When you work with a designer to build your website, it can be one of the best investments you ever make in your business… or it can be one of the worst. There’s nothing quite like that feeling of seeing a final design product, only to realize you’re super unhappy with the way it turned out.

While your designer should always work with you along the way to make sure you’re on the same page, sometimes things just don’t work out. However, website design can cost you big bucks — which is why it’s key to have a strategy in place for a final product you’re not happy with.

If you’ve found yourself in this situation, I feel you. First off, take a deep breath. Every brand is fixable, changes are always possible, and moves can still be made even if you’re frustrated and unsure of where to start.

Plus, it’s always important to remember one thing:

Brands are supposed to change and evolve and move.

Even though you wish your designer could have helped you change, evolve, and move your brand in the right direction, you can still harness what you have and create something really magical. I promise.

Here’s how to fix it when you work with a designer and don’t like the final product.

Step One: What To Do If Your Visual Identity Misses The Mark When You Work With A Designer.

If you hired a designer to overhaul your new visual brand identity, it’s incredibly frustrating and upsetting to end up with something you can’t stand. But, if you’ve found yourself in that position, ask yourself:

Does my visual brand identity align with my brand foundation?

And, on the other hand… heck, do I even have a brand foundation?

Successful brands have a foundation. They know what they stand for, what they look like, and what their mission is. If your visual identity doesn’t support that foundation, you risk having a disjointed appearance with fonts and colors and a logo that simply doesn’t make sense… which can be a big problem for your business.

So, your first job is to define your brand attributes (if you haven’t already), and then make sure that your visual brand aligns with those brand attributes. If you need some help, work to distill your brand down to 3 personality words.

If your visual identity doesn’t reflect those, you know what to work towards. Create a mood board (Pinterest is a great tool for this), and work on cultivating and curating a vibe and an aesthetic that reflects that. Then, share it with your designer!

As a designer by trade, I can promise you that your designer wants to make sure you love your visual brand identity, too — and there’s nothing wrong with needing to move in a different direction.

If you’re not wanting to share this stuff with your designer, that’s also okay! Work to start updating your own brand elements one by one to reflect your brand foundations, and chalk it up to a learning experience.

Step Two: What To Do If Your New Website Misses The Mark When You Work With a Designer.

Now, if your design problem lies in your site design itself, you have a few ways you can go about fixing it.

(Psst… you can still fix it. I promise.)

If it’s your site design itself that misses the mark, bounce back up to the visual brand identity paragraph up there and follow that same process. Make sure the visuals of your site and the design reflect that brand foundation of yours, and edit down from there.

If it’s the layout or the overall user experience that’s missing the mark, come back to your goals. Ask yourself:

• What are the goals of your website?
• What is the first step you want your ideal client to take on your site?
• How do you want them to remember your brand and your site?
• Are those goals being accomplished?

If they’re not, dig out an old fashioned piece of pen and paper and make yourself a client experience map. Make it very clear what your mission is, and then make sure your site — and your content, your CTA’s, and everything in between — reflect that.

Then, go through and give yourself a site audit. Ask yourself:

• Are there areas where you have elements or content detracting from the brand experience?
• Are there any spots where you could make your mission more clear?
• Are there any pages where you’re confused as to what you’re supposed to do next?
• Are there places where you can create a new experience, position things differently, or move things around?

Here’s the thing: one of the best things about being in business for yourself is coming to the realization that you really and truly can figure everything out — even when it’s frustrating and exhausting.

Oftentimes, when we end up with a result we don’t love in our businesses (AKA: a lackluster design), it’s a great way to redefine priorities and move towards something different. It’s all about reframing the way you think and being more intentional about the steps you’re taking in your business. Of course, it’s then all about coming back to the idea that it all starts with our brand foundation in the first place.

If you’re ready to seriously level up the way you run your business, my Brand Brilliance Accelerator is the place for you. Over the next four months, we’ll dive into creating a strategic, impactful, results-driven brand to give your business more wings and you more freedom. If this sounds up your alley (I’d bet it is), come join the waitlist right here.