[Ian Investor]

Hi — I run a small business and I’m curious whether AI can help me build a simple, useful brand kit without needing design or marketing skills.

What I’m hoping for: a small palette of colors that work together, a few slogan/tagline options, and short messaging lines (one-sentence elevator pitch and a few bullet points about tone and values).

My questions:

• Can AI reliably produce color palettes, slogan ideas, and messaging that feel cohesive?
• What parts usually need human judgment or a designer’s touch?
• Which tools or step-by-step workflows are best for non-technical people?

If you’ve tried this, please share which tools or prompts you used, what worked, and what you changed afterward. Simple examples or short prompts would be especially helpful — I’d love practical tips I can try today.

[Jeff Bullas]

Good point — asking for a practical, non-technical approach is exactly the right focus. Here’s a quick win you can try in under 5 minutes and a clear, step-by-step plan to build a usable brand kit with AI.

Quick win (5 minutes): Paste the prompt below into any AI chat tool and ask for three color palettes, a one-line slogan, and a short brand voice description. You’ll get usable ideas fast.

What you’ll need

• Your business name.
• One-sentence description of what you sell and who it’s for.
• The feeling you want customers to have (trusting, playful, premium, etc.).
• An AI chat tool (free versions work fine).

Step-by-step: Get a practical brand kit

1. Write down the one-sentence description and feeling.
2. Paste the AI prompt below and hit Enter (copy-paste provided).
3. Ask the AI to generate 3 options. Choose the one you like best.
4. Ask for hex color codes, a one-line slogan, 3 short taglines, and a 2-sentence brand voice guideline.
5. Test the palette on text and background to ensure contrast (make the AI check accessibility if you like).
6. Save results in a simple document or folder for future use.

Copy-paste AI prompt

Here’s a ready-to-use prompt. Replace the bracketed text with your details and paste into your AI tool:

“I run [Business Name], which helps [target customer] by [main benefit]. We want to feel [feeling words, e.g., trustworthy, friendly, premium]. Please provide: 1) three distinct color palettes with hex codes and a brief note on when to use each color; 2) one strong one-line slogan; 3) three short taglines (5-7 words each); 4) a two-sentence brand voice guideline describing tone and words to avoid. Keep suggestions simple and usable for a small business owner.”

Example (what to expect)

• Palette A: #1F6F3E (primary), #F2E9D9 (background), #F45B69 (accent)
• Slogan: “Baked Better, Shared Happier.”
• Voice: Warm, friendly, slightly playful. Avoid jargon and tech-speak.

Common mistakes & fixes

• Mistake: Choosing too many colors. Fix: Stick to 3–4 and name their uses (background, primary, accent, neutral).
• Mistake: Slogan too vague. Fix: Add a specific benefit or outcome.
• Mistake: Ignoring accessibility. Fix: Ask the AI to check text contrast ratios.

Simple action plan (next 7 days)

1. Day 1: Run the prompt, pick a palette and slogan.
2. Day 2–3: Create simple mockups (business card, Facebook cover) using the colors.
3. Day 4–7: Get feedback from 3 customers or friends and refine.

Try the prompt now — you’ll have a usable starting brand kit in minutes. Small, practical steps win: pick one option, test it publicly, then iterate based on real feedback.

[Becky Budgeter]

Nice — that quick 5-minute approach is exactly the kind of practical start most small business owners need. I like that you focused on simple outputs (palettes, slogan, short voice note) and an easy 7-day plan — that keeps things doable instead of overwhelming.

Here’s a clear, hands-on follow-up you can use right away that covers what you’ll need, how to do it, and what to expect.

What you’ll need

• Your business name and a one-line summary of what you sell and who it’s for.
• The emotional feeling you want customers to have (trust, warmth, playful, premium).
• A simple AI chat tool or the prompt you already have from the quick win.
• A notebook or folder to save colors, slogan, and examples.

Step-by-step: do this now

1. Ask the AI for three complete options (each with 3–4 colors, a one-line slogan, and a 1–2 sentence voice guideline). Pick the option that feels right first — you can refine later.
2. Check color use in three real places: a logo, a business card mockup, and a social media header. Put the darkest text on the lightest background and vice versa to test readability.
3. Ask the AI to rewrite your chosen slogan two ways: one shorter and one more descriptive. Read them aloud — the one that sounds natural is usually best.
4. Create a one-page brand card listing primary/secondary/neutral hex codes, how to use each (background, button, accent), the slogan, and 2 voice bullets (tone and what to avoid).
5. Share the brand card with 3 people (customers or friends) and collect one quick reaction each: what feeling they got, and whether the slogan is clear.
6. Refine based on feedback, then save versions in a single folder so you can use them in designs or hand them to a designer later.

What to expect

• Time: first draft in 5–20 minutes; useful mockups in 1–2 hours; refined kit after a few rounds of feedback.
• Outcome: a practical, usable brand card you can apply immediately; nothing needs to be perfect at first.
• Iteration: most owners tweak colors or tone once they see real customers react — that’s normal and helpful.

Simple tip: print small swatches or view the colors on your phone in bright light — if text is still easy to read, you’re on the right track.

[aaron]

Nice call — keeping outputs simple and a 7-day plan is exactly the right move.

Problem: most small business owners try to make their brand perfect before testing. That wastes time and stalls revenue. AI gives usable options fast — but speed without structure delivers noise, not results.

Why this matters: a clear, consistent brand increases trust and conversion. You want one practical kit you can deploy this week, measure, then iterate.

Short lesson: run fast drafts, apply to real channels, measure simple KPIs, iterate. Don’t over-design — learn from customers.

Do / Do-not (checklist)

• Do: pick one option and publish quickly.
• Do: keep 3–4 colors and name their uses.
• Do: test on real assets (business card, header, ad).
• Do-not: chase perfection before feedback.
• Do-not: use too many typefaces or unclear slogans.

Step-by-step (what you’ll need, how to do it, what to expect)

1. What you’ll need: business name, one-line description, feeling (trusting/cheerful/premium), AI chat tool, simple image editor (phone apps are fine).
2. Step 1 — Generate 3 complete options: colors (hex), slogan, 2-sentence voice. Use the prompt below. Expect results in 1–5 minutes.
3. Step 2 — Apply chosen palette and slogan to 3 assets: logo mockup, Facebook/Twitter header, a single promotional graphic. Expect 30–90 minutes.
4. Step 3 — Run a quick test: post one asset as a social update or boost $5 to reach real people. Collect 3 direct reactions (comments/messages) and note any confusion.
5. Step 4 — Refine based on feedback and save a one-page brand card with hex codes and usage rules.

Copy-paste AI prompt (use as-is, replace brackets)

“I run [Business Name], serving [target customer] by [main benefit]. We want to feel [feeling words]. Provide: 1) three distinct color palettes with hex codes and one sentence on when to use each color; 2) one strong one-line slogan; 3) three short taglines (5–7 words); 4) a two-sentence brand voice guideline describing tone and words to avoid. Keep it simple and actionable for a non-technical small business owner.”

Worked example

• Palette: #1F6F3E (primary), #F2E9D9 (background), #F45B69 (accent)
• Slogan: “Baked Better, Shared Happier.”
• Voice: Warm, friendly, slightly playful. Avoid jargon and tech-speak.

Metrics to track (simple, high-impact)

• Engagement rate on branded posts (likes/comments per view).
• Click-through rate on any promoted post or link.
• Direct customer feedback (3 responses = actionable pattern).
• Number of days to first sale using the new kit.

Common mistakes & fixes

• Mistake: Too many colors. Fix: Reduce to primary, neutral, accent.
• Mistake: Slogan is vague. Fix: Add a clear benefit or outcome.
• Mistake: No test. Fix: Post once and measure one KPI.

One-week action plan

1. Day 1: Run prompt, pick one option and create brand card.
2. Day 2: Apply to logo and a social header; make one promo graphic.
3. Day 3: Post organic update; collect reactions.
4. Day 4: Run a $5 boost or paid post; measure CTR/engagement.
5. Day 5: Gather feedback from 3 customers; adjust palette or slogan if needed.
6. Day 6: Finalize brand card and save assets in one folder.
7. Day 7: Deploy library to a designer or schedule consistent posts for the month.

Your move.

[Jeff Bullas]

You’re close. Add one piece of structure and your brand kit becomes a money tool, not just a pretty file. That piece is a simple Message House: one promise, three proof points, one call-to-action. Pair it with a tight color map and your voice “do/don’t” list. That’s your brand OS you can use this week.

Do / Don’t (quick checklist)

• Do: write one clear promise customers care about; keep it in plain English.
• Do: map each color to a job (primary button, background, accent, text).
• Do: keep a small word bank (use/avoid) to keep tone consistent.
• Don’t: pick colors that look nice but fail contrast on text.
• Don’t: chase clever slogans; clarity beats cute.
• Don’t: change voice across platforms; your customer should “hear” you the same everywhere.

What you’ll need

• Business name and one-line summary of what you sell and for whom.
• Top customer outcome (save time, feel proud, reduce hassle).
• AI chat tool and 30–45 minutes of focused time.

Step-by-step (practical and fast)

1. Draft your Message House. Promise (one sentence), three proof points (short bullets), one call-to-action (one verb + outcome).
2. Generate three color palettes with hex codes and assign jobs: Primary, Background, Accent, Text. Ask AI to check contrast for headings and body text.
3. Create slogan + taglines. One clear line for the promise; three 5–7 word taglines for ads and buttons.
4. Set your voice bank. 5 words to use; 5 to avoid. Add two example sentences to lock tone.
5. Assemble a one-page brand card. Include hex codes + usage rules, slogan, taglines, Message House, and voice bank.
6. Apply to three assets. A social header, one promo graphic, and a simple flyer or business card. Keep fonts simple: one headline font, one body font.
7. Test quickly. Post once, ask three people what they felt and what they remember. If they can’t repeat the slogan, simplify.

Insider prompts you can copy-paste

Prompt 1 — Build my Message House

“You are a brand strategist. I run [Business Name], serving [target customer] by [main benefit]. Create a simple Message House with: 1) one-sentence promise; 2) three short proof points tied to outcomes; 3) one clear call-to-action. Use plain language, no jargon. Then suggest one-sentence elevator pitch and a 20-second version I can say aloud.”

Prompt 2 — Colors that work in the real world

“Propose 3 color palettes for a brand that feels [feeling: e.g., trustworthy, upbeat, premium]. For each, give hex codes and assign jobs: Primary, Background, Accent, Text. Check color contrast for body text and headings against the background and report pass/fail. If any fail, adjust and show the fixed hex codes.”

Prompt 3 — Slogan, taglines, and voice bank

“Using this Message House: [paste your Message House], write 1 clear slogan (under 7 words), 3 short taglines (5–7 words), and a voice bank with 5 words to use and 5 to avoid. Provide 2 example sentences in the recommended voice. Keep everything practical for a non-technical small business owner.”

Worked example (so you can see the end result)

• Business: Cozy Crust Bakery — fresh bread delivery for busy families.
• Message House
  • Promise: Fresh, warm bread at your door, on time.
  • Proof: Baked at 5am daily; local ingredients; delivery window you can track.
  • CTA: Get your first loaf this week.
• Palette (Option B, chosen)
  • Primary: #1F6F3E (buttons, headlines)
  • Background: #F2E9D9 (site background, packaging)
  • Accent: #F45B69 (offers, callouts)
  • Text: #1B1B1B (body text)
• Slogan: Baked Better, Shared Happier.
• Taglines: Fresh at dawn. At your door. | Warm loaves, zero hassle. | Local grains, daily delivered.
• Voice bank: Use: warm, simple, neighborly, honest, inviting. Avoid: trendy, corporate, techy, complex, hypey.
• Example sentence: “Your morning toast just got easier. Choose a loaf and we’ll bring it warm.”

Common mistakes & fast fixes

• Low contrast colors. Fix: ask AI to “increase contrast by 20% while keeping the same vibe” and retest headings/body on your background.
• Slogan too clever. Fix: use the Result + Time formula: “Get [result] in [timeframe].”
• Fluffy proof points. Fix: turn features into outcomes: “Local flour” becomes “Local flour for richer flavor.”
• Inconsistent tone. Fix: keep the word bank in front of you; paste it at the top of every post brief.
• Too many assets at once. Fix: ship three assets only, learn, then expand.

15-minute sprint plan (today)

1. Run Prompt 1; pick your Promise and CTA.
2. Run Prompt 2; pick one palette that passes contrast.
3. Run Prompt 3; choose a slogan that you can say aloud without stumbling.

Pro tip (small thing, big win): Do the “telephone test.” Call a friend, say your slogan once, and ask them to repeat it 10 seconds later. If they can’t, shorten it or use simpler words.

What to expect

• First usable brand card in 30–45 minutes.
• Clear messaging you can plug into posts, flyers, and your homepage today.
• Confident tweaks after 3 pieces of real feedback — not guesswork.

Keep it light, keep it moving. One promise, one palette, one page. Publish, learn, improve.

[aaron]

Strong addition on the Message House — that’s the backbone that turns a brand kit into decisions you can ship and measure. Let’s bolt on a fast field test so your colors, slogan, and messaging produce clicks, calls, and sales this week.

Hook: Your brand kit should move money, not just look tidy. We’ll set one promise, one CTA, one color for action — then run a simple test and pick a winner.

Problem: Most kits stop at “pretty.” No assigned color jobs, no CTA discipline, no metrics. You can’t optimize what isn’t measured.

Why it matters: Consistency builds trust; clarity earns action. A tight kit + one small test reveals what customers respond to — quickly, cheaply.

Lesson: Ship fast, test small, decide by numbers. Keep the promise visible, the CTA obvious, and measure one outcome at a time.

What you’ll need

• Your Message House (promise, 3 proof points, one CTA).
• AI chat tool (free is fine), 45 focused minutes.
• One channel to test (Facebook post, email, flyer with a code).
• A simple tracking sheet (paper or notes app).

Step-by-step (do this today)

1. Lock your CTA. Pick one action and keep the verb consistent everywhere (e.g., “Order now,” “Book a time”). Add the outcome after it (e.g., “Book a time — get a quote in 24 hours”).
2. Color jobs, not just colors. Assign roles: Primary (buttons/CTA), Background, Accent (offers), Text. Use one CTA color across every asset to train attention.
3. Generate message-ready options. Ask AI for 2 slogan variations and 3 taglines mapped to your CTA. Choose one to test against your current line.
4. Create three assets. A social header, one promo graphic, and a simple flyer or business card. One headline font, one body font. Put the promise in the headline, CTA in the CTA color.
5. Run a micro-test. Post the promo graphic once (organic). Optional: boost $10 to your audience. On the flyer, add a simple code word customers mention or text (e.g., “Say BREAD10 for 10%”).
6. Decide by thresholds. Keep the version that meets or beats your baseline. If you don’t have a baseline, use starter targets below.

Copy-paste AI prompts

• Message-to-CTA compressor: “Using this Message House [paste yours], write 2 slogan options (max 6 words) and 3 taglines (5–7 words) that lead clearly to this CTA: [CTA]. Make them plain English, easy to say out loud, no jargon. Add one sentence explaining why each option might convert.”
• Color contrast fixer: “Here are my colors: Primary [hex], Background [hex], Accent [hex], Text [hex]. Check WCAG contrast for body text and H1s on the background. If any fail, adjust hex codes to pass while keeping a similar feel. Return a short ‘when to use’ note for each color.”
• Voice guardrails: “Create a voice bank from this Message House [paste]. List 5 words to use, 5 to avoid, and write 2 example sentences in the recommended voice for a promo graphic and a flyer.”

Insider tricks

• CTA Color Discipline: Use your Primary color only for actions (buttons, links, phone number boxes). Never use it for decoration. It trains the eye and lifts clicks.
• 5–5–5 test: Can someone get your promise in 5 words, from 5 feet away, in 5 seconds? If not, simplify the headline and shorten the slogan.
• Proof swap: Turn features into outcomes with “so that.” Example: “Baked at 5am” → “Baked at 5am so your toast is warm.”

Metrics to track (set simple targets)

• Social post: Engagement rate (likes+comments+shares divided by reach). Starter target: 2–4%.
• Link or button: Click-through rate. Starter target: 1–2%.
• Flyer or card: Mentions of your code/offer per 100 handouts. Starter target: 2–5 mentions.
• Replies/DMs: Number of direct responses within 24 hours of posting. Starter target: 3+.

Common mistakes & quick fixes

• Too many CTAs: One page, one action. Remove extras.
• CTA color used everywhere: Confuses the eye. Reserve the Primary color only for actions.
• Clever but unclear slogan: Switch to Result + Time (e.g., “Fresh bread, at your door daily”).
• Changing multiple variables: Test one thing at a time (slogan OR image, not both).
• Unreadable text: Increase contrast or font size; ask AI to adjust colors and retest.

What to expect

• First draft kit in 30–45 minutes; three assets in 60–90 minutes.
• Initial results within 24–72 hours of posting or flyering.
• Clear winner after one micro-test; confidence to roll out across channels.

One-week rollout plan (clear next steps)

1. Day 1: Finalize Message House and CTA. Run the Message-to-CTA prompt. Pick 1 slogan and 2 taglines.
2. Day 2: Assign color jobs. Run the contrast fixer. Lock Primary = CTA only.
3. Day 3: Build three assets. Keep fonts simple and readable.
4. Day 4: Publish the promo graphic. Optional: $10 boost.
5. Day 5: Hand out 25 flyers or place 1 small sign with the code.
6. Day 6: Review metrics vs targets. Keep the winner; rewrite the loser using the proof swap.
7. Day 7: Assemble your one-page brand card (colors + jobs, slogan, taglines, Message House, voice bank). Schedule two posts for next week.

Simple, measurable, repeatable. Your brand kit becomes a revenue tool when every element points to one action and you judge it by numbers, not taste.

Your move.

— Aaron

[Author]

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