In true Brighten Made fashion, I’m sharing some highs and lows for 2023.

It’s 2023 so whether you’re just starting out or have been in business for years, you need a website. If you’re still on the fence about starting a website, you’ll want to give this post a read. We’ll chat through the benefits of having a website, how soon you should create one, and which website platform you should use. Plus, we’ll cover the importance of hiring a website designer vs. taking a DIY approach too. With so many things to consider, this is the first step.

There’s a special kind of magic that happens when you create with your hands as a designer. While there are tons of amazing templates and resources online, nothing beats creating something memorable and unique by going back and taking paint to paper. After you create your something amazing, what’s next? Transferring that artwork to a computer! And here’s where I come in. I’m sharing four helpful tips to make the process of transferring your original work to a computer or digital file.

In this branding case study, we share how we helped The Story Club find brand clarity as she dove deeper into her business niche and set her up for long-term success for both of her businesses.

Calling all designers! Have you ever wondered what design-specific tools I use for my business? The list is pretty short and sweet but essential nonetheless!

When I’m designing a custom website, I have three go-to tips I always take into consideration. These three tips will help create an action-based site that’s going to quickly resonate with your audience and help you convert leads to sales.

When I’m designing a primary logo, I love to take a big focus on type. Symbols and illustrated icons can be great within branding, but your primary logo needs to be, let’s face it, your name — and so we start with type! While every designer is different, here’s a little peek into my process and how I dive into creating original, custom primary logos.

Let’s just start by saying this applies to ANY social media platform and any time you’re going to use text to create a graphic anywhere. Think of these rules when you go to create the cover of a PDF for example, a business card maybe, a thank you — you get the point. These three simple rules for formatting text are going to have your back time and time again no matter what you’re designing on and for.

We go ALL OUT for our branding clients by providing a full branding experience that includes more than just a logo design but also supporting elements such as custom illustrations and patterns. While not every branding client needs illustration per se, some can really benefit by using it! Here’s why — our brains process pictures, symbols, and other visuals faster than words so illustration can help convey a brand message more efficiently with our already short attention spans.

In this branding and website design case study, we share how we helped Hart and Flora level up her brand to result in a branding experience that matched her high-quality glassware, her bright and fun personality, and set her up for long-term success to scale her business.

So, why do I recommend Squarespace? Honestly, because it’s the easiest platform to get a professional-looking website without hiring a developer to code things. Now, notice I said developer, not designer. You’d still benefit from a website designer to help you turn your branding elements into a website reality.

After nearly 7 years as a business owner, I’ve learned which seasons I can typically expect to be slower and which are busier. So how do you stay productive and get work done during slow seasons? I’m sharing seven ideas to keep you (and your team if you’ve got them!) productive and ready to tackle the next season with full cups!