Do Your Favorite Things Belong In Your Brand?

Your Brand Isn’t Your Baby

I get it. Your brand is your baby. I know mine is… Ten years in and ever evolving, me and my brand have been places - and to think that our businesses were once just an idea? & WE took that idea, that small seed, and planted it and cared for it and grew it into something big.

& if we put all this energy into our brands, then shouldn’t we have the right to pack it full of our favorite things?! You love the color purple. Butterflies bring you joy. You think minimalism is boring. And listen, I’m all for self-expression. But just because something speaks to you doesn’t mean it speaks to your audience.

Your brand isn’t your personal Pinterest board. It’s a strategic tool (we don’t call it “Brand Strategy” for nothin). And sometimes, that means letting go of things you love for the things your brand actually needs.

I’ve had this conversation many times, sometimes with myself… so let’s break it down.

When Personal Bias Doesn’t Align with Your Brand

🟣 “But I love bright neon colors!”
That’s great, but if you’re a luxury wedding planner catering to high-end brides, neon pink and electric blue might not be the move. Your audience expects elegance and sophistication—maybe rich neutrals or soft pastels.

🦋 “But butterflies make me happy!”
Butterflies are beautiful. But if you’re running a tech startup or a corporate consulting firm, they may not give the trust-building, high-level credibility your audience needs to see.

✖️ “Minimalism is so boring.”
You might think so. But if you’re a wellness brand targeting professionals who crave calm, a clutter-free, simple brand experience is exactly what they need.

📜 “Long scrolling websites are overused.”
Sure, but they work! Most users browse on their phones, and long-scrolling sites make navigation easier. The best design isn’t about what’s trendy or what you think is cool—it’s about what makes the most sense for your audience.

The Hardest Part of Branding

One of the toughest things about branding is stepping outside of your personal preferences and seeing your business through the eyes of your audience.

Branding isn’t about what you love—it’s about what attracts and resonates with the people you’re serving. And sometimes, that means ditching the neon and the butterflies, or skipping design trends because your audience needs something else.

At the end of the day, your brand should feel like you, but it should be built for them. That’s where the magic happens.

Have you ever had to let go of something you loved because it didn’t serve your brand?

- Katie Mont