Over the last few weeks you’ve gotten a crash course in branding. We’ve covered what it is, why you need it, and what it can do for your business.

You’ve also learned the do’s and don’ts of DIY-ing your brand and you’re ready to get started.

But maybe you’re still a little fuzzy on how to put all the pieces of your brand together. You know the what, but you’re still trying to figure out the how.

Nothing makes me crazier than seeing a client take their beautiful new branding and not use it.

Sure, they have an updated website with a gorgeous logo, coordinated typography, and styled imagery. They leave with all the elements they need for a consistent brand.

I’ve spent years working with creative entrepreneurs on branding. In that time I’ve helped countless business owners express their vision and ideals through amazing visual branding.

But I’ve also seen a fair amount of DIY branding fails.

Not everyone can afford to go the done-for-you route, especially when you’re first getting started.

One of the biggest objections I hear from potential clients is that branding is too expensive.

It’s definitely an investment and when you’re in business for yourself, you have to be careful with how you use your money.

It’s smart to consider it. For some people, investing in professional branding isn’t the right move. If you’re brand new in business, it doesn’t make sense to invest when your ideal client and brand values might completely change in 3 months.

Early in my business, I felt like I had to take on every client that came along. Even if they weren’t a great fit or I wasn’t the best person to help them, I still took the job.

I bet you can guess how that went.

We’ve talked about the foundational pieces that make up every brand and how they work together. All seven are essential. You can’t just pick and choose which ones to include. If you do, you’ll end up with a disjointed brand that doesn’t really connect with your dream clients.

In my last post, I shared all the pieces that go into creating a brand. It’s so much more than your logo. It’s your values, uniqueness, and position all wrapped up in a cohesive visual package that clicks with your ideal audience.

Pop quiz — how do you define branding?

The first thing that comes to mind is probably a logo. When most people think of branding, they think of the visual representation.

But that’s just one small part of your brand.