Building your Brand

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.

Today's guest is the best-selling author of How to Style Your Brand and Brand Brilliance, Fiona Humberstone aka The Brand Stylist. We talk all about colour psychology and how it can help you to think strategically about brand design, taking your business to where you want it to be. We dive deep into how to started with your branding through understanding how colour can tell your clients or customers what your intentions are and break down the dark art of brand strategy. If you've ever wanted to understand how colour psychology could help you take your branding to the next level and attract dream clients this episode is for you. Referenced in the episode: - Free Brand Clarity workbook - Fiona's online courses Thanks to today's sponsor Creative Stationery London. Building Your Brand 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 need a reason to embrace short form video content this episode has a hep of reasons why it could transform your brand. My guest, award winning freelance logo designer, James Barnard shares his journey to consistent viral content on TikTok, what it felt like to reach 160k followers on Instagram and exactly how that's turned into consistent leads and money in his business. If you're a service based business wanting to know how video content increases your clients this is the episode for you. Referenced in the episode: - James's TikTok course for designers Thanks to today's sponsor Adobe Express https://prf.hn/l/lGbJk9A (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!

Video content has long been something us small business owners have to utilise but today I chat to Alice Loveday all about the creative power of stop-motion as a way to add personality to your brand. While it may seem complex, stop-motion is actually relatively simple to learn (albeit time consuming at first!) and Alice shares how, 'with a wiggle and a jiggle' she creates stop motion social ads that stop the scroll dead and bring brands to life! If your busines or brand needs an injection of playfulness to get people's attention, this is the perfect episode for you. Find Alice on Instagram: @loveday.social and learn more about her work here: https://lovedaysocial.com/insta/ Referenced in the episode: - Alice's stop motion courses: https://lovedaysocial.gumroad.com/ - Download Alices free stop motion guide: https://mailchi.mp/lovedaysocial/ka5u0ziw0r Thanks to today's episode sponsor, Penfold. You can learn more about their brilliant pension plans for https://www.lizmosley.net/penfold If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review! This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft.

As small business owners we have to know how to do EVERYTHING in our business but what if there was another way? In today's episode I chat with wholesale expert and the founder of Small Business Collaborative, Therese Ørtenblad. Therese offers a really interesting perspective on the benefits of wholesaling and generously shares her wealth of knowledge as well as a truly mind blowing stat about the importance of following up! If you've ever wanted to see your products in the aisles of John Lewis or Liberty's this is the perfect episode to help you get started. Find Therese on Instagram: @small_business_collaborative/ Referenced in the episode: - Therese's free line sheet template. - The Delicious Monster Tea post on 'double gifting' by supporting small businesses If you'd like to get 50% off your Flodesk subscription head here: https://flodesk.com/c/WAHXHX If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review! This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft.

Brand values are a core part of your brand strategy but so many of us can feel overwhelmed at the thought of actually defining them. So in today's solo episode I'm guiding you through the principles of brand values, why knowing yours will elevate your branding and how to get clear on what yours actually are. Referenced in the episode: - Why brand strategy is so important with Luke Tonge - Building a strong brand foundation with Liza Furze Thanks to today's episode sponsor, Penfold. You can learn more about their brilliant pension plans for https://www.lizmosley.net/penfold This episode was written and produced by me and edited by Lucy Lucraft. Say hi on Instagram: @lizmmosley and get to know me here: lizmosley.net If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

How do you pivot and bounce back from business stumbles? That's what Nicky Elliott and I talk about today as she opens up about her journey creating Wilder Ones, a beautiful clothing brand she started just 18 months ago. Nicky is 'evangelical about branding' and she generously shares her branding journey, why she doesn't regret any mistakes she's made along the way and what's next for Wilder Ones. If you're a business owner worried to make a move in case you fail, this episode will make you laugh, give you courage and inspire you to try. Find Wilder Ones on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wilder.ones/ Visit Wilder Ones website: https://wilderones.co.uk/

If you've ever felt disheartened in your business a co-mentor could be the option you didn't know you needed. In today's episode Franky & Charlie share their journey from casual friends to formal co-mentors and co-hosts of their podcast, Friends with Business Benefits. It's a really inspiring episode for anyone feeling the pull to a more formal setup than random Whatsapp voicenotes! Today's ad comes from my podcast producer Lucy Lucraft! She's running a live workshop for podcaster-to-be on the 31st October. Save your spot here. Referenced: - FWBB podcast episode on what co-mentoring is - FYBB podcast episode on how to find a co-mentor Find Franky: https://www.love-audrey.com/ Find Charlie: https://charlieswift.com/

When it comes to planning, opening and growing an online business Jo McCarthy knows her stuff. Which is exactly why I had to talk to her about how online shops (and service based businesses!) can start to prepare for busy periods in their business. In the episode Jo shares how we can start gleaning data ready for busy periods right now, and why understanding what we need to support our energy is so important. If you're disorganised or worried about getting out of your depth when sales pick up this is the episode for you. Find Jo on Instagram: www.instagram.com/jo_at_firain/ Visit Jo's website: www.firain.com/work-with-jo-at-firain

If you're yet to dip your toes in the TikTok waters you'll want to hear my experience of getting 2.5 million views on one video with only 45 followers! In this episode I break down why I think that particular video went viral, what I would do differently next time and how going viral has affected my business. My hope is that you'll feel motivated and inspired to create the content you love on TikTok without feeling you *have* to go viral to succeed. And if you do happen to go viral you can learn from my mistakes and make the most of it! Referenced in the episode: - Using the Circle Planner with Carla Pyke https://www.lizmosley.net/podcast/carla-pyke - *the* viral video: https://www.tiktok.com/@lizmmmosley/video/7086353282234404101 - Adobe MAX Creativity Conference: https://max.adobe.com/pricing/ Thanks to today's episode sponsor, Natal Fit. You can learn more about their training programs for mums and mums-to-be at: https://www.lizmosley.net/natalfit 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 fallen out of love with Instagram but need it to market your small business this is the podcast episode you need! In today's episode I chat with small business mentor Astrid Bracke and about how she quit social media without damaging her profits. Whether you need to step back from social media for your mental health or find some balance for your biz, this episode is packed with practical tools to market your business slowly and profitably without social media. I got a LOT from it and hope you will too. Many thanks to Wildflower Illustration Co for sponsoring todays episode. Stock up on their beautiful stationery at Lizmosley.net/wildflowerillustration Connect with Astrid: https://astridbracke.com/

You can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs, right? One of the universal truths of building a brand is that you can't avoid criticism and, while it can be unpleasant, it also offers a huge opportunity for growth and change too. In today's episode I open up about my experience of criticism in my business as well as sharing some of your stories too. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review.

If you've ever wanted to understand what a funnel is and how it fits into your sales and marketing this episode, with returning guest Menekse Stewart, is a must listen. In less than an hour we dive deep into sales and marketing funnels, how we all use them (even when we don't realise we are) and the difference between a value driven marketing funnel vs. a 'skeazy' one. Alongside really practical marketing tips Menekse gives all you small business owners a much needed boost of confidence to start implementing sales and marketing funnels that align with your values. Referenced in the episode: - The importance of your logo with Made by James - Getting to grips with email marketing with Menekse Stewart Connect with Menekse: https://www.marketingwithmenekse.com/

Wearing all the hats as a small business owner can be exhausting and it's SO easy to feel worn down by it all. But today I'm offering four ways small business owners have the upper hand over big businesses and why you shouldn't sleep on those advantages. If you've been feeling worn out and disillusioned with your small biz this is the perfect pep talk episode to listen to. If you enjoy listening to Building Your Brand please leave a 5* rating and a review. @lizmosley https://www.lizmosley.net/design-your-own-branding

In this episode I chat to Carla Pyke who created the circle planner and founded her business selling beautiful and practical planners to help people feel less overwhelmed and able to enjoy life more. We talk about how Carla started the circle planner. Her tips for being productive. How she uses her planner and how the behind the scenes of your business can impact your brand. If you want an authentic peak behind a beautiful brand then you are going to enjoy this episode!

In this episode I am joined by Andy Lambert who has over 12 years of experience in creating markets, building profitable businesses, and leadership roles in industry-leading SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) organisations. Working exclusively in B2B SaaS, he has led sales and marketing teams, created two businesses from scratch, and achieved significant exits. In 2016, he joined two others as one of the founding team of ContentCal, a social media marketing SaaS product. Over the course of five years, they raised over $10m, grew to be used by multiple thousands of customers in over 100 countries, won numerous awards, and, at the end of 2021 were acquired by Adobe Inc. Andy share's brilliant content on the data and numbers surrounding social media and we delve into how social media can still be beneficial for small businesses and where they might consider investing their time and energy based on the current engagement stats.

In this episode I chat to Anyo Green from Northern Bee Marketing who has a decade of social media & digital marketing experience. She first dabbled in SMM as a self-taught enthusiast back when Pinterest was an invite-only platform! Her passion led her to work full-time where she marketed it all from wedding favours & bed frames to services at some of the UK's leading companies. Anyo also spends a lot of time thinking and creating brilliant content about ethical marketing and what it looks like. We chat through some real examples and also about how ethical marketing is journey.

In this episode I chat to Ingrid Fernandez who is a freelance consultant lawyer and I quiz her all about what small businesses need to do to be legal compliant in the UK. She has lived and breathed commercial law for 10 years, working for both Magic Circle and boutique law firms. But she decided it was time to hang up her suit, swap board rooms for coffee shops and use what she'd learnt to help people starting out in business feel confident about legal things. The entrepreneurs. The small business owners. The freelancers. The dreamers with big plans and sometimes small budgets, but a whole load of passion. That is who she want's to help and in the process she became a small business owner too.

In this episode I chat to Alanna Flowers who is a freelance lettering artist and designer based in Brooklyn, NY where she runs AGF Design Studio. As a lettering artist, she creates work using bold lettering in a range of styles for brands like Adobe, The Los Angeles Times, and American Greetings. In addition to working with clients, she enjoys sharing what she knows about lettering, digital art, and freelance through YouTube and other social channels. She started a series on TikTok about busting limiting beliefs and so in this episode we tackle some of the common ones you might experience as a creative and Alanna gives us her tips on how to handle them. Find out more about Alanna Portfolio YouTube Channel Newsletter Instagram Twitter Pinterest

In this episode I am chatting to Hannah Isted from Hi Communication who is all about making marketing as simple as possible for small business owners. I have benefited so much from her encouragement and support and so wanted to chat to her about ways to make marketing seem less overwhelming when you don't have the budget to outsource it to a team. We chat about: How to work out where is the best place to invest your time when it comes to marketing Why she loves email marketing and how she makes it work for her Lots of tips for repurposing content How to make marketing easier for yourself The Best 90 Days Ever The diagram that Hannah talked about making See more from Hannah: On her website Her instagram Her TikTok

This week on the podcast is a solo episode with host Liz, answering questions from the audience about branding and marketing. A few things I chat about in this episode: How I got started in my career What I love about Branding and Marketing How to decide on a colour palette for your brand What branding actually is Advice for how to handle launching new branding To find out more: Design your own branding waiting list Liz's website Liz's Instagram

Lisa Furze [pronounced like "furs"] is an Australian brand designer who works with service-based business owners, helping them to clarify their brand message and craft an identity design that showcases the quality of their work. She puts a lot of emphasis on collaboration and helping her clients identify their own values and beliefs so that the resulting design work is informed by a real understanding of what's important to communicate to the target audience. She has a brilliant newsletter and shares really helpful content about building a strong foundation for your brand. In this episode we talk about: How to build a strong foundation for your brand How that can influence what your branding looks like How to check in with your branding and let it evolve as your business develops How often should you rebrand How great branding can help your business Why it's important to attract the right people and repel the wrong ones Find more from Lisa: Download Lisa's Core Brand Pillars Workbook Lisa's Website Lisa's Instagram Lisa's Pinterest

Today I have my first repeat guest on the podcast. Aime is a small business expert and founder of Bristol-based website design studio, Studio Cotton. She and her team support creative indie businesses with website advice and consultations, through to complex and beautiful custom WordPress websites. And today we dig into how to create a website that converts for your business. We talk about: Working out what the goal for your website is 4 different elements you need to consider when creating your website The importance of Accessibility (and I shared a website for checking colour constrast which is colourcontrast.cc ) Helpful tips for categorising content if you have a product business What to think about if you are a service based business. Also this is the blog post I mention about 7 free tools that you can use to check your SEO Find more from Aime: Studio Cotton Website Studio Cotton Blog Studio Cotton Instagram

The Fresh Princess of Email Marketing, Liz Wilcox is an Email Strategist and Keynote Speaker showing small businesses how to build online relationships, package up their "magic" and turn it into emails that people want to read and (more importantly) purchase from. In the span of 5 years, Liz grew and sold a successful blog, got bought out of her second company, and built the third into a multiple six-figure party that just won't quit! In other words, she now teaches online entrepreneurs to simplify the whole "email marketing thing" and finally master their sales in a way that leverages their personality, vision, and values. She's best known for her 1000+ users membership, 20 Minute Newsletter technique, and her Email Staircase framework she's taught to tens of thousands of creatives, freelancers, eCommerce shop owners, and small businesses across the globe. Offline, Liz lives in Florida, loves to run, and is a walking 90s pop culture encyclopedia. We chat about: How Liz handles getting personality getting her personality into her branding How she get's the balance of being a private person but also connecting with her audience The story of how she started her amazing email membership Her surprising top email marketing tip that probably won't be what you expected Where to find out more from Liz Liz's 9$ membership (affiliate link) Liz's Instagram Liz's Facebook Liz's Twitter

In this episode I chat to Fiona Thomas is an author and freelance writer with work published in iPaper, Grazia, Happiful Magazine and Huffington Post. Her most recent book Out of Office: Ditch the 9-5 and Be Your Own Boss has been featured in Stylist, Forbes, Daily Mail and was shortlisted for Business Book Award. She also hosts online courses and events to help budding writers bloom. In this episode we talk all about her writing career but also how writing can help improve and grow your brand. What we talked about Fiona's career path and how she got started How writing can help building your brand Tips for writing consistently How blogging can help your business Creating a sustainable writing practice Where to find more from Fiona Her book Out of Office: Ditch the 9-5 and be your own boss Fiona's website Fiona's Instagram

In today's podcast episode I am chatting Lauren O'Sullivan. Lauren is a Business coach, marketing expert AND psychotherapist. We had a brilliant chat all about how knowing and understanding yourself better can help you in your business. I have really noticed over the past couple of years that the more time I spending understanding myself and how I work the more equipped I am to tackle running my business in a way that works best for me (rather than how everyone else online might be saying I should do things). Lauren gave me some great things to think about in this episode and I really hope you enjoy listening to it too. In this episode we talk about: What are the most common mental blocks that small business owners have to work through How understanding yourself can help you work better and be kinder to yourself How to create a business that feels good to you How do we work out what success looks like for us Find out more about Lauren: Lauren's 1:1 Coaching Lauren's Newsletter Lauren's Instagram Today I am so excited to introduce you to Wildflower Illustration co - which is owned and run by Rebecca and Karl a husband and wife team based in the heart of the Cotswolds. They feel passionately about the power of a handwritten note to brighten someone's day or capture a shared memory. Their cards and stationery help to spread a little joy on doormats everywhere in our increasingly digital world.

There are so many facets of life that can have an impact on our businesses. If you menstruate that can influence how you feel about your business and your work regularly. In this episode I chat to cyclical living mentor Jen Wright about how we can use natural cycles - menstrual, lunar and seasonal to support us as we work. Jen runs the Aligned Community, a private online space fuelled by connection, collaboration and friendly conversation. In this episode we talk about: They different cycles you can follow and how understanding them can help you How you can schedule work in a way that supports you The importance of resting How collecting the data can help you Find out more about Jen and the Aligned Community: Jen's website Jen's Instagram Jen's 1:1 mentoring The life Aligned Community

In this episode I am chatting to Kathryn Jubrail who is the Managing Director of independent branding and design studio Mother Design, part of the Mother Family spanning London, NY, LA, Shanghai and Singapore. With over 15 years' experience in brand-building and strategy for the likes of Facebook, BBC and Nuud, Kathryn's an expert at helping brands break through the sea of sameness and convey genuine differentiation in saturated markets. Creating identities that not only reinforce a brand's personality, energy and messaging but relevancy, Kathryn knows exactly how to create long-lasting connections with customers that future-proof brands. In this episode we chat about: How small and micro businesses can be distinctive and stand out from the crowd. Examples of businesses that Mother has worked with that have really stood out creatively in their industry Businesses who have taken inspiration from other industries to innovate in their own Find out more about Kathryn and Mother Design: Their work with Nuud Their work with Bloom and Wild Mother Design website Mother Design Instagram Kathryn's LinkedIn

In today's episode I am chatting to James Martin who you might know from instagram as Made by James. He is a logo and brand identity designer recently author and has become well know for not just sharing his final designs but for showing behind the scenes of the whole process of creating logo's. I wanted to chat to James about logo design but what he share's online is so so much more than that and so we ended up chatting a lot about his journey - how he completely changed his life around. How he shows up online unapologetically as himself even if that might put some people off because he wants to connect with people and help others. As a designer James is a real creative inspiration to me so it was such a treat to be able to chat to him. Just a quick warning if you are listening with kids around there is some swearing and difficult topics mentioned in this episode. But I really hope you enjoy listening in on our conversation.

Laura Pashby is a writer and a photographer. She tells stories using words and photographs on her blog, to her Instagram audience, for brands, and in magazines. Laura spent three years as the deputy editor of 91 Magazine – an independent magazine that covers all aspects of creative living. Across social media, but particularly on Instagram, she has an established and engaged following with an interest in her atmospheric imagery and soulful storytelling. Laura's first book Little Stories of Your Life combines the wellbeing benefits of mindfulness, creativity and daily photography, showing you how to use words and photographs to capture moments, and how to share your stories in order to connect with others. Little Stories of Your Life is published by Quadrille and is available in bookshops now. In this episode we talk about: How you can use little every day stories to share your brand Exercises for sharing stories regularly What to do when you don't feel like you have anything to share How story telling can convey the personality of your brand You can find more from Laura: Laura's book Laura's website Small Stories, her monthly email letter Laura's Instagram Laura's Twitter

In this solo episode Liz explores when might be the right time to invest in professional branding for your business (spoiler it's not always before you launch your business). She also walks you through a few options if you decide to tackle your branding yourself and also gives some tips for finding the right designer for you if you are ready to outsource your branding. In this episode Liz talk's about: What to think about when trying to decide when to invest in branding What option there are if you want to do your own branding How to find the right designer for you if you are ready to outsource To find more from Liz check out: Her course - Design your own Branding Sign up for her mailing list Check out her instagram