On 14 November 2024, I’ll be hosting a workshop with Cambridge Network, diving into all the essential things you need to know about visual branding and how to use it to grow your business.

One of the most frustrating things about business owners is their potential ignorance about branding. Not all business owners are like this of course, but there is a large majority that doesn’t understand the repercussions of poor branding.
Remember, branding is not just a logo or the visual aspect of your business, it’s so much more.
Today I wanted to share some tips on how to build a successful brand for your business, in just 8 steps.

Whether you are a new business owner or a seasoned one, it’s fair to say branding is probably one of the most important aspects of your business.

It’s one of those things that no matter what stage of business you are in, you want to get right.

Yet so many businesses get it wrong, that’s why I’m sharing 11 branding mistakes to avoid so that you can learn what not to do!

If you have a business, you more than likely understand the need for branding and how important it is.   When done correctly branding can play a significant role in your business's success (more about that here - How To Build A Successful Brand In 8 Steps For Your Small Business.)

But what do you do if you simply don't have the finance to brand your business, or have a small budget?

Worry not my friend, I’m here to help you, guide you and share some of my insights as a brand identity designer so keep reading about the different ways you can brand your business with a small budget.

Recently, I visited Legoland Windsor for some much-needed time away from the desk, but my branding instincts tagged along. Turns out, Legoland offers a masterclass in branding at every turn, from the vibrant exterior to the smallest details like adding a Lego-themed sticker to the toilet roll. In this article, we'll unravel the secrets of Legoland's branding success and share invaluable tips for your business success!

You’re already an established business. You have a brand, and you have decided it’s time for a rebrand. Exciting times ahead!! As exciting as it is, it can also be quite daunting.  I mean you’ve actively taken a positive step towards making an investment, with not only your money, but your time. You want to get this right! It’s important to get it right.

So what’s the next step?…

I’m going to share 5 unmissable tips that you should definitely consider (action!) when preparing for a rebrand….

I originally published this article a while ago so I thought I would revamp it and give it a good update as now more than ever it’s so important to bring out the human side of your brand and business.

To give some context, many many moons ago, when I first started out, I made the impression my business was more than a one-woman band. I thought that was the way to go, and I thought it would be beneficial for my clients to see and believe that they are dealing with a big professional company. Although this route can work for some businesses and brands, it wasn’t for me, and I’m sure it may not be for everyone.

So today I wanted to share some tips on how to humanise your brand and how to make your business feel more personal and how to build a connection with your clients or customers.

Always a pleasure to share my branding expertise! This time I’m sharing how to make your brand cohesive across platforms, and I delve into the nitty-gritty details over on Elodie Giuges blog.
Elodie Giuge is a brilliant portrait and brand photographer based in Cambridge, UK. She helps businesses and solopreneurs tell their story visually and feel confident and equipped to show up.

As a brand identity designer (as well as a Squarespace website designer), I help business owners bring their vision and goals to life all whilst ensuring that the designs appeal to their target audience.

What’s super important is that once the brand identity is created, and you have your “brand toolkit” in hand, you need to USE it! And that is what I’m covering in today’s article… 20 ways to use your brand identity (not just your logo).

Images are a powerful addition to your brand toolkit. They convey the emotion that you want your customers to feel when they interact with you; they tell stories and get messages across quicker than text, and when created consistently and beautifully they create brand trust and recognition.
Today, I’m here to share some tips to help you do the same and make sure your imagery reinforces your brand and your messages.

Referrals and recommendations are great, aren’t they?

That’s exactly how Andrew Halliday and Clive Minihan had come across me and my branding and Squarespace website design agency. Andrew and Clive are two of the 4 team members that founded ReCoVa-19, a software and testing solution startup that helps manage the risk of Covid-19 within the workplace and educational institutions.

I was over the moon when Lorna Scully, digital marketing coach & consultant, invited me to discuss all things branding on the Digital Discussions Unfiltered Podcast recently.

It’s been a while since I’ve written a guest post (or blog post for that matter) so it’s great to get back into the swing of writing and sharing my expertise, and all the knowledge that’s sitting up in my head!

I’ve got a few juicy posts all about branding, websites and design on the way, but before I get carried away on that, I wanted to share a recent guest blog post I have written for Jules Brim, of Marketing Mixology, where I share 5 tips to develop your branding for your ideal audience.

I’ve known Deepa Mistry for a while now. We bumped paths many moons ago - we worked next door to each other in the same building at one point, we have mutual friends in common, and we followed each other on various social media.  As well as a “foodie” she is also an amazing jeweller.

Her handmade pieces are truly stunning, they are simple, minimal and perfect for everyday wear (I know as I am also a customer!hah!).

Her existing brand and logo didn't reflect her work, and that was becoming a problem…

It’s funny how clients become clients.  If you follow me on Instagram you may have noticed I took it upon myself to learn how to use a sewing machine earlier this year.

I started off by taking a short 4 week course and before I knew it, I was hooked!  I can’t say I was surprised, it was a pleasure to spend one evening in the week with a group of friendly ladies, away from my iMac and doing something different.

It was within this easy going atmosphere and great learning environment that I met Julie, the lovely lady behind the already established business and brand, Escape & Create.

As a brand designer, I see it A LOT in facebook groups….“I only need a logo”... “I don’t need a brand”... “Branding is for large organisations”...So many branding myths and misconceptions!
So today I wanted to burst the bubble on 7 branding misconceptions!

Whether you’re a new business owner or a seasoned pro, you should know that a logo is more than just an image.  It’s an extension of your brand.  Not only does it need to look visually pleasing, be well balanced, and stand out, it, more importantly, needs to speak to your potential clients/customers and have longevity.

Believe it or not, there is a level of creativity and design know-how that goes into creating an iconic logo, not to mention a process so today I wanted to share 5 unmissable tips on designing an evergreen logo.

Congrats! You have set up your business, and you have your professionally designed logo and brand in your armour to help you remain consistent, professional and trustworthy.  But now what?.. What do you do with your logo and brand?

Well, my friend, I’m here to help you make sure you utilise your awesome logo and brand in 24 different ways.

Even if you are a seasoned business owner, there may be something you are missing, take a look...

John contacted me a few weeks after our consult call and told me he and his client, Mark, were very impressed and that they wished to move forward with starting the project.  Naturally, I jumped at the opportunity as I have never created a brand or website for a scientist who works with pharmaceutical and biotech companies.  This was going to be interesting, and exciting at the same time! I couldn't wait to start!

Not so long ago I shared some great tips on  Why You Need A Professionally Branded Email Address.  Today I want to show you how to create a professional email signature in Gmail as it’s so easy and can make your emails look a lot more professional and on brand.

I use Gmail as my email application for my business, it's such a great tool it has definitely made my life easier to manage.

Right, let’s get to the step by step instructions...