How to Prep for a Brand & Website Redesign Project (So You Can Actually Enjoy the Process)
Dreaming of a brand and website that finally look as incredible as your business feels? A digital brand that’s unapologetically you, makes showing up online easy, and turns dream clients into paying clients?
As a branding and website designer that works with tonnes of amazing women-owned businesses every year let me tell you, it will be the best thing you EVER do for your business.
But before we dive in cowgirl-boots-first, it’s worth doing a little groundwork to set yourself up for a smooth, fun ride. I promise, this is not homework for homework’s sake. It’s about making sure you get the absolute best results from your rebrand (and enjoy the process too).
Here’s what you can do right now to get your business ready for a brand & website glow up that actually pays off.
Get super clear on your dream clients
Before we pick a single colour or font, we need to know exactly who it is that you’re trying to attract into your business. Your brand isn’t just about looking good or following the latest trends (actually it’s not about that at all but that’s a blog post for another day). It’s about calling in your perfect-fit clients like a neon arrow pointing directly into your inbox.
Who are they? Age, life stage, business stage, interests, personality?
What keeps them up at night? What’s stopping them from their goals?
How do they want to feel when they work with you? Safe, empowered, seen, hyped up?
Imagine your all-time favourite client. The one who trusted you, paid your rates happily, got amazing results, and who you’d clone ten times over if you could. That’s who we’re building this brand for. The clearer you are on them, the easier it’ll be for me to design a brand that magnetises more just like them.
You don’t have to write a book on this person before your strategy calls, but it would be good to have them at the front of your mind. Maybe jot down a few bullet points about what made you such a good match, and how you made them feel. This feeling will become the essence of your new brand so you can attract more customers just like that.
Gather your Website content (Yes, even the messy unfinished bits)
Great content isn’t just for writers. Copy is a huge element of designing a website that actually converts. Write too much and you’ll bore your visitors to death and send them bouncing out of sight quicker than your dropped mascara; but write too little and you’ll leave people unsure and unsatisfied.
A good web designer will have seen A LOT of website copy, and will be able to give you pointers on how to make it the best it can be. But to get this support, your website content will need to be prepped before the design phase has begun.
Some content pointers for things to start pulling together:
Your list of services or offers (with prices if you’re happy sharing them) and how they benefit your perfect-fit client (remember her, from step 1?)
Testimonials from clients who’ve loved working with you
Any professional photos, or even phone pics that capture the vibe you want
Blog posts or FAQs that clients constantly ask you
I send out a content form to help my clients write and structure great website copy before the start of any website project. The more you give me, the more strategic we can get.
Don’t worry if it feels messy or incomplete, part of my job is helping wrangle it all into shape. But the more puzzle pieces we start with, the stronger your final website will be.
Audit You’re Existing Brand & Website and Mine those results for details
Even if you’re starting to hate your old brand (trust me, I’ve been there), there are still golden nuggets we can pull into your redesign - even if it’s something as simple as ‘make it nothing like this’.
Some great questions to ask yourself about your current brand and website:
What about your current brand or website does still feel good? (Specific colours, a logo element, a certain photo style, maybe how casual your tone is?)
What do you absolutely want to leave behind and never look back at?
Where do your current clients seem to get confused or drop off? (Maybe your services aren’t clear, your website’s hard to navigate, or it just feels... underwhelming.)
Doing this helps us avoid reinventing the wheel where we don’t need to, and instead double down on what’s working.
Get Painfully and 100% Completely honest about your goals
This one is tough, but it’s the biggie. Sure, you want a brand and website that look amazing (who doesn’t) but why do you want that?
Think about exactly what it is you want your new brand and website redesign to do for your business. Do you want to:
Raise your rates and feel justified in charging more so you can stop scraping by each month and start earning a decent living?
Attract bigger, more serious clients (maybe corporate gigs or dream partnerships) and need a brand that feels less homemade and more in the big leagues?
Stop relying on Instagram so much for leads and conversions and instead have an easy to update sales machine that runs 24/7?
Build something that feels SO “you” that it’s impossible to ignore (or copy)?
Knowing your goals upfront means we’ll design your new brand and website to hit them head on. Your visuals, your site structure, your calls to action; they’ll all be tailored to help you reach exactly where you want to go.
Remember: a rebrand isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it service. It should be a creative partnership.
You should opt to work with a designer who isn’t afraid to collaborate closely and work with you to create the brand and website of your dreams, not theirs.
In The Rebrand Rodeo, we work intensely for one week together, with quick decision-making, live Zoom chats, and constant communication so your brand comes to life in real time. It’s structured, it’s snappy, and it means you’re never left wondering “what’s happening next?”
You’ll give feedback, share ideas, answer questions, and celebrate wins along the way. (And I promise to keep the process as fun, supportive and confidence-boosting as possible.)
By the end of our week, you’ll be showing off your new brand, raising your prices, and feeling like the go-to gal in your industry.
Learn more about my signature brand and website transformation service.
Ready for Your Very Own Brand & Website Transformation?
If your current brand feels a bit meh, if your website’s more tumbleweed than traffic, or if you’re just ready to finally look as good online as you know you are in real life, book a discovery call and let’s chat about how we can get you there.
This next chapter of your business? It’s gonna be a wild, colourful ride and I’d love to be the designer who helps you saddle up.
