Strong, compelling storytelling is magnetic; it connects with your ideal client on a deep level and cultivates loyalty. On the other hand, these common pitfalls aren’t simply missed opportunities to connect.

They can actively harm your brand. Erode trust. Lose hard-earned customers.

The great news is… they’re easy to avoid. Find out if you’re making one of these three critical mistakes, and how to fix them.

Spelling & Grammar Errors

Though these pesky mistakes might seem harmless, they’re not. Misspelled words and improperly constructed sentences set off alarm bells, specifically surrounding professionalism and attention to detail.

If a brand can’t be bothered to ensure that their social media post or website content are correct and accurate, do they handle their products or services in the same way? Doubt begins to percolate, and a few clicks later, your client is browsing elsewhere.

Inconsistent Tone

If a brand is serious and authoritative in one space, and then attempts to be witty and sarcastic in another, it’s disorienting. Coherent, consistent tone underscores the identity of your brand — whether that’s on social media, in direct communications, via a press release, or any other content.

Tone, however, is complex. In order to identify and embody your brand’s tone in a consistent way, you need to not only have a thorough understanding of the brand’s character, but also employ tactics that reinforce identity. Choice of language, pacing, style, mood — each facet impacts overall tone.

If you lack clarity around tone, customers will have uncertainty around your brand’s identity and character. Uncertainty tanks confidence and loyalty.

Getting Stale

Art, design, food, literature, film, music — there’s no facet of culture or style that stays exactly the same. Think of some of your favorite brands. Their core values have endured since their founding, but their brand has evolved. Has their logo been updated? Have they recognized and responded to trends or shifting cultural attitudes?

It’s not about chasing every shiny new trend for its own sake. But your brand is like all other elements of culture: it should be thoughtfully and intentionally dynamic. Brands that allow their tone or strategy to get stale will inevitably lose customers to those who are perceived as engaged, observant, and relevant.

Need Some Help Avoiding or Fixing These Common Mistakes?

These three mistakes are extremely easy to make, especially when a brand’s leaders have plenty of other tasks and goals on their radar. But they’re hardly without consequences; any of these pitfalls can erode trust in your brand and diminish customer loyalty.

Engaging a strategic communications consultant can be an easy fix for these problems and others. An outside perspective can be helpful in getting a high-level review of your brand’s content, identifying elements that are strong and areas for potential improvement. After exploring the challenges and opportunities for your brand on a communications front, a consultant can help identify clear goals, devise creative tactics, and ensure that your team is empowered to tell your story.

Ready to find out what this might look like for you? Let’s chat! Reach out and set up your free consultation now.