National Handwriting Day Meets Branding: A Blog for Business Owners!

Let’s talk about branding, logos, and making sure your business speaks the language of the people—because we’re in 2025, not 1825!

Did you know that cursive handwriting is practically extinct? Starting in 2010, schools began phasing out cursive instruction with the adoption of Common Core Standards. (My kids' school stopped teaching it in 2005 according to my daughters!) Many younger people today can’t even read cursive, let alone appreciate all those “loops, swoops, and swirls.!

Why does this matter for your business? Because if your logo looks like it belongs on a historic scroll, your Gen Z customers might squint at it like it’s a hieroglyph! That’s a big no-no in branding.

If you’re thinking about refreshing your brand or logo, let’s break it down into actionable steps, complete with tips, resources, and strategies to drive traffic to your site as you show off your new brand identity.

The Basics: Why Simplicity Matters

Your logo isn’t just art—it’s your brand’s first impression, a communication tool that tells your audience who you are. It should be clear, timeless, and recognizable at a glance. Whether it’s on a storefront, a TikTok thumbnail, or a cupcake box, your logo needs to speak to everyone.

If you’re married to the idea of a “cute and swirly” design, remember this: What’s really cute is having customers who return again and again because they recognize and love your brand.

Steps to a Successful Logo Redesign

1. Prioritize Readability

Stick to fonts that are clean and legible across all mediums, from business cards to social media ads. If your audience has to work hard to decipher your logo, you’re already losing them.

Suggested Fonts:

• Sans-Serif Fonts: Helvetica, Montserrat, Poppins
• Modern Serif Fonts: Playfair Display, Lora, Merriweather
• Playful but Legible Fonts: Pacifico, Quicksand, Raleway

2. Choose a Versatile Color Palette

Keep your color scheme simple and flexible. Test how your logo looks in both full color and black and white to ensure it translates well in all formats.

3. Test Your Logo on Different Applications

Use mockups to see how your logo will look on signage, packaging, social media, and websites. Tools like Canva, Placeit, and MockupWorld are fantastic for this.

4. Leverage Free Font Resources

If you’re working on a budget, there are plenty of free, high-quality font resources online:

• Google Fonts: Clean, professional fonts.
• Font Squirrel: Free fonts for commercial use.
• DaFont: Unique, decorative fonts for creative projects. 

How to Drive Traffic to Your Blog During a Rebrand

A rebrand is the perfect time to build excitement and boost your website traffic. Here’s how to make the most of it:

1. Optimize for Search Engines (SEO)

• Do Keyword Research: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find terms your audience is searching for.
• Update Old Content: Refresh existing blog posts with your new branding and better SEO practices.
• Internal Linking: Link new posts to older ones to keep readers exploring your site.

2. Share on Social Media

• Use teasers of your new logo or brand colors to build excitement.
• Post behind-the-scenes content showing the rebranding process.
• Share before-and-after comparisons to get people talking.

3. Maximize Pinterest’s Potential

Pinterest is a visual search engine, making it ideal for sharing your rebranding journey.

• Create pin-worthy graphics using Canva.
• Use keywords in your pin descriptions to increase visibility.
• Join group boards to extend your reach.

4. Engage Your Audience Through Email Marketing

• Announce your rebrand to your email list with a special newsletter.
• Include a link to a blog post explaining the story behind your new logo.
• Use CTAs to encourage feedback or social shares.

5. Collaborate with Others

• Partner with fellow entrepreneurs or influencers to spread the word about your rebrand.
• Write guest blogs or appear on podcasts to showcase your expertise.

6. Analyze and Iterate

Use Google Analytics to track your traffic and identify which posts or platforms drive the most engagement. Double down on what’s working and tweak the rest.

Repurpose and Refresh Your Content

If you’ve written about branding before, update those posts with insights about your rebrand. Turn blog content into Instagram posts, YouTube videos, or even a webinar discussing how you approached the redesign process.

Final Thoughts

A great logo isn’t about being fancy; it’s about being functional and memorable. As you rethink your branding, focus on creating a visual identity that’s clear, versatile, and speaks to the people you want to serve.

And remember, a rebrand isn’t just a fresh coat of paint—it’s an opportunity to reconnect with your audience and draw new customers into your world.

PS: Need help with branding or driving traffic to your site? DM me on Instagram @janellecopeland or @thecakemamas—I’ve got you covered! 😉