Why Your Brand Isn’t Sticking (And How to Fix It)

In a world where everyone is posting, promoting, and positioning, most brands still don’t stick. And it’s not because they don’t have a good product—it’s because they have no soul.

As a creative strategist and brand builder, I’ve watched businesses pour thousands into design and still leave people asking, “What do they actually do?”

Here’s the truth:

Your brand isn’t just your logo. It’s your tone, your story, and the feeling people get when they stumble across your website or Instagram for the first time.

So why isn’t your brand landing?

1. You’re Copying Instead of Creating

Scrolling through what your competitors are doing isn’t “research”—it’s a trap. Your audience can smell a recycled aesthetic from a mile away. The brands that last are the ones bold enough to do something new.

Fix it: Start with your why. Get honest. What do you actually care about—and how can that show up in every headline, product, and post?

2. Your Voice Is Inconsistent

If your captions sound like a different person from your website copy, you’re confusing people. Consistency builds trust. One post shouldn’t sound like a luxury spa while the next reads like a party flyer.

Fix it: Nail down three words that describe your brand’s personality. Are you bold, refined, and witty? Or warm, approachable, and chic? Every word you write should echo that identity.

3. You’re Afraid to Polarize

Trying to be liked by everyone is the fastest way to be remembered by no one. The most successful brands don’t just market—they make statements.

Fix it: Say something that actually matters. You don’t need to be controversial—but you do need to stand for something. And if that means a few people don’t “get it,” good. They’re not your people anyway.

4. You’re Overcomplicating the Message

People don’t buy when they’re confused. If your site has five different taglines and no clear CTA, you’re leaving money on the table.

Fix it: Be direct. One offer. One message. One emotion you want your audience to feel. Simplicity scales.

5. You’re Not Telling Stories

Facts inform. Stories sell. If your brand doesn’t take people on a journey, they’ll bounce before the first scroll ends.

Fix it: Use real stories from your journey. Talk about that client who almost bailed but ended up doubling their revenue. Share the late nights, the creative blocks, the wins. People follow people—not logos.

Final Thoughts

Your brand is your legacy. It’s not just about looking good—it’s about feeling true.

And the brands that feel true? They don’t just get followers. They build movements.

Want help crafting a brand that sticks?

Let’s talk. Email me: mail@ericnugent.com

How I Helped Relaunch Roommates.com and Puppies.com

When the founder of Roommates.com and Puppies.com approached me, both sites had legacy traffic, brand recognition, and potential—but their user experience and design systems were stuck in another era.

What started as a consulting conversation turned into full-blown ownership of the product revamp. I stepped in not just as a creative—but as a partner who treated the project like it was mine. Here's how we made two internet-era staples feel modern, functional, and competitive again.

The Challenge

Both platforms had outdated interfaces, poor mobile UX, no consistent brand voice, and weren’t optimized for today’s SEO or conversion-driven strategies. The bones were good. But the experience? Clunky at best.

Roommates.com needed to feel fresh, trustworthy, and intuitive for users looking to find shared housing. Puppies.com needed to balance credibility with emotional connection—selling the dream of the perfect dog while maintaining integrity and safety.

My Role

I functioned as a product owner in everything but title:

• Led UX direction alongside developers, streamlining navigation and flow

• Created brand voice and messaging guides for both properties

• Wrote SEO-driven copy that was also human and brand-aligned

• Rewrote key pages, onboarding flows, and search experiences

• Oversaw QA and wireframe feedback during development sprints

I wasn’t just rewriting—this was a full strategic and creative overhaul.

The Work

For Roommates.com, we focused on clarity and credibility. I restructured landing pages, simplified the signup flow, and gave the site a confident, helpful tone that felt approachable but direct.

For Puppies.com, the emotional weight was higher. People aren’t just buying a product—they’re searching for a future family member. I rewrote every major page with care, balancing warmth with transparency. The new voice is trustworthy, a little playful, and reassuring.

The Results

Both platforms relaunched with fresh UI, tighter messaging, and stronger calls to action. Early user feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and the new SEO structures improved content performance. The sites now feel like what they should’ve always been: industry leaders, rebuilt from the inside out.

Why It Worked

Because I don’t just write. I build. I ask questions. I solve for emotion, conversion, and trust. I act like an owner—even when I’m brought in as a consultant.

If you’re reworking a legacy product or launching a new one, I’d love to help you make it matter.

Let’s build something that works—and feels right doing it.

Email me: mail@ericnugent.com

Brand Voice vs. Brand Noise: Why Most Businesses Sound the Same

Scroll through a dozen business websites and you’ll see it: buzzwords, filler, generic taglines, and copy that could belong to anyone.

"Innovative solutions."
"Built for you."
"Passionate about what we do."

Sound familiar?

This is brand noise. Words that say nothing. Messaging that melts into the background. And for founders, creators, and marketers—it’s a silent killer of growth.

So what’s the fix? Brand voice.

Your brand voice is your tone, rhythm, perspective, and personality—it’s how people know it’s you, even before they see your logo. It’s what turns casual scrollers into loyal customers. It builds trust before the sale and memorability after it.

Great copy doesn't just tell you what a brand does—it makes you feel something. It resonates. It sticks.

At Roommates.com, we repositioned an aging tech platform with messaging that was clear, confident, and human. For Puppies.com, the voice needed to be warm and trustworthy—without the fluff. In both cases, voice was the brand.

So if you’re:

• Launching something new

• Rebranding something old

• Or just trying to sound less like everyone else

Let’s find your voice—and make it unforgettable.

Because in a world full of noise, clarity is your competitive edge.

Want help making your brand sound like no one else? DM me or email mail@ericnugent.com