Your PDF is often the first impression potential customers have of your business. A poorly designed PDF can instantly diminish your credibility and cost you sales. Here are the 10 most common mistakes and how to fix them.
1. No Branding or Inconsistent Branding
The Problem: PDFs without logos, brand colors, or consistent typography look generic and unprofessional.
The Fix: Always include your logo, use your brand colors throughout, and stick to 2-3 complementary fonts maximum.
2. Poor Typography Choices
The Problem: Using too many fonts, unreadable sizes, or unprofessional typefaces like Comic Sans.
The Fix: Use professional fonts like Inter for body text and Playfair Display for headings. Keep body text at 11-12pt minimum.
3. Lack of White Space
The Problem: Cramming too much content on each page makes documents overwhelming and hard to read.
The Fix: Use generous margins (at least 1 inch), space out sections, and let your content breathe.
4. No Table of Contents
The Problem: Long PDFs without navigation frustrate readers who can't find specific sections quickly.
The Fix: Include a clickable table of contents with page numbers. EverBright generates this automatically.
5. Low-Quality Images
The Problem: Blurry, pixelated, or stretched images make your entire document look amateurish.
The Fix: Use high-resolution images (300 DPI for print), maintain aspect ratios, and optimize file sizes.
6. Missing or Weak Call-to-Actions
The Problem: Readers finish your PDF but don't know what to do next.
The Fix: Include clear CTAs with clickable links throughout your document and a strong final CTA page.
7. Inconsistent Page Layout
The Problem: Each page looks different, confusing readers and appearing unprofessional.
The Fix: Create templates with consistent headers, footers, and content areas. Use master pages.
8. No Cover Design
The Problem: Starting with a plain title page or jumping straight into content.
The Fix: Design an eye-catching cover that matches your brand and clearly communicates the document's value.
9. Ignoring Mobile Readers
The Problem: PDFs that are only designed for desktop viewing are hard to read on phones and tablets.
The Fix: Test your PDF on mobile devices, use responsive layouts, and avoid tiny text or complex multi-column designs.
10. Not Optimizing File Size
The Problem: Huge file sizes that take forever to download or email.
The Fix: Compress images, embed only necessary fonts, and use PDF optimization tools to reduce file size without losing quality.
Quick Wins
Transform your PDFs today by:
- Adding your brand colors and logo
- Using consistent, professional fonts
- Including white space for readability
- Creating a stunning cover page
- Adding clickable links and CTAs
Pro Tip: Turn Every PDF into a Branded Asset
Most people treat PDFs as static documents — but the smartest creators and business owners treat them as marketing tools. Every guide, checklist, or workbook you share should subtly promote your brand and build trust.
Before exporting your next PDF, ask yourself:
- Does every page reflect my brand’s personality and tone?
- Are my fonts, colors, and spacing consistent throughout?
- Is there a clear journey from information → action → conversion?
Use your PDFs to sell your expertise without sounding salesy. Add a short “About” section, include a CTA linking to your website or product, and make sure your design feels as intentional as your message.
When your PDFs look like premium brand assets, they convert casual readers into loyal customers — without needing another word of hard selling.