Struggling to grow your digital brand without burning out on social media? Wondering how to create passive income without dancing on Reels or spending hours in Canva? In this episode of INHABIT, Alessia Citro sits down with Melissa Lunt, founder of Superhero Design Co, to unpack how she built a $200,000 template business—powered largely by Pinterest. From infertility and burnout to business pivots and baby bottles, Melissa shares the raw, real story behind scaling a creative business while navigating one of the hardest seasons of her life. You’ll walk away with practical strategies for building visibility, designing on a budget, and making your website work for you.

Melissa doesn’t just talk theory—she’s lived the transformation. A designer turned template queen, she reveals how she used SEO, blog content, and Pinterest to create traffic-generating assets that still convert months later. Alessia and Melissa also dive into why your website needs pricing, how to know what to focus on first, and what not to waste time on when you’re starting out. There’s even a spicy moment where they dismantle the trend of faceless brands and re-center what actually builds trust and sales: realness.

Whether you’re a coach building your first site or a creative entrepreneur ready to turn content into cash, this episode provides clarity, encouragement, and the next steps you need to show up, stand out, and scale smart.

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I’d love to connect with you! DM me on the ‘gram at @alessiacitro__

TIMESTAMPS:

[00:05] Alessia introduces Melissa’s $200K template business and how Pinterest did the heavy lifting

[01:21] Melissa is introduced as the visionary behind Superhero Design Co and its passive-income model

[03:34] Melissa describes the pivotal moment when her website templates started paying real bills

[15:20] Alessia shares how someone found her Sedona retreat via SEO—and booked without speaking to her

[15:33] Melissa explains how she uses blog posts and visuals to drive traffic, even when AI writes the copy

[24:45] Melissa shares her focus shift from creating templates to launching a high-ROI course for designers

[25:47] Alessia reflects on the need to go all-in on one offer instead of chasing multiple projects

[29:20] Melissa urges creators to just start—test products, diversify lightly, and double down on what sells

[32:34] Melissa warns against faceless brands, noting people want real connection when making buying decisions

[44:19] Melissa shares where to find her website templates and courses, inviting listeners to simplify their branding

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

superherodesign.co

Resources for Designers

Free Showit Website Template

Melissa's Instagram: @superherodesignco

Abacus.AI (tool with multiple LLMs for $10!)

Get Alessia’s book, Higher Self Habits

Now available on Audible! Get a free 30-day trial!

KEYWORDS: Pinterest marketing, passive income for creatives, website templates, Showit templates, Canva branding kits, SEO tips for entrepreneurs, building a template shop, digital product strategy, online business growth, how to market a retreat, creative business tips, entrepreneurship and motherhood, starting a design business, content marketing with Pinterest, faceless brand vs personal brand, starting a digital product business, branding for coaches, sell templates online, how to use AI for content creation

PS: These show notes were generated entirely by AI! I teach this and more in my new course: The Audio Authority Blueprint. Want to launch or manage a podcast with more consistency and efficiency? Be a founding member! Use code BETA at checkout for half-off for a limited time!

Disclosure: Most, if not all, links are affiliate links. Should you purchase something through the links in these show notes, I may receive a commission, at no additional cost to you.