Building your Brand

This episode is sponsored by Astute Graphics, who create powerful plugins for Adobe illustrator. Access your free trial here (aff link)  I am continuing the summer series of solo episodes and on today's episode I share with you my tips and experience of growing a personal brand. I go over what a personal brand actually is, the buzz words around it and why it might be really significant for you to think about growing your own personal brand too. I give a six step breakdown of lessons I've learned along the way I hope you really enjoy this episode and find it useful. I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!   Key Takeaways: If you’re going to have a personal brand, you need to be strategic about it If you want other opportunities outside of your core offering, personal branding can help with that - people buy from people A fun way to raise your profile is by borrowing someone else’s audience: guest appear on other people’s podcast Having a personal brand helps people to talk about you when you’re not in the room Ask for what you want; don’t wait for people to notice you Know your values and get comfortable with saying No   Episode Highlights: 0:55: What is a personal brand? 2:20: Do you need a personal brand? 5:36: How I have grown my personal brand 11:12: Six lessons I've learned about building a personal brand   Mentioned in the episode: Astute Graphics (Aff link)   This episode was written, recorded and edited by me. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!  

Today I am starting a 12 week series where I chat about all things small business, behind the scenes and answer questions that have been sent in by you the listeners.  This first episode is a deep dive into the story of how I came to partner with Adobe. It's a behind the scenes look at the ins and outs of being an Adobe Express ambassador and the path that it has led me down in growing my business, broadening my experience and raising my profile as a designer.   Key Takeaways: You never know who’s watching: exciting opportunities can happen at anytime in your business   Episode Highlights: 1:25: How I started with Adobe 3:34: What it’s like being an Adobe Express Ambassador 5:13: My shift and growth within Adobe 5:45: BTS with Adobe Live 8:10: How I have benefited from working at Adobe 11:40: What it was like speaking at Adobe Max 13:12: How working with Adobe has changed my business plan 14:22: Restrictions of working with Adobe 16:46: Is working with Adobe intimidating? 18:29: The cons of working with Adobe   Mentioned in the episode: Adobe Express (aff link) Adobe Live Nikki McWilliams Apply to be an Adobe Express Ambassador I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written, recorded and edited by me. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

This week, I’m excited to share a slightly different episode of the Building Your Brand podcast. I was joined in the studio by two previous guests, Hannah and Lois, for a candid conversation about a topic I don't think is discussed enough: the fear of success. It turns out this fear has a name – the Jonah Complex – and it can show up in all sorts of sneaky ways, from procrastination to self-sabotage. We delved into what the fear of success looks like for each of us, how it holds us back, and what we can do to start working through it. We touch on everything from the pressure of maintaining success to how our relationships can change and the stories we tell ourselves about what success even means. This was such an insightful and inspiring chat, and I hope it gets you thinking about your own relationship with success.   Key Takeaways: Define Your Own Success: Success isn't a one-size-fits-all concept. 3It’s crucial to get clear on what success looks and feels like for you personally, rather than chasing a version of success defined by others or society. Embrace the Process: The journey towards your goals is just as important as reaching the destination. We often adapt to achievements quickly, so finding joy and value in the day-to-day process is key to long-term fulfilment. Challenge Your Internal Stories: We all have narratives in our heads about what success entails – that it’s stressful, that it requires sacrificing time with family, or that it will make people dislike us. It's powerful to question these stories, unpick our judgements of others, and intentionally decide if we're making choices out of fear or true desire. Get Comfortable with Discomfort: Pushing towards something new will inevitably feel uncomfortable because it's something you haven't done before. Learning to tolerate this discomfort is essential for growth, and it's different from being mean to yourself.    Episode Highlights: 03:31: The topic for today's episode is the fear of success, which came about after a conversation between the three of us. 08:08: Lois shares her fear of niching down into the wrong thing and how coaching helped her reframe her perspective on success and capacity. 11:05: I talk about how my most significant moments of success were defined by the feeling of security they gave me, not the achievement itself. 23:20: I discuss the fear of the stress and responsibility that can come with a certain level of success, like being a CEO, and Hannah challenges that assumption. 39:18: We discuss what steps we can take away from the conversation to work through our own fears of success.   About the Guests: Hannah runs Hi Communications, where she helps small business owners with their marketing. She is also the author of The Best 90 Days Ever. Hannah's website: https://www.hicommunications.co.uk/ Hannah on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hicommunications_/ Hannah on Building Your Brand: https://buildingyourbrand.net/episode/hannah-isted-book/ Lois is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, and workshop host who helps people discover their creativity and grow in their creative confidence. Lois' website: https://www.loisseco.net/ Lois on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loisseco/ Lois on Building Your Brand: https://buildingyourbrand.net/episode/lois-seco/ Mentioned in the episode: The Episode Where Liz Gets Coached by Theresa Heath-Wareing Build Your Brand by Working Less with Rich Webster I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk) If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Today on the podcast, I am joined by Andreas Tzortzis, a former journalist who has written for the likes of Newsweek, Monocle, and The New York Times. For the last 15 years, he's worked in brand strategy and storytelling at places like Red Bull and Apple, and for clients through his consultancy, Hella. He recently co-authored the book, Not a Playbook: The Art of Building a Brand, with Damien Bradfield, the co-founder of WeTransfer. In this episode, we chat all about how brands can grow without sacrificing their integrity, prioritising creativity and trust to build brands that will stand the test of time. I really hope you enjoy the episode and come let me know what you think. You can find me on Instagram at @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast.   Key Takeaways A Brand is its People: A brand's culture is a reflection of the people who work there. WeTransfer’s success came from hiring people from non-traditional backgrounds and fostering a culture that encouraged experimentation and didn't have layers of approval. The Power of Instinct: Especially in the early stages of building a brand, instinct is invaluable. Relying on instinct over-analysing data can lead to more authentic and compelling brand decisions. Build with Intentionality: Brands that endure are built with a purpose beyond just profitability. WeTransfer's intention was to inject a moment of joy into a utilitarian task and to champion the creative community they served. Embrace Unpredictability: While consistency is important, the brands that truly cut through the noise are those that are unpredictable. This is achieved by having a clear, ambitious vision from the start which gives you the license to experiment and do the unexpected. Trust is Everything: Building trust is a cornerstone of a successful brand. This extends from creating a trustworthy product to empowering collaborators, like artists and creatives, by giving them freedom and respect.   Episode Highlights 06:53: Andreas shares the story behind his book, Not a Playbook, and the unlikely origins of WeTransfer, a tech company founded by designers. 13:58: A brand is simply the people who work there. Andreas explains how WeTransfer's culture of hiring individuals from non-traditional marketing backgrounds was fundamental to its success. 19:58: The significance of intentionality in branding. Andreas discusses how WeTransfer was built with an intention that went beyond profit, aiming to serve and celebrate the creative community. 27:05: How can brands be more creative? By articulating a vision that is bigger and more ambitious than the specific product or service they currently offer, using Apple as a prime example. 41:51: Andreas reveals the five key themes from the book that frame the WeTransfer story, reflecting the best qualities of an artist: intention, trust, faith, instinct, and serendipity.   About the Guest Andreas Tzorkis is a journalist, brand strategist, and co-author of Not a Playbook. Book Website: notaplaybook.com   Mentioned in the episode Book: Not a Playbook Companies: WeTransfer, Red Bull, Apple, Creative Boom, HubSpot Film: The Long Goodbye by Riz Ahmed Newsletter: The Hustle I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk) If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

I LOVE an episode where I get to really dig into the deep stuff about running a business so in today's episode, I'm thrilled to be chatting with the brilliant Ivy Malik. Ivy helps creative entrepreneurs who are feeling undervalued to break free from overthinking and fear, enabling them to price with confidence and build businesses they truly love. I always learn so much from my guests, and my conversation with Ivy was no exception – I've definitely got a lot to implement after our chat!   Key Takeaways Here are some of the golden nuggets from my conversation with Ivy: Pricing as Branding: We often overlook this, but your pricing is a massive part of your branding and how your business is perceived in the market. Think about the difference in perception between a £40 handbag and a £4,000 one – price signals value. Undervalued Creativity: As creatives, we often undervalue our work. Ivy suggests this can stem from how arts are treated as "optional" from a young age in education, subconsciously telling us our skills aren't as valuable as others. Confidence is Crucial: Ivy really highlighted that confidence is a key ingredient in being able to charge what you're worth. Often, the person charging more isn't necessarily more skilled, but more confident in communicating their value. This confidence often comes from taking action and gaining experience. Client's Budget, Not Your Burden: It's not your job to decide what your client can or can't afford. Making assumptions about a potential client's budget (e.g., a solopreneur can't afford high prices) can be a limiting belief. They have responsibility for their own finances. Sales Calls as Conversations: A sales call doesn't have to be a pushy, aggressive experience. Instead, think of it as a conversation to understand the client's needs and value, and then frame your price to match what they want. Negotiation is about finding a meeting point you're both happy with.   Episode Highlights 03:00: Ivy talks about her personal drive to protect creatives from a system that often undervalues their work, even acting as an agent for friends in her twenties to ensure they got paid fairly. 08:00: Ivy breaks down the essential components for pricing: skill, experience (which adds depth), and, crucially, confidence. 13:00: A real challenger moment when Ivy questions the common assumption that solo business owners or those serving smaller businesses automatically can't afford higher prices. 27:00: We discuss the importance of taking action despite fear, especially when it comes to increasing your prices. Often, the scary story we tell ourselves about what might happen is far worse than the reality.   About the Guest: Website: Ivy Malik Coaching Instagram | LinkedIn   Ivy has generously offered that if you have any follow-up questions after listening, you can reach out to her, just mention you came from this podcast!   End Credits I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk ) If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Today on the podcast, I'm chatting with Kerry Tottingham, co-founder of the social enterprise A Brilliant Thing. Kerry runs A Brilliant Thing with her sisters, focusing on ‘Healing Centred Design' – a fascinating framework they've developed that blends systemic approaches, creative coaching, and trauma-informed practice to help people and organisations create positive change. Despite this being a relatively abstract concept I thought I’d struggle to understand, Kerry explained the concept beautifully and I know you’ll enjoy the chat as much as I did! Kerry shares her journey and insights into how Healing Centred Design principles, and even complementary physical products, can benefit individuals and communities.   Key Takeaways Healing Centred Design: It's about blending systemic thinking, creative coaching, and trauma-informed practice, shifting the focus from trauma to healing, and equipping people with design tools to create better systems and adapt to change. Adding Products to Services: Creating a physical product (like coaching cards) can solve internal needs (collecting resources), enhance the client experience (changing the environment, offering tangible tools), and act as an invitation into your world and methodology. Product Strategy: You don't need a full product business. Products can be used strategically within a service business for launches, as bonuses, or exclusive offers, without necessarily requiring constant sales and shipping if that doesn't suit your model. Diversification & Innovation: Offering both services and products, or diversifying income streams and experiences in general, can lead to cross-pollination of ideas, innovation ('Collide and Align' principle), and resilience. It allows you to meet people where they are, offering different levels of engagement and investment. The Power of Safety & Collaboration: Building strong, trusting relationships, whether with co-founders (like Kerry and her sisters) or collaborators, creates the necessary safety for creativity, risk-taking, and navigating challenges.   Episode Highlights 02:41: The concept of Healing Centred Design. 08:49: The Brilliant Box coaching cards. 12:10: How the idea for the physical product emerged from an internal need. 18:16: Considering how different types of products (bite-size cards vs. in-depth book) cater to different needs and learning styles. 20:55: The 'Collide and Align' principle – intentionally seeking diverse ideas for innovation.   About the Guest Kerry Tottingham is a co-founder of A Brilliant Thing, a social enterprise she runs with her sisters, Tess and Faye. They focus on teaching and implementing Healing Centred Design. Website: brilliantthings.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abrilliantthing/ Podcast: Healing Centred Transformation Resources: https://www.brilliantthing.co.uk/the-brilliant-box   Mentioned in the Episode Ideas Fest: Event where they launched the Brilliant Box. Hannah's Calendar: https://www.hicommunications.co.uk/product-page/2025calendar Sweet Pea Sensory: Maker providing Play-Doh for Kerry's book launch   End Credits I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk) If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Rich Webster, a designer and consultant, shares his journey from battling addiction to coaching creative entrepreneurs on working less for more impact. He challenges the myth of the '1% brain power' stating the mental liberation from letting go of minor tasks. Rich advises solopreneurs to steer clear of distractions by focusing on key income streams. He also discusses how to harness AI for creativity, emphasizing the value of quality over quantity in content creation while advocating for systemizing non-genius work to maximize productivity.

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review! In this episode, I'm absolutely thrilled to chat with Sarah Holmes, the brilliant owner of two physical shops in Scotland, Pencil Me In and Seasgair. Sarah has done an incredible job of not only marketing her shops to become must-visit destinations but also cultivating a strong personal brand alongside them. We delve into her journey from a childhood dream of being a shopkeeper to running multiple successful retail businesses, her strategies for online and offline growth, the importance of community, and how she's navigated the ups and downs of retail. If you're interested in what it truly takes to build a brand around physical products and create a loyal customer base, this episode is packed with insights! Key Takeaways: Authenticity Builds Loyalty: Showing up as your genuine self, sharing your opinions, and letting customers get to know the person behind the brand is crucial for building a strong, loyal community. Identify & Fill Market Gaps: Sarah’s success with her second shop, C Scare, and her custom pencil business stemmed from spotting a need and strategically filling it, rather than just following passion alone. The Power of In-Person Networking: Especially in smaller towns or more rural areas, joining local business groups and actively networking can be invaluable for building support, gaining customers, and fostering word-of-mouth referrals. Consistency is Key in Retail: Maintaining regular opening hours and consistently stocking products that your customers are looking for are fundamental to building trust and keeping people coming back. Coupled with this is the need for relentless marketing. Flexibility Can Fuel Growth: For Sarah's custom pencil business, offering low minimum orders and a high level of customer service for wholesale clients has been a significant factor in its growth.   Episode Highlights: 01:10: Sarah talks about her lifelong dream of being a shopkeeper, a passion that started with a childhood post office set! 08:30: The origin story of Pencil Me In's famous personalised pencils – from outsourcing to buying a foiling machine just two weeks after opening in Elgin and teaching herself the craft. 18:45: Sarah shares how she started using Instagram Stories to connect on a more personal level and how a mini-crowdfunder, promoted only on Stories, helped her buy essential equipment and revealed the strength of her online community. 27:40: Sarah’s advice for struggling retail shops: focus on consistency in opening hours and stock, understand your customer journey, and commit to constant marketing. 42:30: Sarah discusses the significant impact that joining a local women's networking group (Moray Business Women) had on her business, especially when starting out in a new area.   About the Guest: Sarah Holmes Sarah Holmes is the owner of two physical shops in Elgin, Scotland & she also runs a successful custom-printed pencil business, supplying individuals and major clients like the House of Commons.   Websites: Pencil Me In: pencilmein.co.uk Seasgair Store: https://seasgair.store Custom Printed Pencils: customprintedpencils.co.uk   Instagram: @pencileminshop @seasgair.store   Mentioned in the episode: Wix (website builder) The Stationery Show London Atomicøn Conference Moray Business Women   I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @lizmmosley or @buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk )

Welcome to another episode of Building Your Brand! Today, I'm thrilled to be chatting with the incredible Kira Matthews. Kira is a mindset and confidence coach who truly embodies the power of self-belief. She specialises in helping creators, founders, and freelancers unlock their most confident selves to achieve those big, bucket-list dreams. In this conversation, we dive into Kira's journey into coaching, the many lessons she's picked up along the way, and her invaluable insights on overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome. If you've ever found yourself hesitating or watching from the sidelines while others chase opportunities you dream of, this episode is packed with inspiration for you.   Key Takeaways: Confidence is an Inside Job: True confidence isn't about ticking off external achievements or meeting societal expectations. It's an emotion generated internally by our thoughts. We need to shift from chasing external validation to cultivating confident thoughts. Uncover Your Inner Dialogue: To build confidence, you first need to understand the thoughts currently running the show. Kira suggests a powerful exercise: take 10 minutes to write down all your thoughts about a specific topic (like your business or your appearance) to reveal the often subconscious and sometimes critical narratives at play. Reframe Rejection: Rejection is an inevitable part of putting yourself out there, especially in business. Instead of viewing it as a personal failure, see it as valuable feedback and an opportunity to learn and refine your approach. Often, a 'no' provides crucial information that can lead to a 'yes' down the line. The Power of Connection: Your ability to communicate and build relationships is paramount. Many goals involve other people, and knowing how to bring them on board with your vision is more critical than waiting for your website or skills to be 'perfect'. Embrace Imperfect Action for Faster Growth: Waiting for perfection can lead to stagnation. Taking action, even if it's imperfect and involves making mistakes, is the quickest way to learn, adapt, and ultimately achieve your goals. It's about failing fast and learning faster.   Episode Highlights: 02:41: Kira shares how her early days in fashion styling, dealing with logistics like lost customs packages and coordinating with major brands, unexpectedly taught her invaluable communication and hustle skills. 08:51: Kira explains that confidence is an emotion we generate internally through our thoughts, challenging the common belief that it comes from external achievements or validation. 10:38: Kira offers a practical 10-minute journaling exercise to uncover the true thoughts and beliefs that might be holding you back from feeling confident. 19:05: Drawing from her experience in sales, Kira discusses how she learned to anticipate and even welcome rejection as a necessary part of the process that helps shape the final successful outcome. 35:30: Kira talks about recovering from rejection by focusing on separating the actual facts from the (often negative) stories we tell ourselves, and the importance of understanding why a 'no' was given.   About the Guest: Kira Matthews is a mindset and confidence coach. Instagram: @KiraTheBold Website: kiramatthews.com Programme: Pitch School (enrolling for September 2025) Podcast: No Room For Doubt   Mentioned in the episode: Hannah Isted (Friend of the podcast and Pitch School alumna) Chris Do (Host of The Futur Podcast, which I was a guest on)   I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk) If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Ever felt like PR is a mysterious world reserved for big brands with even bigger budgets? In this episode, I'm thrilled to chat with Pippa Goulden, founder of The PR Set, who is on a mission to make PR accessible and achievable for small business owners like us. Pippa shares her wealth of experience, breaking down exactly what PR is (and isn't!), and offers practical, actionable advice on how we can start leveraging its power to build our brands and reach our ideal audiences. Get ready to take notes, because this episode is packed with insights you'll want to implement straight away!   Key Takeaways PR is more than just press: While media coverage is a part of PR, it's fundamentally about getting other people to talk about your business. This could be through podcast interviews, collaborations, speaking opportunities, or even networking. Start with your network and what feels comfortable: You don't need to aim for major national press from day one. Begin by exploring opportunities within your existing network and with activities that align with your comfort zone. Consistency and momentum are key: PR is often a slow burn; it's about building momentum over time. Don't get discouraged if you don't see huge results immediately; keep putting one foot in front of the other. Storytelling is powerful, but not the only way: Sharing your founder story or other compelling narratives can be very effective in PR, but it's not a prerequisite. Focus on your expertise and what value you can offer to the end reader or listener. Pitching effectively means being concise, relevant, and confident: When reaching out for PR opportunities, keep your pitch short, tailor it to the specific person or publication, and clearly articulate the value you bring to their audience.   Episode Highlights 02:41: How PR sits within the broader marketing landscape 04:00: Beyond just press coverage 11:00: The role of storytelling in PR 20:00: The importance of persistence and not expecting overnight success with PR. 24:00: Top tips for crafting a compelling and effective pitch.   About the Guest Pippa Goulden is the founder of The PR Set, an organisation dedicated to helping small business owners understand and utilise PR effectively. With a background working with big brands and agencies, Pippa realised her passion lay in empowering entrepreneurs with interesting stories and innovative ideas. Website: theprset.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pippa_the.pr.set/ Membership: DIY PR Membership LinkedIn: Pippa Goulden   I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written and recorded by me and1 produced by Lucy Lucraft (http://lucylucraft.co.uk) If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!