Building your Brand

The waitlist for the next cohort of Design your Own Branding is now open. Sign up to receive an early bird discount for the course starting in January 2025 In this episode of Building Your Brand, we talk to designer Andy Brown about his journey in diversifying his income through creative projects. We delve into his innovative product, Swatchos, a deck of color cards that was successfully funded through Kickstarter. We also discuss Andy's experience as a graphic designer and product creator, the process of launching a Kickstarter campaign, and the challenges and strategies of selling products. Throughout the conversation, Andy shares insights on balancing different streams of income, the importance of solving personal challenges through creative solutions, and the practicalities of running an e-commerce business. Episode Highlights: 01:39 The Birth of Swatchos and Print Handbooks 05:35 Kickstarter Journey and Challenges 17:28 Balancing Product Sales and Design Work 27:52 Growing the Brand: Challenges and Insights 30:14 The Art of Selling: Strategies and Experiences 32:48 Marketing Channels: What Works and What Doesn't I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! About Andy: Instagram | Website 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!

To sign up for the Design Your Own Branding waitlist head here > https://www.lizmosley.net/design-your-own-branding This week I am lucky enough to catch up IRL with Aime Cox of Studio Cotton about all things SEO and why it's crucial for small business owners and podcasters. Aime is a friend of the podcast and, once again, shares simple, actionable SEO tips that anyone can implement, from optimising podcast show notes and websites to building backlinks and writing effective blog posts. If you want to make your website work harder then this is the perfect episode to get stuck into! Key Takeaways: SEO Basics: Aime breaks down SEO in a way that's easy to understand, emphasizing the importance of optimizing your website to rank higher in search results and attract more clients. Easy SEO Wins: Learn how to leverage podcast episodes, guest names, and location information for better SEO. Aime also highlights the importance of having individual pages for services and products, and writing thorough descriptions. Podcast Websites: Discover the benefits of having a dedicated website for your podcast and how it can boost your SEO. Aime explains the features that can make your podcast website more user-friendly and efficient. Backlinks: Aime provides actionable strategies for building backlinks, including utilizing existing connections, submitting to directories, and creating valuable content that others will want to link to. Blogging for SEO: Aime offers advice on blog post frequency and length, emphasising the importance of creating high-quality content that you're proud to share. Episode highlights:  03:51 Understanding SEO: A Dummy's Guide 10:54 Easy SEO Wins for Small Business Owners 15:07 Optimizing Your Website Structure for SEO 27:40 Improving Your Podcast's SEO Ranking 28:56 Optimizing Your Bio for SEO 31:41 Importance of Optimizing Images 32:33 Building Backlinks Effectively 44:08 Blogging for SEO Success    Resources Mentioned: Studio Cotton: studiocotton.co.uk Studio Cotton Blog: studiocotton.co.uk/blog Building Your Brand Podcast Website: buildingyourbrand.net Tiny PNG: tinypng.com Creative Boom: creativeboom.com Guest Information: Aime Cox: Website Designer & Founder of Studio Cotton Studio Cotton Instagram: <!----> <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----> <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!---->@studio.cotton<!----><!----> <!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----> Call to Action: Visit Studio Cotton's website to learn more about their services and how they can help you improve your website's SEO. Check out Aime's weekly Q&A on Instagram for bite-sized SEO advice. Subscribe to the Building Your Brand podcast for more tips on growing your business. This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!   

Ever wondered why a business decides to rebrand or when should they? In this episode, I chat with Michele Ferron, founder of the thriving stationery business Good Tuesday (formerly Once Upon a Tuesday). Michele gives us the inside scoop on their recent rebrand, discussing: The "why" behind the change: What prompted the decision to rebrand from Once Upon a Tuesday to Good Tuesday? Navigating the naming process: Was it a challenge to choose a new name that reflected their brand identity? The rebranding journey: What were the biggest hurdles and successes they encountered throughout the process? Whether you're considering a rebrand for your own business or simply curious about the process, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration from a successful entrepreneur who's been there and done that. 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! About Good Tuesday: Instagram | Website Episode Highlights: 02:24 Rapid Growth and Scaling Up 05:56 Challenges and Strategies in Rebranding 11:00 Launching the New Brand 20:19 Marketing Strategies for Rapid Growth 23:29 Building and Managing a Team 32:07 Product Hits and Misses To sign up for the Design Your Own Branding waitlist head here > https://www.lizmosley.net/design-your-own-branding 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'm chatting to Janine Coombes, who helps coaches and mentors work on their offers and get clear on what they are and helps them to attract the right clients. In this episode, we cover. dreaded niching topic. And Janine shares what happened in her business when she niched down fairly dramatically. We cover the pros and cons, but also touch on following the joy in your business and finding what it is that you love to do. There are so many nuggets in this episode, and I hope you find it really helpful. 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! Connect with Janine: LinkedIn | Website Episode Highlights: 01:24 The Impact of Niching Down 05:21 Insights on Visibility and Marketing 16:58 Identifying Your Core Offer and Niche 19:25 Why You Shouldn't Ask Customers What They Want 21:22 Conducting Qualitative Research on a Budget Thanks to Studio Cotton for sponsoring this episode & check out the Building Your Brand podcast website 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 having a very honest chat with Gordon Reid, a designer who runs his own design agency all about the realities of juggling his business and becoming a parent, but also just the general challenge of running your own business. I've had this sort of conversation a lot with women, but less so with men, and so I was really interested to dig in compare my experience. I'm so grateful for his willingness to be open and honest with me and not bat an eyelid when I asked him difficult questions! I love hearing how different people overcome various challenges to build businesses that they love so I hope you enjoy the chat as much as I did. Episode highlights:  08:37 Navigating Sleep Deprivation and Work 16:54 Balancing Childcare and Career  26:09 Invisible Labour and Gender Roles  30:23 Impact of Parenthood on Career and Business 38:15 Redefining Success and Industry Changes  Don't forget to check out Gordon online and if you'd like to have a chat come find me on Instagram. Can't wait to connect with you. This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!       

Today on the podcast, I am chatting to one of my oldest friends, Kate Olive, who works in events and has so much experience in this area. The company she works with mainly works with large corporate clients, but in this chat, I picked Kate's brains about how small business owners can brand their events and make them a memorable experience for their attendees, and one that is really going to enhance and benefit their brands. So if you've ever thought about hosting any sort of event as part of your business, then I think you're going to find this episode so helpful. I loved all of the ideas and tips that Kate shared and now I am itching to host my own event. I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! About Kate: drpgroup.com | @drpgteam Episode Highlights: 02:07 The Importance of Events for Small Businesses 06:34 Common Mistakes in Event Planning 10:03 Tips for Memorable Small Business Events 17:07 Learning from Big Brands 26:57 Creating Inclusive and Accessible Events 39:42 Enhancing Event Atmosphere and Engagement Thanks to Studio Cotton for sponsoring this episode & check out the Building Your Brand podcast website Don't forget to check out Kate and if you'd like to have a chat come find me on Instagram. Can't wait to connect with you. This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Every now and then an episode comes along that almost feels like therapy for me, and this was one of those.  Today I'm chatting to anti-hustle, anti-patriarchal, rule breaking business coach Jo Hooper, who helps business owners get wildly free so they can enjoy their businesses. I had a LOT of revelations in this episode and in this chat, Jo really helped me unpick some things I thought were inevitable in business.  I guess it was kind of like a coaching session in podcast form, and I really hope that it helps you too, as running a business can be really tough. Come let us know what you think on social media!  Episode highlights:  03:08 Practical Tips for Sustainable Business Practices 04:06 Mindset and Belief Challenges 06:39 Implementing Boundaries and Pricing Strategies 09:14 Personal Reflections and Goals 20:29 The Importance of Safety and Stability Don't forget to check out Jo online and if you'd like to have a chat come find me on Instagram. Can't wait to connect with you This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!         

Today on the podcast, I am chatting to Vicki Knights, who is a branding photographer and a visibility strategist, which is what we focused on in this episode. We delve into why visibility is important for your business, why you might struggle with it and how to overcome the typical visibility challenges.  It's a really inspiring episode that reminded me why there really is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to showing up in your business.  Episode Highlights: 03:01 The Importance of Visibility in Business 05:13 Overcoming Visibility Blocks 10:37 Balancing Confidence and Arrogance 21:20 Sustainable Visibility Practices 24:27 Alternative Visibility Strategies 27:52 Asking for Referrals and Networking Thanks to Studio Cotton for sponsoring this episode & check out the Building Your Brand podcast website Don't forget to check out Vicki online and if you'd like to have a chat come find me on Instagram. Can't wait to connect with you. This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!   

In this episode, I chat with Ilana and Katie from Goodtype about their journey and experiences running a massive online community. We delve into their impactful takeover of Goodtype, with over a million Instagram followers, and what it’s like operating such a large platform. Ilana and Katie share their initial meeting and collaboration, the challenges of maintaining and growing Goodtype, and their strategies for keeping the community engaged. We also discuss personal growth, navigating ego and confidence, setting big goals, and balancing business with creative endeavors. Plus, we get excited about their upcoming conferences, retreats, and their book set to release in 2025. Tune in for insightful discussions on collaboration, managing a thriving community, and the lessons learned along the way. Episode Highlights: 03:37 Building a Business Together 17:51 Acquiring Good Type 23:59 Transitioning and Earning Trust 27:00 Navigating Follower Dynamics 29:22 Challenges of Virality 31:53 Humility and Ego Management 44:53 The Reality Behind Social Media Mentioned in the Episode The Kernference Virtual Conference (aff link) Ninja Creami Goodtype Community The Typecast Podcast Thanks to Studio Cotton for sponsoring this episode & check out the Building Your Brand podcast website. Don't forget to check out Ilana and Katie on Instagram and if you'd like to have a chat come find me on Instagram. Can't wait to connect with you. This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft. If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!   

In this discussion, Joe Allam, a seasoned filmmaker and photographer based in Japan, shares his journey from graphic design to building a successful YouTube channel. He dives into the challenges of maintaining consistency and the critical role of eye-catching thumbnails. Joe opens up about his near-bankruptcy experiences, offering valuable insights for aspiring creators. He emphasizes the importance of persistence, creativity, and a clear vision, while debunking myths about instant financial success on the platform.