Soul Stirring Branding

Writing your brand’s story is probably up there as one of those things many business owners dread. Why do so many people hate it? Maybe because it feels too personal so blocks can come up. Some people find it cringey to talk about themselves. 

Humans are wired to share information through stories. We’ve been doing it since the dawn of time. Telling a story can often cut through because it doesn’t feel like you’re selling anything. It makes people lean in. 

How to NOT approach it: 
Many people make the mistake of writing their story like a chronological history of their lives or some kind of resume. 

Your readers don’t really care about this stuff. 

Instead, you’ll want to sharing how we can relate to, understand and empathise with what your clients struggle with. By showing you have a  real, embodied experience of the struggle or pain you help your clients through it will show them you’re naturally going to have a deeper insight into the problem. You’re going to have more empathy because they’ve been there. You’re just going to be able to hold space for you in a different way. 

You also reduce the stigma (if applicable) around whatever the problem is and normalise the experience, which is incredibly validating for them. 

In the episode, I explain that you don’t need some kind of “rock-bottom” story where something dramatic happens to force or motivate you to transform. 

It’s also totally valid to have your story be a series of small experiences. Whatever form your story takes is ok. 

I also share how much you should share and whether or not you should stretch yourself to get vulnerable. 

If you have a question about whether now is the right time for you to work on your branding, I’d welcome you to DM me to chat about it. 

Feel free to DM me @soulstirringbranding on Instagram

or jump onto soulstirringbranding.com for more info.

This is a question I asked a lot! Many people think they’re “not ready” to invest in their branding and hold off for too long. Others do the process too soon before they really have the right clarity to invest. Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut time when you’re just “ready”. 

In this episode, I break down some key considerations to make and give some examples of clients I’ve had in the past who haven’t been ready and what the consequence was.  

I also explain that most new business owner’s definition of “branding” is usually logo and colours. However, there is another part of “branding” that I believe it is NEVER too early to start doing, and that is to clarify your message (what am I trying to say? Who am I trying to say it to? How is my message unique and different? Why do I believe in this work etc). 

I talk about the fact that our brands are living, breathing organisms that grow and evolve with us. So you might think - I’ll be ready to invest in my branding or my website once I reach year 2 of my business or year 4 of my business or whatever. Well, it’s not that cut and dry. Everyone is different. I work with people regularly who have been in business for decades and are doing a complete 180 pivot. 

So that’s important to recognise, it’s not based on how many years you’ve been in the business and once you reach a certain point you’ll “know” your brand. We need to factor in that things will keep evolving. So that might lead you to think: Is there even any point in investing in my branding if it’s just going to keep evolving? Well of course! Just because it will evolve over the many years you’re hopefully able to run your beautiful business doesn’t mean you should just not put any effort in. 

If you have a question about whether now is the right time for you to work on your branding, I’d welcome you to DM me to chat about it. 

Feel free to DM me @soulstirringbranding on Instagram

or jump onto soulstirringbranding.com for more info.

What the heck is brand strategy and will it really help you?

I get it, no one *really* wants to do strategy work. It’s not fun. It’s not sexy. And you also might find yourself thinking “What even is strategy?” It feels like this word people like to throw around, which sounds fancy and important, but do you actually need it or is it just a bunch of ‘busy’ work? 

I’ll be running through 

• The key areas you’ll want to explore to create a brand strategy
• Why putting together a strategy document is useless unless you actually plan to follow through on it; and
• #1 strategy I recommend to many clients

Thank you for joining me on this journey of brand discovery. Your feedback is valuable, so please leave a rating or review, or reach out to me via DM or email to share your thoughts. Until next time, keep uncovering the soul of your brand.

Feel free to DM me @soulstirringbranding on Instagram

or jump onto soulstirringbranding.com for more info.

Picking the right website platform for your business can be a confusing choic to navigate!  In this episode, I’m breaking it all down for you and exploring key differences between WordPress, Squarespace, and Shopify. As a seasoned website designer who is fairly platform agnostic and has worked with all three platforms for various clients, I can give you my honest opinion and share my experience. 

I delve into Shopify's robust features for eCommerce, WordPress's unparalleled design flexibility, and Squarespace's user-friendly interface. We discuss ownership dynamics, maintenance considerations, and cost comparisons to help listeners make informed decisions.

Join me as we unravel the complexities of website platforms and find the perfect fit for your online presence!

Ready to step into your boldness and share your gifts on a grander scale? Carts to Aligned & Embodied: My branding and website creation program is open now! Grab the early-bird pricing and save $200 USD until the 21st of February (US time)

Feel free to DM me @soulstirringbranding on Instagram

or jump onto soulstirringbranding.com for more info.

How much does a rebrand and website redesign cost?

I’m sure you’re wondering how much it actually costs to rebrand and redesign your website (or build everything from scratch). 

I typed into Google “how much does a rebrand cost” and the first results were:

“You can expect your rebranding costs in the range of $75,000 to $150,000 to overhaul your company's brand.”

“Costs can run from about $40,000 to low six figures.”

​​For most small businesses, rebranding costs can be anywhere from $90000 to $180000 and take six to eight months to transform their brand.

Urmm… say what? 

In today’s episode, I paint a more realistic picture of what a small business owner in the coaching, creative, therapy, consulting, courses or healing professions might expect overhauling their most important business assets. 

Just how much might you expect to pay for: 

Brand Messaging 

Visual Branding (logo, colours, fonts, graphics, photography)

Website copywriting

Website Design + Development 

 I break it down for you!

And what if you can’t afford to hire a professional to create all those pieces? Let me share the BEST way to rebrand and redesign your website on a smaller business WITHOUT cutting corners and while learning fundamental business skills you’ll carry with you for a lifetime in the process!

If you’d like to learn more about Aligned & Embodied and make sure you’re on the waitlist, check it out here: https://soulstirringbranding.com.au/aligned-and-embodied-course/

If you would like to have a 15-minute chat to me about if Aligned & Embodied would be a good fit for you, book it in here: 
https://calendly.com/emma-8/15-minute-aligned-embodied-discovery-call?back=1&month=2024-02

Feel free to DM me @soulstirringbranding on Instagram

or jump onto soulstirringbranding.com for more info.

In this episode, I talk about defining your brand’s message. Your message is like “What are you trying to say?”, What’s essential that someone knows about your business and what you believe in? 

Imagine you were sending a message in a bottle or you had 2 minutes in an elevator or something like that… what is at the heart of what you need to share to convey your brand’s distinct value and point of view? 

From my experience, this is the hardest thing for most business owners to do. 

Most of my clients and the kinds that aren’t short on what they want to share. One of my fabulous Aligned & Embodied Students talks about how when she meets someone she wants to immediately share everything she knows in 5 minutes! Which of course, can feel impossible when you have so much knowledge and wisdom inside you. So the problem is not usually a lack of substance to share. It’s the overwhelm of having too much inside you and not knowing what’s important and what’s not important to share right now and how to distill all the wonderful aspects of your business down to what people actually care about so that your message “reaches” your people? This is what I unpack in this episode. 

I’ll be sharing the three essential questions you need to be able to answer to formulate your messaging: 

• What is the primary problem you solve that your ideal client really cares about the most?
• What is the key transformation you facilitate through your work, that your client cares about the most?
• And how do you solve this problem differently from others in your industry - what’s your point of difference? 

Thank you for joining me on this journey of brand discovery. Your feedback is valuable, so please leave a rating or review, or reach out to me via DM or email to share your thoughts. Until next time, keep uncovering the soul of your brand.

Feel free to DM me @soulstirringbranding on Instagram

or jump onto soulstirringbranding.com for more info.

Welcome back! In today's episode, I'm diving into the intricacies of planning a photoshoot that aligns with your personal brand and story. I'll be sharing insights from my recent photoshoot and discussing the emotional challenges of being seen. As a personal brand, I think that having aligned authentic photos of ourselves that convey our essence and speak to our ideal clients is one of the most important parts of the branding process. I believe a little planning goes a long way to making a shoot a success instead of winging it on the day and I’m going to be walking you through how to plan yours properly so you’re more calm and confident. 

I’ll be discussing: 

• Why authentic photos of YOU is so much more powerful than stock imagery
• Why photoshoots are often the most emotionally challenging parts of the branding process and how to navigate the fear of being ‘seen’. 
• What the common mistakes are that I often see business owners making with their photoshoots
• How to choose the right photographer whose style matches yours.
• What to consider when it comes to locations, and how the backdrop of your photos impacts the overall colour palette of your website. 
• What kind of props you might want to consider incorporating into your shoot
• How to decide what to wear and how many outfits you’ll need
• And how to put together a photoshoot plan so that you know exactly what scenes you need to create during your shoot. 

Thank you for joining me on this journey of brand discovery. Your feedback is valuable, so please leave a rating or review, or reach out to me via DM or email to share your thoughts. Until next time, keep uncovering the soul of your brand.

Feel free to DM me @soulstirringbranding on Instagram

or jump onto soulstirringbranding.com for more info.

In this episode, I address a common dilemma in branding: Should you base your brand style on your personal preferences or your ideal client's taste? I share insights from a client's question about aligning her brand with her personal style while considering her ideal client's preferences and my advice. This episode aims to provide clarity on navigating the complexities of branding decisions (Hello: Overwhelm!) while staying true to yourself and your business vision.

In this episode, I’m sharing: 

— I begin by discussing the client's question about aligning her brand style with her personal taste while considering her ideal client's preferences. This sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the complexities involved in branding decisions. In this example, my client has a colourful, joyful aesthetic to your wardrobe, home and brand’s message, but wondered if that should be the direction we take things in because her audience don’t necessarily dress the same or identify as being as colourful as she is. 

— I delve into the idea of finding a balance between expressing your authentic style and considering your ideal client's tastes. For most of my clients, they’re lucky because their ideal client are a close reflection of who they are OR their ideal clients might not be exactly like them, but they aspire to be so, or just love being in their energy. 

— Ultimately, I believe authenticity is key with personal brands. Your brand should feel like an extension of yourself. This authenticity is what can set your brand apart and create a genuine connection with your audience.

— I emphasize the importance of differentiation in branding. By following trends or industry norms too closely, you risk blending in with the competition. Embracing your unique style can help your brand stand out in a crowded market.

— I encourage listeners to trust their intuition when making branding decisions. While it's essential to consider your ideal client's preferences, staying true to your own style and vision can lead to a more authentic and resonant brand.

Thank you for joining me on this journey of brand discovery. Your feedback is valuable, so please leave a rating or review, or reach out to me via DM or email to share your thoughts. Until next time, keep uncovering the soul of your brand.

Feel free to DM me @soulstirringbranding on Instagram

or jump onto soulstirringbranding.com for more info.

In this episode of The Soul Stirring Branding Podcast, I delve into my proven method for uncovering the true essence of your brand. Over the years, I've seen many business owners struggle with their brand's identity, feeling like it's a tangled mess that doesn't truly represent who they are and what they offer. This episode is all about breaking down the process of uncovering your brand's essence, step by step, so you can create a brand that authentically reflects you and attracts your ideal clients.

In this episode, I’m sharing: 

— Our brands evolve as we evolve in our businesses. What we started with may not align with who we are today, leading to a lack of cohesion and clarity.

— Many business owners struggle to keep up with their brand's evolution, often leaving their branding unattended for years.

— My method involves a deep dive into your business landscape, asking fundamental questions to uncover the heart and soul of your brand.

— I break down the key segments of brand discovery, including the heart and soul of your business, your personality, your story, your uniqueness, your ideal client, your offerings, and your signature style.

— I use a workbook, which I call the Heart and Soul Guidebook, with fundamental questions to act as a brain dump and a deep dive for business owners to articulate their brand's current state and desired direction.

— Through the workbook, I look for holes, vague areas, and jargon to identify areas for deeper exploration and clarification.

— Some clients find it easier to communicate verbally than in writing, so it’s important to work with your strengths when you’re trying to articulate your message. If it flows easier for you to speak to someone and record and transcribe the session, or simply do an audio recording of yourself which you transcribe, then do it! It’s so much harder to overthink things when you’re saying it outloud. 

—  The brand discovery process serves as the foundation for informing decisions about visual branding, logo, colors, fonts, and overall style.

— Looking Ahead: I offer a glimpse into my program, Aligned and Embodied, launching in February 2024, which guides business owners through this process with support and accountability.

Thank you for joining me on this journey of brand discovery. Your feedback is valuable, so please leave a rating or review, or reach out to me via DM or email to share your thoughts. Until next time, keep uncovering the soul of your brand.

Feel free to DM me @soulstirringbranding on Instagram

or jump onto soulstirringbranding.com for more info.

Episode 1 Show Notes 

Welcome to the very first episode of the Soul Stirring Branding Podcast! 

In this episode, I’m sharing: 

— My story from a childhood fascination with graphic design to my current mission of helping women express their essence through branding. 

— How I had been procrastinating creating this first episode for MONTHS. Maybe you can relate to the enormity of trying to explain or what you do and why it matters in a succinct, easy-to-understand way when your work is probably so deep and transformative and personal and from the heart.

— What my definition of Soul Stirring Branding actually is and how we can achieve it with our businesses. 

— Why many women can face an identity crisis when trying to clarify their personal brand and how to get out of the overwhelm of it all. 

— My process of taking a 360-degree view of all the areas of a business so we can find the golden thread that runs through everything you do. 

— Why branding is not a static exercise done once, but something we should be continually reviewing and checking in on ourselves to see if things are in alignment. 

— Why being yourself is your best differentiating strategy, not following trends. 

— The power of our branding to create emotional connections with our ideal clients, without us actually having to be in the room. 

Here’s a snippet: 

So what is soul stirring branding?

It's all about stirring up something in your ideal client evoking emotions and making people feel something. But I've also always felt like it's about stirring something up in ourselves to as business owners, you know, stoking the flames about inner fire, reminding us of our brilliance anchoring down into our deep why? So the purpose of all this soul stirring branding work is really to create a deeper bond with our ideal clients. And I think it goes without saying that when we can connect with our ideal clients on a deeper level, it makes us more memorable, trustworthy and magnetic. 

And actually we know from neuroscience that most people actually buy with the unconscious mind and emotions, not necessarily through logic, facts, figures and reasoning. 

So how do we actually achieve soul stirring branding? 

Well, at its core, it's about being more human, as a personal brand, you have that advantage. You know, you're not a faceless corporate entity, you're a person, and people want to buy from people who are like them or what they aspire to be. But you know, to be honest, I think it's really sad that so many women are hiding who they are. Because when you sort of break it all down, you know, we are afraid of being seen and heard. 

–

I look forward to supporting you to really get to know your brand over the coming episodes. 

If you have any questions you'd like to ask on an episode or you want to give me some feedback, I would love to hear from you. 

Feel free to DM me @soulstirringbranding on Instagram

or jump onto soulstirringbranding.com for more info.