Building your Brand

I can't quite believe it, but after over two years of podcasting we've made it to episode 100 of the Building Your Brand podcast! Thank you so much to all of you for joining me for this journey; it's been one of the BEST things I've ever done for my business and in today's episode I tell you why. In today's episode I invited my podcast producer Lucy Lucraft on, and in a twist of events, she is interviewing me! It's a really fun and open chat about how and why I started the podcast, what has surprised me along the way, and the benefits of starting a podcast. There's a lot of behind the scenes stuff about the podcast and we share some funny things that've happened over the past two years too. If you're a die hard Building Your Brand fan, you'll love this episode! And if you're someone who wants to understand the business benefits of starting a. podcast (or you want to explore how sponsorship works) this is the perfect episode to dive into. Referenced in the episode: Getting to grips with email marketing with Menekse Stewart Sales funnels simplified with Menekse Stewart Being a generalist could be the best business decision you make with Kyle Webster How to find joy when times are tough with Sophie Cliff Quitting social media profitably with Astrid Bracke The unexpected benefits of changing your career later in life with Lisa Congdon This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

As we're nearing the very last Building Your Brand episode of the year I've squeezed in a solo episode! This one is a little bit more personal as I reflect on 2023 and how it's been both exhausting AND my busiest year yet. It's really easy for us all to constantly look forward to our goals and feel frustrated we haven't yet reached them so I hope this episode helps you look back to see just how far you've come over the past twelve months. When I think back on 2023 I think my overall feeling is exhaustion. But I also had my most profitable year and worked with some amazing clients and brands too. And of course this podcast, my newsletter and Instagram have all been a highlight! If you need a reminder of how far you've come, this is the perfect episode. Check out Adobe Express featured in today's episode. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

How to deal with burnout as a small business owner might not be what you'd typically expect when you think about building your brand but it's something I felt so inspired to explore. Which is why I loved chatting to today's guest, Marloes, all about how she experienced burnout, tackled it head on and how she's rebuilding her career as a small business owner while in recovery. Whether you've experienced burnout or not I encourage you to dive in to today's episode as it's a must listen for all of us. Episode highlights: (04:08) Marloes initial experience of burnout (15:58) Why burnout happens (20:03) Creativity for creativities sake (28:46) Finding balance on social media Thanks to Marketing Magic for sponsoring this episode. Don't forget to check out Marloes online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

This week, I'm chatting to amazing Instagram and TikTok sensation, designer and founder of Pink Pony Creative Kristy Campbell who grew her business from a one-woman band to a thriving agency in three years! In the episode I picked Kristy's brains about how she's transitioned from working solo to leading a team, what struggles she's navigated and how her processes have evolved. Whether you are interested in building a team, already have one and want to see how to make it more efficient, or maybe you're content as you are this episode is packed full of honest and encouraging tips we could all use! Check out Marketing Magic featured in today's episode Don't forget to check out Kristy online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Something I've been pondering recently is how, as content becomes more bland and generic due to the increased usage of AI, personal branding is going to become more important than ever before. Today on the podcast I am chatting to Christine Gritmon all about personal branding. Who should have one? How to get started? And how to make your personal brand work for you. We even cover the age-old dilemma of how many Instagram accounts you should have! I nodded along in agreement to so much of what Christine said in this episode, and I really hope you find it helpful too. Check out Marketing Magic featured in today's episode Don't forget to check out Christine online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

I love finding new ways to talk about branding and different aspects of it that I haven't covered before so in today's episode I'm chatting to Katie Elliott, an HR consultant who loves working with startup, micro and indie businesses. We chat about the culture of your business and how caring for your staff (or yourself if you're a solopreneur!) is part of building a strong and successful brand. Honestly, I love this topic and it was so interesting to chat to Katie about it. Katie also has a freebie that she's created called a Business Owner's Guide to Company Culture. I really hope you enjoy the episode and head over to Instagram and let us know what you think and let's carry on the conversation. I always love to hear from you. Check out Flodesk featured in today's episode Don't forget to check out Katie online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Earlier in the year, I attended the Doing It For The Kids Meetup in London, and I started chatting about imposter syndrome and context collapse with someone I'd never met before. That person was my guest on today's episode, Leila Ainge, a psychologist, coach and management consultant. We discussed imposter syndrome (or phenomenon), why it happens and Leila shares advice on how to manage and work with your feelings of imposter syndrome. If you've been battling with imposter syndrome this is a great episode for you! Don't forget to check out Leila online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. Check out Marketing Magic featured in today's episode. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Public speaking was never something I tied to my branding but after my experience working with today's guest, public speaking coach Charlotte Lewis, I'm now a total convert. I got in touch with Charlotte to help me prepare for a closing keynote and, while she gave me a huge confidence boost and helped make my talk much better, I also left with a deep understanding of how our voice and physical presence impacts our branding. In the episode we talk about some really practical ways you can start to improve your public speaking and delve into the things that might be holding you back. It's a great episode for anyone wanting to feel more confident in their voice so dive in and let us know what you think! Check out PENFOLD featured in today's episode This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review! Don't forget to check out Charlotte online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you.

Today, I am welcoming creative director, designer and bestselling author Radim Malinic back to the podcast! With two new books out on topics very close to my heart, it was great to chat to him about the struggles of running your own creative business. As always, Radim is very honest and open and we chatted about the ups and downs and struggles that he's faced in his decades long creative career. From experiencing burnout to having therapy, we cover a whole host of experiences he's had so If you've ever felt alone in business this is the perfect episode to dive into. Mentioned in the episode From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks Buy Radim's books at November Universe Radim's previous episode of Building Your Brand A big thank you to today's episode sponsor Marketing Magic This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review! Don't forget to check out Radim online and while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page! Can't wait to connect with you.

One of the things I feel super passionately about as someone who works with small business owners is that you can build a business that works for you and how your brain and your body work and not just do things cuz you see everyone else around you doing those things. In today's episode, I had an absolutely brilliant chat with Sara Tasker, who you might know online by her business name, Me and Orla. Sara runs a multi-six-figure business while dealing with multiple chronic illnesses, and we chat about how she's really consciously built a business that works around her illnesses and supports her in a way that a 9-5 just wouldn't do. We also chat about a whole bunch of mindset shifts that we've both had to make over the last 10 years. Sara's course, the Insta Retreat was one of the first online courses I ever took, and so I loved hearing about all the various ways that Sara makes money in her business, including through that course and what she is doing to grow her business while honoring the rest that she needs. Whether you have a chronic illness or not, this episode is a must-listen for small business owners. Don't forget to check out Sara online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. Check out Marketing Magic featured in today's episode This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

This episode is SO exciting because it happened entirely due to my rejection challenge! I pitched renowned US based fine artist, illustrator and author Lisa Congdon earlier in the year and was so suprised when she said yes. Lisa is someone I've followed for almost a decade and have admired her approach to business so much I was desperate to talk to her about it. Lisa started her business in her 40s and we discussed her creative journey, the imposter syndrome that came with it and the (unexpected) benefits of starting a business later in life. The conversation is filled with wisdom and generosity from Lisa, and it's perfect if you want to gain insights into creativity, business, and embracing your unique path. Don't forget to check out Lisa online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. Check out Marketing Magic featured in today's episode This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review! Sustainability is such a buzzword, but what does it actually look like when it comes to marketing our businesses? In this episode I chat to Laura Ahearn, the director of Cardiff marketing agency Millrace Marketing about this exact topic! Laura's agency focuses on impactful campaigns for both people and the planet, and they recently became a certified B Corp. Tune in to learn how businesses can be more sustainable and understand what it means to be a B Corp and how you can focus on sustainability in your business too. Check out Marketing Magic featured in today's episode Join the conversation and share your thoughts with me via email or Instagram. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft.

Today I chat with Senior Growth Marketer at Podia, Marc Thomas about my favourite topic, failure! In the episode (which was recorded IRL in a podcast studio) Marc opened up about his journey with failure and he shared some really practical tips on how to use it to move forward. It was such an interesting discussion which I found incredibly comforting as well as useful and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Check out Marketing Magic featured in today's episode Don't forget to check out Marc online and follow him on LinkedIn. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

If you haven't yet heard me talk about my rejection challenge then get ready for a deep dive into it as today I chat with online pal (and the inspiration behind the challenge) Katie Chappell. In 2019 Katie did a rejection challenge (politely called a 'no thank you' challenge) which transformed the way she works, leading to her working with her dream clients (Google, Brompton Bikes, Nespresso). This challenge completely inspired me to do something similar which was how the 100 rejections challenge was born earlier this year. Although neither of us reached 100 rejections, we both experienced a profound shift in our mindsets and hugely positive changes in our business too, both financially and mentally. If you want to know how embracing rejection could lead to serious change in your business this is the IDEAL episode to listen to. Don't forget to check out Katie online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

It's a return to normal Building Your Brand episodes and I'm kicking things off by sharing a few things I relearned following my summer break from the podcast and from client work. It's nothing groundbreaking but I wanted to share in case it resonated with any of you small business owners too! Let me know what you think and PLEASE pretty please leave the podcast a 5* rating and review on Apple Podcasts; doing so tells the algorithm the podcast is offering value and should be shown to more folk like you. And you'll have my endless love for life ;) I'll share my favourite reviews in a future episode so get your writing hats on! This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Welcome to the Summer Mini Series where I revisit some of my favourite episodes. Listen to the original, full-length episode here. In this episode, I revisit my interview with managing director of independent branding and design studio Mother Design, Kathryn Jubrail who shared her wealth of knowledge about helping brands break through the sea of sameness and show their uniqueness. It's a great one to listen to if you struggle to see your USP and I hope you love it! Don't forget to check out Mother Design online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. A big thanks to Adobe Express for sponsoring the Summer Mini Series. If you want a way to design on-brand graphics on the go download the app for free. This episode was written by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Welcome to the Summer Mini Series where I revisit some of my favourite episodes. Listen to the original, full-length episode here. Laura Pashby is a writer and a photographer who tells stories using words and photographs on her blog, her Instagram audience, for brands, and in magazines. Laura's mission is to show others how to share their stories in order to connect with others, and she does it so well I wanted to share this vintage episode twice! Don't forget to check out Laura's newsletter and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. A big thanks to Adobe Express for sponsoring the Summer Mini Series. If you want a way to design on-brand graphics on the go download the app for free. This episode was written by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Welcome to the Summer Mini Series where I revisit some of my favourite episodes. Listen to the original, full-length episode here. In this bonus episode I chat with business and marketing strategist, podcast host, and monochrome enthusiast, Alice Benham! Alice is passionate about helping business owners to develop and implement the strategies and we chatted about that in today's mini-episode. Don't forget to check out Alice's podcast and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. A big thanks to Adobe Express for sponsoring the Summer Mini Series. If you want a way to design on-brand graphics on the go download the app for free. This episode was written by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Welcome to the Summer Mini Series where I revisit some of my favourite episodes. Listen to the original, full-length episode here. Sahar is a Pinterest Marketing and Business Strategist on a mission to help impact driven women grow profitable businesses without sacrificing family and when she turned her hand to Pinterest a few years back she increased her traffic by 300%, reaching over 2 million monthly views on the platform a year later. In today's snapshot of the original episode, you'll hear me chat to Sahar about the unique difference Pinterest offers vs. Instagram. A big thanks to Adobe Express for sponsoring the Summer Mini Series. If you want a way to design on-brand graphics on the go download the app for free. Don't forget to check out Sahar online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. This episode was written by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Welcome to the Summer Mini Series where I revisit some of my favourite episodes. Listen to the original, full-length episode here. Back in April 2021 I chatted with play theory expert Emma Worrollo aka A Playful Den. The journey to the adult-side is full of social conditioning and expectations which make us lose touch with our inner child and we forget how to play. But play can connect us to who we want to be, which is why Emma is so passionate about it. In this gem of a mini-episode we chat about how to resist turning all of our hobbies into business. Don't forget to check out Emma online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. A big thanks to Adobe Express for sponsoring the Summer Mini Series. If you want a way to design on-brand graphics on the go download the app for free. This episode was written by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Welcome to the Summer Mini Series where I revisit some of my favourite episodes. Listen to the original, full-length episode here. In this episode, I chat with Bristol-based marketing & small business expert Aime Cox-Tennant who supports creative small biz owners at her Bristol-based marketing agency Studio Cotton. In this bonus episode we chat about why you should take blogging more seriously. Don't forget to check out Aime online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. A big thanks to Adobe Express for sponsoring the Summer Mini Series. If you want a way to design on-brand graphics on the go download the app for free. This episode was written by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Welcome to the Summer Mini Series where I revisit some of my favourite episodes. Listen to the original, full-length episode here. Ola is a full-time family content creator and former Global Brand Partnerships Manager at TikTok. In the original episode, we chatted about how to stand out on Instagram and TikTok but I chose a snippet where Ola shares the importance of making your audience feel something. Don't forget to check out Ola online and follow her on TikTok. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. A big thanks to Adobe Express for sponsoring the Summer Mini Series. If you want a way to design on-brand graphics on the go download the app for free. This episode was written by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Welcome to the Summer Mini Series where I revisit some of my favourite episodes. Listen to the original, full-length episode here. In this episode I am joined by SEO specialist, marketing nerd and creative business cheerleader, Menekse Stewart. We delve into lots of topics in the original episode but I chose a snippet where we chatted about why email marketing is so important for a small business. Don't forget to check out Menekse online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. A big thanks to Adobe Express for sponsoring the Summer Mini Series. If you want a way to design on-brand graphics on the go download the app for free. This episode was written by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

It's been a while since I did a solo episode, but I decided to record one ahead of my short podcast break. In the episode I talk about how and why I planned a podcast break, what I'll be doing and I share a few personal lessons I've learned recently. And I have a favour to ask! I've created a feedback form about the podcast to get to know you and make sure I'm giving you what you want. As a thanks from me, everyone who gives feedback will be entered into a competition to receive a little gift in the post. So if you would like to be entered to win a prize, it'll probably be a box of goodies from me in the post. Then just drop me an email after you've completed the form to podcast @ liz mosley.net and tell me that you did it. And then I'll choose a few people at random to send something to. By doing it that way, your email won't be connected to your feedback entry. Check out Flodesk featured in today's episode Referenced in the episode: Failed It, how to Turn Mistakes Into Ideas and Other Advice For Successfully Screwing Up by Eric Kessels. Rest is Resistance book The Rest Deck This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

I'm pretty sure we all want to make sure our businesses are culturally sensitive but it can feel a little overwhelming. Today I'm talking to designer and LinkedIn author, Nicte Cuevas, who I've been eager to record an episode with ever since we met last year in LA and discovered our shared passion for design, branding, and our Colombian heritage. We dive into ensuring our branding is inclusive and talk about how to create branding that is culturally sensitive and inclusive. It was truly enlightening to hear Nicte's perspective so, in my opinion, this episode is a must-listen! Don't forget to check out Nicte online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. Check out Flodesk featured in today's episode This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In today's episode, I chat with chronic illness coach and podcast host Alana Holloway who supports people to work with, not against their chronic illness to unlock the lives they want to live, and businesses they want to run. As someone who doesn't have a chronic illness, but runs a business with accessibility as one of my core values It was a really valuable conversation. I learned what my clients might need from me and how chronic illness could impact our work together. If you're a small business owner with a chronic illness keen to explore how to use it to improve your work/life balance this is a really juicy episode to dive into! Referenced in the episode: (podcast episode) Using words to show up authentically online with Suzy Darke Check out Alana's free quiz A big thank you to today's episode sponsor Flodesk (affiliate link) Don't forget to check out Alana online and listen to her podcast. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

For those of you who've been around a while, you'll know that before I focused solely on branding I used to run a stationery shop alongside my full-time job, selling at markets on weekends so I know just how hard running a product-based business can be. I'm really excited to share today's episode with retail expert, author of Tame Your Tiger and Resilient Retail founder Catherine Erdly who joined me to talk all things retail. We explore the hurdles that can consume product-based businesses if not addressed effectively. Even if you don't run a product-based business, there's plenty of thought-provoking advice in this episode that I found really helpful and hope you do too. If you're a business owner keen to take charge of your profit this is a great episode to get stuck into. Referenced in the episode: Tame Your Tiger by Catherine Erdley Fyre Festival on Netflix A big thank you to today's episode sponsor Flodesk (affiliate link) Don't forget to check out Catherine Erdly online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode, I chat with friend of the podcast, marketing expert and soon-to-be author Hannah Isted. We delve into how to get over the trap of creating what everyone else does, injecting personality into your brand and turning events into value-packed content. If you're burnt out trying to create consistent content and you need a helping hand, this is the episode for you. Don't forget to check out Hannah online, follow her on Instagram and sign up to her newsletter. While you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. A big thank you to today's episode sponsor Flodesk (affiliate link) This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode, I chat with fellow branding designer, creative mentor, and founder of design studio Sarah Robertson, who runs her studio called These Are the Days. Sarah's expertise lies in supporting independent businesses with their strategy, styling, and storytelling to help them create brands that feel like home. We explored what it looks like to foster community and touch on the concept of community over competition, discussing its meaning to Sarah, as well as how to handle professional jealousy when it arises. Sarah's kind and gentle approach to her business is truly inspiring, and it was fascinating to chat with someone who has intentionally built a business that aligns with her values and needs. If you've felt lonely in business and wanted to create a community that nurtures and inspires you this is a really practical episode to dive into. Referenced in the episode: the #communityovercompetition hashtag on Instagram Andy Lambert's LinkedIn post Episode 43: Making the most of social media with Andy Lambert A big thank you to today's episode sponsor Flodesk (affiliate link) Don't forget to check out Sarah's community online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In today's episode, we dive deep into the topic of money and how our business and personal finances are inextricably intertwined so I'm thrilled to have money coach Talia Loderick on the podcast to discuss the role of our emotions and beliefs in money-related behaviors. We cover a wide range of money struggles faced by individuals and business owners, and Talia provides practical advice on managing finances in a kind and holistic way. I found the conversation incredibly helpful, and I believe you will too. If you're seeking guidance on understanding your money mindset and finding a compassionate approach to money management, this episode is perfect for you. Don't forget to check out Talia online and follow her on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. A big thank you to today's episode sponsor Flodesk (affiliate link) This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Trying to generate consistent income is what we all want for our small businesses and it's something I've been strategically focusing on over the years so it's the perfect topic to delve into on the podcast. In today's episode, I chat with Jeremy Mura, an award-winning logo and brand designer, YouTuber, and creator who generously shares how he's built his wealth through really diverse income streams. Jeremy shares valuable insights on why diversifying income is important and offers practical tips for those who are just starting out too. If you're looking to expand your income streams and gain valuable advice from someone who's already done it, this episode is a must-listen. Referenced in the episode: Gary Vee Sean Wes Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Don't forget to check out Jeremy online and follow him on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. A big thank you to today's episode sponsor Flodesk (affiliate link) This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode of Building Your Brand, I interview my old boss Marksteen Adamson! Marksteen is a creative strategist who has work with brands, governments, countries, and charities on brand strategy and behavior and he loves a side project (or two). Marksteen shares his insights on the importance of passion projects alongside your work, drawing from his own experience creating impactful projects outside of his agency work. From supporting young men who've had tough starts in life to branding an entire country, Marksteen offers wisdom gained from a diverse range of experiences. Whether your side project is something large or small, brings you income or not this episode will give you the hope you need to keep going. Don't forget to check out Marksteen online and follow him on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. Check out Birmingham Design Festival featured in today's episode This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode, I interview Meg Lewis, a designer, and educator who runs the studio The Meg Lewis Fun House, teaching workshops on personal branding, finding your style, and portfolio strategy. Meg chatted with me about building an authentic and impactful brand around your personality and style and how that can help to make the world a happier place. We discuss professionalism, dealing with negative comments online, and having a positive impact on the world. If you want your brand to feel more 'you' but don't know where to start this is the perfect episode. Don't forget to check out Meg's online and follow them on Instagram. And while you're at it, come and say hello to me on my Instagram page as well! Can't wait to connect with you. Check out Birmingham Design Festival featured in today's episode This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Get a notepad and pen for this episode because I guarantee you'll have a long list of things to do after you listen! Today I chat with photographer Anna Considine who shares some absolutely genius ways you can use that folder of brand photography images beyond your about me page. From using your images to getting PR for your biz to giving your newsletter a glow-up Anna's achievable tips more than proved how valuable brand photography is to your business. If you need a little boost of gentle motivation this is the perfect episode. Connect with Anna on Instagram. Connect with me on Instagram or learn more about my work here Referenced in the episode: Atomic Habits by James Clear Check out Birmingham Design Festival featured in today's episode This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

If you're a photographer wondering about the dangers of AI and how to use it safely, you'll definitely want to tune into today's episode with professional photographer Nick Dunmur who shares his insights and experiences. Nick discusses the potential pitfalls of relying too heavily on AI and offers practical tips for using it in a way that enhances your work without compromising your creative vision. If you're curious about how AI can help you improve your photography while avoiding its potential risks, this is the perfect episode. Find Nick on Instagram and LinkedIn. Referenced in the episode: Association of Photographers (AOP) This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Lots of people will tell you that niching down is the easiest way to reach your target audience and grow a following relatively quickly. Well, you know I'm not the biggest fan of that advice and neither is my guest, renowned illustrator Kyle Webster who has achieved incredible things by purposely being a generalist. We talk about how being a generalist benefits your business and why you should embrace rejection as an opportunity, and not a closed door. If you're frustrated trying to find your perfect niche this is the perfect episode for you. Referenced in the episode: Sign up for Kyle's newsletter The Accidental Expert Kyle's website Instagram Thanks to today's sponsor Penfold. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

"If I listened to my childhood trauma rather than like who I am now and the confidence I have now, then no, I would never show on video either." That's what today's guest visibility coach Maddy Shine had to say about showing up online (even when it's scary). If you listened to my revelations about playing small and my struggles with visibility in last week's episode you'll know just how poignant today's conversation is and I loved hearing Maddy's wisdom If you're a small business owner feeling overwhelmed at being expected to do the thing and then TELL people about how you do the thing this episode will be comforting and so practical. Find Maddy on Instagram Join Maddy's Visible Vibes community Referenced in the episode: Alex Light Jameela Jamil Emma Thompson interview clip Episode 47 - How to cope with criticism This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

My experience with coaching has been varied with some great experiences and some, well, mediocre ones but I recently started following online business owner, TEDX speaker, author AND podcast host Theresa Heath-Wareing and knew I needed to get her unique take on the industry. It's quite a different episode as Theresa coaches me while you get to listen in! It's really out of my comfort zone as I'm normally the one asking the questions so be gentle! My hope is that you'll resonate with what comes up and find Theresa's guidance as transformative and helpful as I did. Let me know what you think! Referenced in the episode: Work with Theresa Follow Theresa on Instagram Thanks to today's sponsor The Best 90 Days Membership. (aff link) This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Branding isn't just about looking good, it's also about understanding your values, your business goals and achievements and showcasing them in a way that feels good AND attracts the right people. That's why I was excited to chat to my internet/IRL pal, personal branding expert Phil Pallen who generously shared his unconventional approach to branding and digital marketing. We talked about the difference between personal and 'business' branding, how to work out which one you need and what to do to identify your personal branding. It's a brilliant episode so grab a pad and pen and get comfy! Let's connect: Find Phil on Instagram, YouTube and join his mailing list Find me on Instagram, YouTube and join my mailing list Thanks to today's sponsor Adobe Express (aff link) This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Our markers for business success vary and evolve as our lives change. But we rarely stop to think about how our failures can also be a marker for success. Today I talk to PR Dispatch founder Rosie Davies-Smith about how closing her first business led to the success of her second and all the feelings that were brought up. If you've ever worried about your own business decisions this is the perfect episode for you. Referenced in the episode: PR Dispatch on Instagram PR Dispatch memberships Thanks to today's sponsor Thrivecart (aff link) This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

There's not a small business owner alive who hasn't grappled with their pricing. Whether it's asking if you're too expensive, too cheap, too diverse, not diverse enough chances are you've Googled "What should I charge for XYZ" and ended up as confused as you were to begin with. That's why I wanted to chat with today's guest pricing mentor Susie Jackson. Susie shared her practical tips and financial knowledge with me as we dived deep into how pricing can negatively and positively impact your brand. If you've been worrying about your pricing this is the perfect episode to dive into. Referenced in the episode: Susie's website Susie's Instagram Thanks to today's sponsor Thrivecart (aff link). This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In today's episode, I've roped my small biz pals into spilling the tea on their favourite memberships they've joined. There are so many benefits to joining a membership, not least of which is the knowledge on offer from the host, the opportunities to network and the feeling of being a little less alone at work. Referenced: My blog post Doing it for the kids The Aligned Life The Best 90 Days Ever The Clubhouse Community And thanks to the episode collaborators, Angharad, Rebecca, Sian and Sarah This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft.

How many times have you wanted to change your branding because something else caught your eye? Or perhaps you've had to course correct in your business only to realise your branding will be completely obsolete if you do? Future proofing your branding is something I always encourage clients to think about in today's episode my guest logo designer, author and YouTuber Will Paterson talked me through his time honoured tips to make sure your branding stands out and stands the test of time too. Referenced in the episode: - Chris Do - Episode 52: Adapting to unexpected change with Nicky Elliott (Wilder Ones) Thanks to today's sponsor Thrivecart (affiliate link) This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

As business owners, we are constantly writing with intent. We write to inform, educate and sell but we rarely stop to write like nobody's reading. But that is one of the best ways to get to the roots of an idea or a problem we need to get to the bottom of. You might know it as journalling but today I discuss the concept of exploratory writing (free writing without self-editing) with my guest, writer, publisher and podcaster Alison Jones We talk about how you can make it a habit (and we have some great tips on how to do that!), why using a pen and paper is neurologically important and how it helps to unlock creativity and un-muddle your brain in six minutes a day. Referenced in the episode: - Buy Alison's book Exploratory Writing - Reflective Practice by Gilly Boulton This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

The fear of being copied can hold lots of us back from showing up online. This is exactly why I was so keen to talk to designer and Adobe community manager Kelsey Slay about her experience of dealing with a serial copycat and why that hasn't stopped her from showing up and creating content regardless. Kelsey and I met via TikTok and got to meet in real life at Adobe Max so it's a really fun, chatty episode with a heap of truth bombs! If you've been dealing with a copycat or have been scared to show up authentically online this episode will give you the boost you need. Referenced in the episode: - James Martin - Show Your Work by Austin Kleon Thanks to today's sponsor Penfold. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Running a small business can sometimes feel like we are constantly waiting for 'success' to happen which can feel oh so frustrating. As a small business owner, I know how tempting it is to fall down the rabbit hole of comparing myself to others, imagining they're doing it quicker and better than I am. But that's rarely true, and more often than not things take far longer to achieve than we ever see online. That's exactly what I talked to best-selling author and designer Radim Malinic about. From his accidental start in graphic design (via ice hockey and heavy metal!) to founding not one, but two successful businesses, Radim knows a thing or two about being patient and taking your time. If you want to learn simple, honest advice from an industry leader - this is a great episode to dive into. Referenced in the episode: - Radim's bestselling book Book of Branding - Radim's publishing house Thanks to today's sponsor Creatorship. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

If you've ever hit a wall in your career you'll know igniting your creativity is the best way home to yourself. And learning something new is one of the best ways to flex that muscle, whether you're learning something related to your career or completely different to it. In today's episode, I chatted with my friend and fellow Adobe Live Host Tony Harmer who has taught literally millions of people through his courses on the LinkedIn Learning platform. His expertise and humble approach to teaching people as well as how he creates space for his own learning is so refreshing and he had some great advice for course creators too. If you've been keen to create a truly valuable course or you want to make sure you buy one this is the episode for you Referenced in the episode: - Tony's LinkedIn Learning courses - Tony's Youtube channel - The Adobe Live UK channel Thanks to today's sponsor Creatorship. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

We can all agree that the last few years have been a bit of a rollercoaster. Running a small business is hard work at the best of times but throw a double whammy of an unprecedented pandemic AND a recession into the mix and finding joy falls to the bottom of our (very long) to-do lists. If you're nodding your head right now today's episode is going to transform how you think about happiness, positivity and how to find joy even when times are really tough. I invited author, positive psychology practitioner and Joyful Coach Sophie Cliff onto the podcast to share her thoughts on how to live a more joyful life without falling into the trap of ignoring the negative stuff. It's a really practical episode that'll uplift and inspire you to choose joy and, top tip, make sure you have a notepad handy while you're listening! Referenced in the episode: - Buy Sophie's book Choose Joy - Check out Sophie's Instagram Thanks to today's sponsor Creatorship. Find out how to work with Esther at www.creatorship.co.uk This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

How do you feel about money? If you're anything like me you might have a chequered history with your business finances and, let's face it, that rarely feels good. In today's empowering episode I chat with the award-winning founder of rainchq Davinia Tomlinson who is on a mission to help women take control of their financial futures. I've talked about burying my head in the sand with my business finances before but today we tackle this sometimes scary topic head on as we unpick money stories, working with financial advisors without feeling shame and the impact feeling confident with money has on our business. Referenced in the episode: - Buy Davinia's book Cash is Queen - Listen to Liz Wilcox on the podcast talking about brand personality and email marketing Todays sponsorship slot featured the amazing email membership of Liz Wilcox. Check it out here. This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Tis the season for mince pies and reviews of the year! Which, let's face it can lead to a bit of comparisonitis and hand wringing as we feel we 'should' have done more. (Which, FYI, is never the case!) So in this very honest solo episode I share my own review of the year, warts and all! I open up about my wins, my losses and the things I'd rather forget in the hope that you'll remember everyone's showing their own highlight reel online and it's okay if you didn't achieve everything you thought you would this year. And, of course, there's a small reference to #thattimeiwentviralontiktok because if you can't say it at Christmas, when can you ;) Thanks to EVERYONE who has listened, like, subscribed and left a review of the podcast this year - you are so appreciated. Building Your Brand will be back in the new year with more brilliant episodes but until then, Happy Christmas! This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft.