Seriously in Business: Brand + Design, Marketing and Business

Inconsistent fonts. Off-brand colours. Visuals that feel “meh.”

Sound familiar? It’s not just a design issue, it’s a TRUST issue.

This is part 3 of the Build Brand Method series and we’re diving into your Identity Toolkit...a key design decision that builds INSTANT trust and makes designing in Canva faster, easier, and more professional.

Inside this episode, I’ll show you:

• The 3 design decisions more important than a logo
• Why fonts reflect personality (and how to choose the right ones)
• How colour combos create connection and consistency
• The difference between polished DIY vs Canva clutter
• The bonus element that pulls your whole brand together

Get your free ticket to the Design Masterclass 👉 www.whitedeer.com.au/designmasterclass

Intro 0:00
Your identity toolkit 1:12
Fonts 2:16
Colours 4:35
Bonus tip 9:21
Wrap up 10:21

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JQTDHvFvn98
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep227/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

If you’ve ever opened Pinterest for brand inspiration and ended up lost in a rabbit hole of pretty-but-useless pins… you’re not alone.

In this episode (Part 2 of my Build Brand Method series), I’m showing you exactly how to use Pinterest strategically to create a mood board that actually helps you design your brand.

Whether you’ve never thought of using Pinterest for branding OR you’ve tried but felt overwhelmed, I’ll walk you through:

• The 3 biggest mistakes people make when pinning for brand inspiration
• Search terms that will give you way better results
• How to spot patterns that will clarify your brand’s colours, fonts, and style
• Why “vibe” images aren’t enough (and what to pin instead)
• How to use AI tools to spark even more inspiration

PLUS, I’m sharing a free masterclass to help you design a brand that actually reflects your expertise and attracts your dream audience.

Get your free ticket to the Design Masterclass 👉 www.whitedeer.com.au/designmasterclass

Intro 0:00
Unlock your aesthetic 1:56
Pinterest isn't enough 2:33
Mistake 1 4:32
Mistake 2 5:34
Mistake 3 6:34
Let me help you 8:34
Bonus tip 9:48

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VSPF2pYjxhI
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep226/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

If you’ve been feeling like your brand is “fine” but not WOW… chances are, you’re missing this step.

Today I’m kicking off my Build Brand Model series by breaking down the very first thing you need to get right if you want a brand that’s magnetic, consistent, and actually works for your business.

Before you even open Canva or pick a colour palette, you need this foundation in place...because when you skip it, you end up with visuals that look nice… but don’t convert.

In this episode, we cover:

• The first (and most important) step in building a premium brand
• Why starting here will make every design decision easier
• How this step helps you attract clients who actually want to pay you
• The biggest mistake business owners make when DIYing their branding
• What’s coming next in the Build Brand Model

Get your free ticket to the Design Masterclass 👉 www.whitedeer.com.au/designmasterclass

Intro 0:00
Build Brand Method 1:17
Wow Model 4:50
Things to think about 10:30
PSA 12:15

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZgZsQ5XSGf0
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep225/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

Ever wondered if your gorgeous website and emails are missing the mark for millions of people with vision or hearing differences? In this guest podcast episode, Erin Perkins, deafblind accessibility educator and CEO of Mabely Q, joins me to share how small changes can create massive inclusivity in your business and boost trust, engagement & retention.

Key Takeaways

• Accessibility isn’t just a checkbox
• Simple, non-overwhelming steps you can start TODAY
• Real insight into what’s actually working (and what isn’t) for people with vision/hearing loss
• Tools and tips that you can implement right now

ABOUT ERIN:
Erin Perkins is the CEO of Mabely Q and a deafblind accessibility educator. With limited vision and hearing (she uses a cochlear implant and hearing aid), Erin brings lived experience to her work. After years of collaborating with coaches and creative entrepreneurs, she realized how little most people understood about accessibility—especially digital accessibility. Today, she helps businesses make their content and platforms more inclusive to build trust, increase engagement, and drive retention. Erin believes accessibility isn’t a checkbox—it’s a business growth strategy."

CONNECT WITH ERIN:
Website: www.mabelyq.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mabely_q
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erineperkins

Ask Erin Anything: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1253906150049?aff=oddtdtcreator

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gcx_vbUdXds
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep224/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

Can you believe how much has changed since 2015? TikTok didn’t exist, Canva was new, and the iPhone 6 was “cutting-edge.” Fast forward to now, and branding and business look totally different.

In this episode, I unpack the radical shifts in tech, consumer behaviour, content expectations, and brand design, so you can stay ahead of the curve in 2025 and beyond.

• Marketing today requires more platforms, more content, and more connection
• Canva raised the bar, so your design strategy must be sharper than ever
• People crave real community and connection with YOU, not a faceless business
• Consistency builds brand recognisability and trust
• You don’t need to do more, just get smarter with repurposing and design

Intro 0:00
Looking back 1:12
What's changing 5:46
Comparing then to now 11:00
Tips to take away 15:49
Wrapping up 17:11

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vpJ39Fz--Lw
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep223/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

Running a business that feels good and gives you freedom doesn't just happen by accident. In this behind-the-scenes episode, I chat candidly with my biz bestie Hazal (marketing coach extraordinaire) about how we're using this mid-year moment to reset, reflect, and intentionally map out our next big moves...including our first ever Escape & Expand Retreat!

From juggling business with kids to globe-trotting while working part-time, we share what they're letting go of, how they're expanding, and why it's so important to stop, reflect, and dream bigger no matter what season you're in.

In this episode:

• Why doing a mid-year reset can be a game-changer for your business
• What Jacqui's focusing on right now (and how she's rewriting her signature course)
• How Hazal is leaning into leadership and audacity in her next business chapter
• The real reason success doesn't always mean "more, more, more"
• All the juicy details on the Escape & Expand Retreat in Daylesford

Join the Escape & Expand Retreat: https://escapeandexpand.my.canva.site/retreat

ABOUT GUEST:
Hazal is a marketing genius turned powerhouse coachfor brilliant women who feel like they're blending in when they were born to stand out.

With over a decade of experience in corporate marketing, including supporting multi-billion-dollar businesses, Hazal founded Hey Hazal and created The Self-Makers Mastermind, the home for talented entrepreneurs who want to own their brilliance, carve out their unique edge, and build a sales system that positions them as the leader they were meant to be.

Inside her mastermind, Hazal’s clients aren’t just growing their businesses, they’re booking out offers months in advance, creating offers that sell themselves, 13x’ing their revenue, and building businesses that feel FUN to run.

She's also the host of the top-charting Self-Makers Podcast, where she reminds you: You don’t need to change who you are to be seen as the absolute best at what you do.

CONNECT WITH GUEST:
https://www.instagram.com/hey.hazal/

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uqyVgJyG74s
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep222/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

This episode is a little different... in the best way.

I went totally off-script and let ChatGPT throw some questions at me that I think YOU would want to ask. Think of it like a friendly, unfiltered chat about all things design, business, Canva, and life.

Here’s what I answer:

• What to do when you hit a creative rut (and why boundaries can spark creativity)
• My favourite new Canva feature (it’s a game-changer for planning!)
• Do I think design or messaging is more important?
• How motherhood made me outsource and grow my biz
• Is my home aesthetic like my brand? Nope.
• What I’d do differently if starting my biz again

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SwtSTXXm1p4
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep221/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

What if your words were the most overlooked part of your brand?

In this episode, we’re diving into the often forgotten cousin of branding that most people ignore: your MESSAGING. Not just what you say, but how you say it. Your tone, your turns of phrase, your “IYKYK” energy that makes your dream clients stop mid-scroll and whisper, “Wait... she gets me.”

If your captions feel a little beige, your website reads like a robot wrote it, or you're constantly second-guessing how to sound “professional but personality-packed”... this one’s for you.

Join today’s guest, Lucy from My Write Hand Woman, and I in unpacking how to write words that work: words that sell, connect, convert and feel like you.

We cover:

• The difference between complimented copy vs converting copy
• Lucy’s Venn Diagram approach to brand voice (it’s genius)
• How to find your differentiators (and actually SAY them)
• Tips for writing copy that feels personal without losing clarity
• Creative ways to understand how your audience wants to be spoken to

Intro 0:00
Interview 1:56
Wrap Up 36:10

ABOUT LUCY BEDEWI:
Lucy Bedewi is the brand messaging strategist and copywriter behind My Write Hand Woman. She’s known for her ability to connect the dots quickly and craft unique messaging angles that’ll turn normal businesses into unicorn brands. She has scaled her business to multi-6-figures by the age of 22– working with top coaches, irreverent brands, highly-differentiated businesses, and personality-packed e-commerce companies to scale their sales results quickly. Her story and work has been featured in Nasdaq, Thrive Global, and Create and Cultivate. An electric speaker and the host of the podcast Unicorn Messaging, Lucy inspires women to get clear on the articulation behind their business, move into their bigness, and create messaging that’s easy to buy from.

CONNECT WITH LUCY:
Contact Form to Work With Me: https://www.mywritehandwoman.com/contact

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mywritehandwoman/

Copy Roast: https://www.mywritehandwoman.com/copy-roast

Use the code, SERIOUS takes $53 off

Watch on YouTube:
Read on the Blog:

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

Welcome to the final instalment of my Rebrand to Rise series, created for business owners who know their current branding no longer fits the incredible business they've built.

If you’ve been thinking, “YES, I need a rebrand,” but also, “I don’t even have time to eat lunch, let alone overhaul my brand,” this one’s for you. Because rebranding can be strategic, streamlined, and supportive, without draining your energy.

In this episode, I share:

• Why most rebrands stall (spoiler: it’s not Canva’s fault)
• The real reason your VA or designer struggles to nail your brand vision
• How to turn your ideas into a system your team can run with
• What CEO-led branding actually looks like inside The Co+Creation Design Club

Join the Club while it’s on sale: https://whitedeer.com.au/clubsale

Intro 0:00
Why most rebrands stall 2:28
You can't outsource YOU 4:00
Pick good imagery 6:20
Get a system that works for your team 7:17
How I can help you 10:50
You don’t have to DIY every graphic... but you do need to lead the vision.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/n00TLpjg3GY
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep219/

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

If your brand feels like a relic from your business's early days, you're not alone. As your business evolves, so should your brand...but does that mean a complete overhaul or a strategic refresh?

In Part 2 of this Rebrand to Rise series, we explore the crossroads many entrepreneurs face: to rebrand entirely or to evolve their existing brand. We'll discuss the differences, the decision-making process, and how to align your brand with your current business vision.

In this episode, you'll learn:
The key differences between a total rebrand and a brand evolution
How to assess which elements of your brand to keep, update, or retire
Why some designers advocate for lengthy rebranding processes, and why I take a different approach
An inside look at the rebranding process within The Co+Creation Club

Work with me in The Co+Creation Design Club. Done-WITH-you creative and design support for the scaling entrepreneur (and their team) who’s ready to craft a high-demand brand, without the cost and hassle of an in-house designer!

APPLY NOW: https://whitedeer.com.au/clubsale
Launch Rebrand pack: https://www.diydesignmybiz.com/RebrandLaunch

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EWY1P52jBHc
Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep218/

Intro 0:00
Why this is important 1:01
Rebrand vs evolution 3:32
Questions to ask 8:00
Client example 13:00
Steps to follow 19:25

WORK WITH JACQUI:
// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb
// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/clubsale
// Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio