If you’ve ever looked at your social feed or website and thought, “Why does this feel so… off?” you’re in good company. Consistency is one of the most overlooked (and frustrating) parts of building a strong brand, especially when you’ve DIY-ed it all yourself.

I’ve been working on my own rebrand recently and it’s got me thinking about all the ways I wasted time and/or money early on, and things I’m still neglecting in my brand (whoops)

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the process of branding your small business and wondering exactly what to tackle and when, this guide will walk you through the ideal branding timeline based on my experiences as a brand and website designer and small business owner.

Gina, the founder of Hoot Copy, is a messaging expert specialising in crafting fun, authentic brand voices that resonate with target audiences. Despite her expertise, she felt her existing website didn't reflect her vibrant personality and was holding her back from confidently promoting her services. The goal was to design a website that not only showcased her unique approach but also attracted higher-quality leads, particularly from larger agency clients.

Let’s talk rebranding. Not the “I’ll just pick a new font” kind, but the “this business has grown so much, it deserves a bold, unforgettable new identity” kind.

That’s exactly where I’m at.

If your entire business presence is riding on an Instagram grid, no matter how gorgeously curated, it’s time for a serious wake-up call. Aesthetics alone don’t build credibility or trust. And trust? That’s the currency your business really needs to grow.

Here’s why a stunning social media presence isn’t enough, and what to do instead.

We need to talk about the not-so-secret secret to building a business that doesn’t just look pretty on Instagram, but actually pulls its weight behind the scenes.

Spoiler: It’s not posting more. Or manifesting harder. Or spending your life inside Canva. It’s building a brand with strategy.

A brand that’s not just nice to look at but built to connect, convert and work for you.

Here’s why good branding isn’t just a vibe… it’s a very very smart investment.

When Seana Tomlinson first reached out, she was at the very start of a huge transition in her work life. After years working as a counsellor, she was pivoting into something new and exciting - coaching midlife women to stop putting themselves last and finally start living life on their terms.

She had the vision. The passion. The purpose. She knew exactly the kind of business she wanted to create and where she wanted to get to. What she didn’t have? An approachable brand or website that captured the heart of what she was building, or any idea where to start.

If the words meta descriptions and alt-text make your eyes glaze over or trigger a mild panic… I promise you are not the only small business owner who feels that way.

These things sound dull, longwinded and an all-around bad time.

But here’s the thing: adding SEO descriptions and alt text to your website doesn’t have to be complicated or boring.

There’s a stage of business no one warns you about. You’re past the newbie hustle, you’ve figured out your brand, your dream clients, and your sweet spot in the market. You’re making decent money, which—yay!—but suddenly, you’re drowning in tasks, constantly busy, and somehow… still stuck. Welcome to The Messy Middle.

Squarespace has way more tricks up its stylish little sleeve than most people realise. I’m talking about secret superpowers that can take your website from “pretty good” to “OMG, I didn’t know my site could do that!” Let’s dive into five super cool Squarespace features you might not know about, but definitely need to start using.

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the practice of optimising your website so that it ranks higher on search engines like Google. The higher your site ranks, the more organic traffic you get, meaning more potential clients find and buy from your business. If you want to be discovered by your dream audience, SEO is a non-negotiable.

Katie had invested in branding a few years back and still loved parts of it (like the gorgeous colour palette), but as her business evolved, her visuals had started to feel too restrictive. On top of that, her DIY Squarespace website looked good on the surface but was frustrating to manage, full of duplicated sections, and a nightmare for SEO. Katie needed a brand and website that matched her expertise and made growing her business easier, not harder, without completely reinventing the wheel, so that’s exactly what we created over 3 Design Party Days.

When it comes to designing the perfect website for your business, it’s easy to think of headings as just a way to style your text. If that H2 (or Heading 2) feels too big above that particular paragraph, you can just switch it for a H4 or H5, right? Unfortunately, that’s not quite true.

Headings do so much more than just make the text on your site look good, they play a huge role in SEO (search engine optimisation), accessibility, and the overall readability (by both humans and Google bots - for SEO purposes) of your content.

Let’s talk enquiries, because if you’re running a service-based business, getting a steady, regular stream of high quality leads is everything. This January, I had eight aligned potential clients reach out, and I want to show you exactly where they came from so that you can start making this happen for yourself. Spoiler: It wasn’t from spending hours sending DMs on social media or throwing spaghetti at the wall with marketing tactics. It all came down to having a strong brand and website that worked for me behind the scenes.

Summer Bradshaw came to me with big ambitions to grow and evolve her positive psychology coaching business, but her DIY branding and clunky Wix website were holding her back from making big moves.

Her online brand didn’t reflect her personality or her expertise, and worse, it was so difficult to update regularly that making progress with her business felt impossible.

We all know that a killer brand is much more than just a logo - it’s the heart and soul of your business. But if your current brand feels more “meh” than heck yes, it’s probably time for a glow-up. And trust me when I say this, rebranding isn’t just about looking cute (though, let’s be honest, that’s a very fun part). It’s about stepping into the next-level version of your business, attracting dream clients, and making waves in your industry

If you’ve ever heard the term SEO (search engine optimisation) and felt your brain start to fizz over like a shaken Irn Bru can, you’re not alone. But here’s the thing: SEO doesn’t have to be scary, complicated, or reserved for technical types who speak fluent algorithm (newsflash, no one does!). With the right set of strategic keywords, you can get your business in front of your dream clients without needing a degree in Google wizardry. Let me show you how!

Let’s get one thing straight when it comes to marketing your business on social media. Relying solely on social media platform (that’s Instagram, Facebook, yes even Linkedin) to market your business is like building your dream home on rented land. Sure, it may look super cute from the outside, but one day you’ll wake up to find the landlord has decided to knock it all down, or raise the rent so high that you can’t stay.

When Kate, the amazing businesswoman behind EduKate Learning, came to me, she was sooooo ready for a change. Her DIY logo and website didn’t reflect her vibrant personality or the bold vision she had as a biology tutor and academic coach and it was holding her back from growing her dream business. She craved a brand that felt truly her - feminine, colourful, playful, and full of charm. Plus, her homemade website certainly wasn’t pulling its weight. Before I got started, it was clunky and boring, with little to no traffic. Knowing Kate’s mission (and her busy life with two kids!), I was determined to create a brand identity and website that would help her build the booming business she dreamed of.

Picture this: You need a stunning new brand or a website refresh, but the thought of a months-long design process? Ugh. Cue the overwhelm. Long timelines, endless emails, and a hefty invoice at the end? Not exactly a dream come true for a busy business owner. That’s where my Done-in-a-Day design service gallops in to save the day.