Trying to look professional online without a full-blown design budget? You’re not alone. If you’re a coach in your first 1–2 years of business, you probably know your branding needs work—but the idea of hiring a designer feels out of reach. Here’s the truth: you don’t need a full custom brand to show up with confidence. What you need is clarity, consistency, and a few tools that make the process easier (and dare I say, fun?).
This guide will walk you through the exact steps to create a DIY brand that reflects who you are, speaks to your dream clients, and grows with your business.
Table of Contents
What is DIY Branding (and Why It Matters for Coaches)
DIY branding is the process of developing the visual and verbal identity of your business without hiring a professional designer. That might mean choosing your own colors, building your own logo in Canva, or using a website template (like the ones in my template shop) that helps you launch faster.
Why it matters? Because branding is about more than just aesthetics. It’s how people recognize you. It builds trust, communicates your vibe, and sets the tone for your offers.
When you’re starting out, a strong DIY brand can:
- Help you look polished and professional, even on a budget
- Build credibility and connection with your audience
- Create consistency across your website, social, and marketing materials
Common Branding Mistakes Coaches Make When Going DIY
Let’s keep it real. DIY can work brilliantly, but there are a few common missteps that can make your brand feel disjointed or confusing:
- Chasing trends instead of building a timeless, authentic look
- Using too many fonts or colors (less is more here!)
- Inconsistent branding across your platforms
- Skipping strategy and jumping straight to visuals
- Not thinking about the client experience on your website or in your content
DIY doesn’t mean disorganized. Strategic branding is about intention—and that can totally be done solo.
Step-by-Step Branding Checklist for Coaches
Step 1 – Define Your Brand Core
Before picking colors or fonts, you need to know who you are as a brand.
Ask yourself:
- What is my mission?
- Who am I here to help?
- What transformation do I offer?
- How do I want people to feel when they interact with my brand?
Write down 3-5 words that describe your brand personality. Example: warm, trustworthy, energetic, calm, or bold.
Step 2 – Choose a Color Palette with Purpose
Colors are powerful. They trigger emotion and set the tone for your brand.
Pro Tip: Stick to 3-5 colors max—a primary, a secondary, and a few neutrals.
Step 3 – Select Fonts That Fit Your Vibe
Typography makes a bigger impact than most people realize. Choose:
- One headline font (bold or expressive)
- One body font (easy to read)
Not sure where to start? Serif fonts have small decorative strokes and tend to feel classic and elegant, while sans serif fonts are more modern and minimal. Pairing a serif headline with a sans serif body (or vice versa) is a great way to create contrast and keep your design looking balanced.
Need ideas? Check out this post on the best Google font pairings for coaches for my favorite plug-and-play combos.
Avoid overcomplicating things with too many styles. Google Fonts is a great place to start.
Step 4 – Design a Simple Logo (Or Use a Starter Kit)
Your logo doesn’t have to be fancy. In fact, some of the most memorable logos are just text.
Try Canva and look for logo templates that you can tweak. You can also start with your name in a standout font—seriously, it works.
Step 5 – Apply Branding Consistently
Once your brand elements are set, apply them consistently across your:
- Website
- Instagram and Pinterest
- Lead magnets and freebies
- Email templates and headers
Templates make this so much easier. If you’re ready for a website that reflects your brand without the custom price tag, check out the Hazel + Willow Template Shop.
Tools & Templates to Make DIY Branding Easier
Let’s not reinvent the wheel. Here are tools that I swear by:
- Canva for graphics, logos, and branded social templates
- Showit for drag-and-drop website design (no code required!)
- My Template Shop — Start with a professionally designed website that you can customize in a day
- Flodesk for beautifully branded emails
Want a shortcut? Download my free one-page Showit website template—it’s built for coaches who want to launch with confidence.
When to DIY and When to Hire a Pro
DIY branding is a great option when:
- You’re just starting out
- You want to launch quickly without overthinking
- You need to validate your offer before investing heavily
But eventually, your brand will grow—and you’ll outgrow the DIY approach.
Ready to Try Branding Like a Pro (Without Spending Thousands)?
Download my FREE one-page Showit website template to launch with strategy, confidence, and style.
You’ve got the vision. Let’s build the brand that matches it—without burnout or endless hours in Canva.
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