the idea that if you truly show up in your unique way, competition becomes irrelevant.
My Take:
I believe the real problem is not knowing who your competitors are. That lack of awareness leads people to copy generic trends or freeze up altogether. You can read more about that in my blog on not knowing your competitors.
TL;DR:
You don’t need to obsess over competitors. But you do need to understand the market context so you can position yourself powerfully within it.
Brand Style & Personal Style
This is a common confusion I see when someone’s stepping into personal branding. Now, let’s clear up this misunderstanding I see all the time when people start thinking visually.
They think their visual brand has to reflect their fashion taste. Or be Pinterest-perfect. Or look like a lifestyle influencer.
That’s not the point.
Your visual brand should:
Be recognisable.
Achieve alignment with your message.
Be sustainable to use across platforms.
It doesn’t have to match your wardrobe
Need help figuring out how to bring your message and visuals into alignment? Book a free 30-minute personal brand consult below and let’s get you unstuck.
Sometimes my clients have an incredible personal aesthetic, but we still make a visual brand choice that suits the goals, not the vibe.
Why Good Ideas Still Matter
Of course, visuals and consistency are only half the story. To make your brand work, you still need one key ingredient: a strong, original idea. Anna shared something I loved about the creative process:
“You have to clear out the bad ideas first to make room for the good ones.”
She likens it to emptying the mental vending machine of rubbish before the magic drops. Allowing space for this process to occur is key in How to Create a Brand That Looks Good.
I see this in my strategy sessions, too. We work through all the filler, all the fluff, all the mimicry. Until suddenly, something solid and clear emerges. And that is what makes a brand visually distinct and strategically sound.
When your brand has a strong idea behind it, the visuals become obvious.
Brand Examples That Nail It
Need proof this all works in real life? Let’s look at three brands doing this beautifully, each in their distinct way.
Rachael Kay Albers
- Bold, disruptive, deeply real.
- Embraces visual messiness while maintaining consistency.
- Her video content is unfiltered but always unmistakably “her”.
Try This:
Show up without your full face on. Then post it anyway.
Gary Vee
- Not conventionally beautiful, but highly effective
- His consistent pose, tone, and energy are the visual brand
- Proof that repetition > perfection
Try This:
Define your visual signal. Pose, prop, or expression and use it on repeat.
Altrius Living
A client of Anna’s, built from the brand’s gut outwards
Everything – from logo to palette to messaging – was crafted with the audience in mind
Clean, warm, confident
Try This:
List your top 3 brand values. Now look at your colours and fonts. Are they aligned?
Your Branding Expert Guest: Anna Brand
Anna Brand is a branding designer who helps solopreneurs create personal brands that look good and get results. Her no-fluff, strategy-first approach is a breath of fresh air in a sea of Canva chaos.
You can connect with Anna here:
Ready to Create a Brand That Looks as Good as It Feels? – Label row for quicklink.
If you’re serious about building a brand that’s not just good-looking but deeply aligned with your goals, values, and voice, let’s talk. I offer a free 30-minute personal branding consult to help you clarify your next steps and uncover the hidden strengths in your brand. Book a slot below and let’s get started.
Love Guest Expert Takes Like This?
Explore more of my guest expert blogs and Cocktail Correspondent features, like:
Every guest brings their flavour. (Literally.)
Timestamps For This Episode
00:00 – Episode Start.
00:19 – What Anna is covering this week.
02:04 – What makes a Brand a Good-Looking Brand in 3 steps.
03:15 – The Cocktail to accompany this correspondence.
04:00 – Talking about Competition.
05:50 – Idea Generation.
09:26 – Anna’s chosen examples of great branding.
