Seriously in Business: Brand + Design, Marketing and Business

When a client comes back to work with you again because they loved working with you the first time, it's free!

What I mean is that you didn't have to spend your advertising budget or time getting them to purchase from you because they were already sold on you the first time.

The art of getting return clients comes a lot down to creating a premium experience. An experience that feels nurtured, exciting and smooth the WHOLE way through.  

And a lot of this comes down to design.

[Although not ALL design - I touch on quite a few elements on business in this episode, not just graphics].

There are 5 parts to what I like to call the "5 Stages of Nurture". These are the stages someone goes through when they become a client/customer of yours. Right from their first awareness of you to their final interaction after having purchased.

1. The Pre-Purchase Experience

2. The Purchase Experience

3. Immediate Post Purchase Experience

4. THE Experience

5. The Post Experience Experience

Inside this episode I dissect each stage and show how you can WOW your clients in EACH one so they are left with the sweetest taste in their mouth and are LOOKING for ways to work with you again and share you with their friends.

This is one of the funnest, easiest and most beautiful ways to grow your business. Enjoy!

Being alive for 29 years doesn't really qualify me to be THAT wise. I know.

But, I do think I have a couple of nuggets to share in the world of business. And so to celebrate my upcoming celebration of another year around the sun I wanted to share with you 29 things that I've learnt before I turn 29.

Some of these lessons I've learned the hard way, others came naturally (thank goodness!!).

Grab a cuppa and tune in as we whip through these hopefully wildly helpful lessons!

And I'd love to know - what are some of your biggest biz lessons? Message me on Insta and have a share (@whitedeergd)

PS. If one of your lessons has been learning the importance of design and you want to step things up a notch in your biz...

Make sure you take a look at my birthday sale! Courses, workshops and coaching all 29% off!

SHOP NOW: https://www.whitedeer.com.au/goodies

Choosing the fonts to use in your business graphics is no small decision! It'll totally impact the way your business will look, how professional it comes across as well as the type of feel people get when they see your biz flyer, instagram or website.

Most biz owners get VERY overwhelmed choosing fonts though - they know it's important but they don't know how to do it well.

Well, I'm here to help - this podcast episode will cover some very important things to think about as well as some of my pro tips to remember.

Choosing fonts can be done once and last you YEARS so it's good to do it right the first time.

We'll cover:

- Different types of fonts and what each represents

- Different font voices and how that impacts your business

- How many fonts you should use in your business

- Where you can buy unique fonts from

Canva can be tricky to learn [and master!] - just like all new things!! But dear business owner - you DON'T need a Canva teacher.

I've seen a lot of people who actually are quite apt at using Canva still creating designs that suck... #soz

Because Canva isn't magic.

And design isn't just about prettiness.

Design is about communication...

and it's non-negotiable [as a biz owner making your own graphics] to know about DESIGN and how you can make a good impression with your audience through it.

Do your designs communicate your value?

Do they communicate your message?

Do they communicate what you do at a glance?

Do they communicate and connect with YOUR niche?

Do they communicate your professionalism?

Don't get me wrong - spend time learning Canva, but don't do it at the cost of learning design skills. spend time upskilling yourself in learning key design principles like: hierarchy, colour psychology, contrast, font pairing and more.

You won't believe what it does to your confidence and your biz success - trust me!

If you'd like help with design you can get started with my half-day workshop replay: Brand Slam. Purchase your access here for just $50: https://www.diydesignmybiz.com/brandslam

It's been exactly 1 year since I shared about life, motherhood and running a business - back when bubs was almost 6 months old (back in EP 24).

It's time for another check-in because, honestly? This is the kind of stuff I'd love to hear from other biz women/mothers.

This episode is less advice and most an honest look at where I'm currently at - the struggles, the frustrations and the wins.

Sit down with me for a few moments as I let you behind the curtain on:

- How much work I'm actually doing as the main carer for our 18 month old.

- Why I run my business the way that I do

- The hustle of trying to work in nap times

- Being comfortable not wearing makeup

- Why I haven't put Mahlie in childcare yet

- The struggle of not being present with Mahlie

I hope it gives you comfort on whatever season of life you are in.

Most designers would shout an almost deafening "NO!!!" at the idea of a business owner designing their own logo.

And for good reason!!

Logo design is more than just making a pretty logo for your business.

There are MANY things the common DIYer misses that can be detrimental to their businesses' professionalism, quality and legal soundness.

So, in this episode let me take you deep on the 5 things you must do correctly when creating your logo! (You can thank me later).

We discuss everything from:

- Readability across all uses

- Legalities around copyright and unique designs

- Creating versatile variations to suit ALL your needs

- Making a logo that goes beyond the trends

- Saving in the correct file format that will make sure you logo is clear, crisp and will take you into the future

Plus, if you'd like HELP while doing this to make sure you really nail these 5 things, join me inside my online course DIY Design My Biz. Doors open now: https://www.diydesignmybiz.com/

Creating content for allllll of the different platforms that we're on, almost constantly can be wildly exhausting.

A few posts a week to our socials, showing up in Instagram stories, sending emails, podcast episodes, reels, blogs... (are you exhausted yet!?)

BUT there is a magical method we can take advantage of to STILL keep up sharing as much but not become inevitable overwhelmed.

It's called repurposing. And it's something I know I need to get better at!!

Repurposing is the idea that we take content from one platform and share it across other platforms, or reshare it on the same platform down the track!

Pretty much it's about doing the hard work of creating once - and the repurposing that wonderful content to use more than once.

Cos it can be A LOT of effort put into one Instagram post only for 5 people to see it! (#amiright)

So in this episode I chat with content wizard, Tahryn Bolt on how you can practically reporse your content.

We cover how to do it, where you can actually repurpose to, how to overcome the idea that you're being repetitive and boring, and so much more!!

Enjoy this ep and get repurposing!!

ABOUT TAHRYN:

Tahryn is the Biz Wizard behind The Social Bolt.

She's a content wizard, a launch wizard AND a biz wizard (business coach for the muggles) - which makes her a tri-wizard aka a triple threat.

She supports her clients to share their magic and create wildly abundant offers, booked-up launches and magical content through 1:1 Business Coaching and her programs The School of Content Wizardry & Become a Launch Wizard.

And in the process she's built a 6-figure business based around the things she loves and being authentic AF in the process.

Tahryn works alongside her Barketing Manager Ned (her 8 year old Border Collie) and together they love to curl up on the couch, with a glass of red wine in hand, watching Harry Potter.

LINKS:

Tahryn's Website - https://thesocialbolt.com.au/

Tahryn's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thesocialbolt/

TAHRYN'S TIPS:

Once a month look at your best performing posts on Insta (or podcast episodes) and the topics you cover - then note all these down (these are you best topics!)

Use google docs, asana, air table to note all this down and continue adding to this list regularly

When first creating content, write it down in a central document - not just straight into an email or on insta

Reuse good posts - either just copy and paste and reuse as is, or slightly tweak.

Email your list the content from some of your best social media posts

Blogs: again, steal a best performing post and email out! Also share these to your Instagram (can spread this out over multiple posts).

“The Club reignited my love and excitement for my business!”

Laura came into the club with a beautiful logo but wasn’t sure how to translate into her everyday graphics that would do her truly incredible offerings justice.

But boy, Laura took these 6 weeks in the club and made them work for her!! We created SO MUCH together.

She now has so much ready to take her business forward for YEARS - not only for her, but her team.

In this episode I chat with one of my clients, Laura Banks, on her real experience in The Co+Creation Club - The intimate, 6 week group coaching experience crafted to catapult your business to the next level in professionalism, authenticity and growth through supported self design.

Laura chats about how she had no real idea what she was signing up for, the change it made to her business and confidence and what it's really like working with me.

If the club piquing your interest, do yourself a favour and look into it. Doors close May 16 2022 - find out more here: https://www.diydesignmybiz.com/club

It might be the experience that changes everything for you.

Every business owner must make this decision - will they choose to hire a graphic designer to create their graphics, or will they roll up their sleeves and do it themselves?

If you've chosen the latter than this episode is for you. I want to share with you my White Deer Framework - a framework I've never actually shared publicly before but that underpins everything I do with my students and clients.

This framework will take you through the order you need to tackle the design process in your biz.

Picture 3 overarching pillars that cover the steps in this process: Clarity, Attitude and Creation.

Clarity asks "What does my brand need to succeed?"

Here you need to start by looking at your brand and WHO you want to serve, WHY your business exists and EMBRACE your originality and uniqueness.

The next step, Attitude, asks "How can I think like a designer?"

You must now learn how to communicate! Design isn't about looking pretty, it's about communicating your value and message. You must demystify designer details, cultivate communication and grow your confidence. Educate yourself on file types, font pairing, conceptual design, hierarchy... all the things!

Finally, it's time to Create and ask "How can my graphics support my business?"

It's only after tackling those first two pillars that you can make it to this section confident, sure, inspired and have the skills to actually create designs that 1. don't take you forever, 2. don't leave you running for the hills and 3. your audience actually love and act on.

I want to say to you - you don't have to do this alone. Even if you've chosen the path of DIYing, you can still be supported. I call it Co+Creation and I have a whole program dedicated to walking alongside business owners... taking them through these steps, holding their hand along the way and helping them create truly impactful and beautiful brands and graphics.

Doors to The Co+Creation Club are open right now and I'd love to have you join us in this 6 week experience crafted to catapult your business to the next level in professionalism, authenticity and growth through supported self design.

Join the club: www.diydesignmybiz.com/club

What does it FEEL like to interact with your business? Not as you, the biz owner, but as a stranger?

Is your experience like walking into the Reject Shop? Fluro lights, a little cluttered and duck in duck out vibes?

Or is your brand experience like walking into a Louis Vuitton shop... perfect lighting and surfaces, spot on tunes and an attendant giving you their full attention?

In this latest ep of Design Hacks for DIYers I chat through the power of a brand experience, the areas of your biz it can impact and some of the things you need to start thinking about if you'd like to create one through your graphics...

Because when our brand experience is top notch your business has more power to scale, grow (and charge the premium price tag - whatever that is for you!).

If you'd like some real help in this area join us for the Elevate Your Brand virtual workshop running Tuesday the 3rd of May! 10am-12pm AEST. We'll look at your brand and get things kicked off with elevating your Instagram feed.

Buy your ticket here: https://www.diydesignmybiz.com/elevate

You'll leave with:

- Clarity on your visual brand so that your biz is READY for the next level

- All the tips on knowing what it takes to create your own client converting Instagram grid

- A professional and consistent brand that reflects the new levels your business is striving for.

- Time to sit and smash out everything you've been putting off!

Can't wait to have you there!