FAQ
For those who are looking for answers!
General Questions
Do you offer free consultations before I commit?
What’s the turnaround time on my project?
Depending on the project, it might be one day or it might be a few weeks. I work in intensive services, which allow me to expedite most projects. I will let you know an expected deadline in our initial conversations and keep you up-to-date on my progress the entire time we are working together.
What if I need help after we wrap everything up?
No matter what the project is, I like to keep myself available to all my prior clients. I usually explain the next steps and provide any suggestions when we go through the wrap up process. However, if you have any questions, I am available over email most business days and am happy to provide support or book some of my time for consulting.
What is the communication process like?
I don’t know what I need, but I know I need something. Help?
I feel you! Let’s schedule a free, 20-minute, no-commitment discovery call. There you can tell me your goals and problems, then lay out where you’re at and what obstacles are in your way. With 8 years in the marketing and design industry, I’m sure I can guide you in the right direction, narrow down your options, and help you choose your priorities.
What’s the first step to get the ball rolling?
No matter what project you’re interested in, I like to meet you first to make sure we’re a good fit. You can get started by setting up a call here. From there, I can provide you with the best next steps for your journey.
Do you only work with specific industries?
Not necessarily. I’ve worked in all kinds of industries, spanning law offices to cannabis, hair salons to non-profits. Nevertheless, my true passion and expertise is specializing in helping dietitian nutritionists, health and wellness entrepreneurs and nature-inspired, outdoors brands.
What are your business hours and timezone?
I am generally available 11am-6pm EST, Monday–Friday. Do note, I work with folks all across the United States and my business hours are subject to change.
Do you do one-time or simple design projects?
For sure! I prefer we do a quick chat before any one-time design projects if we haven’t worked together before. You can schedule a time with me here.
Why is hiring you such a great investment for my business?
Most of my clients tell me I am like a “creative mind-reader” – I know what they want and need without them needing to tell me. I’m able to harness a little magic, not through special powers, but because I’ve been working in the design and marketing world for a long time. Aside from that, I’ve been solely focusing on 1:1 women-owned small business clients, specifically dietitians and outdoor brands, most of my career.
Not only do I have the expertise and experience, I understand the things you need to make your brand and website mindblowing – and as a special bonus – how your marketing and website can help streamline your systems and make your life easier, saving you time, money, and stress.
Branding Questions
Can you just design a logo for me?
What does a typical brand package look like?
All of my packages include industry research, colors, fonts, a logo with multiple variations, a guide on how to use your brand and if appropriate, custom patterns and iconography. From there, you get to decide what collateral pieces you will be using in your company. These can include collateral, stationary, or apparel designs. You can view the full package details here.
Why should I invest in a professional designer for my brand?
Branding should be memorable and simple, yet complex enough to be unique to you. Plus, your brand should really be designed to appeal to your target audience and be backed by strategy. Not only that, you should be able to use your brand in various ways whenever you need to. Having a brand guide and brand library can help you out when you want to expand into merch or build out workbooks.
A professional logo and brand designer will do all of those things – create a unique logomark that is backed by research, and is complimented with a full guide and library on how to use it properly.
I hate to say this, but an amateur or hobbyist most likely won’t have the experience or expertise to do these things… And while Canva logos might look cool, the reality is they aren’t unique and you can never actually own them. (For example, as of January 2022, there are 18209 logo templates in Canva. As of April 2021, there are 55 million active monthly users. If every Canva user used one of those logo templates, each logo would be on over 3000 businesses! Eeeeeek.)
I’m not sure I understand the difference between a brand identity and a logo… What does it matter anyways?
While a logo is a key part of a brand, a brand identity is not just a logo.
As LinkedIn puts it: A brand is “The perceived emotional corporate image as a whole”… A brand identity is “The visual aspects that form part of the overall brand”… “A logo identifies a business in its simplest form via the use of a mark or icon.”
So in my work, I will be helping you understand what your brand should be (aka who your customers are and how we want to make them feel) and developing an identity which will provide you with the visual components (that includes a logo) to support the overall brand. Make sense now?
I hope so, because a 33% increase in revenue has been seen in brands with a consistent presentation. Let’s get your brand identity in place ASAP.
What is the overall branding process like?
Branding is a quick process that usually requires a little bit of upfront homework.
You’ll begin by scheduling a call with me to make sure we are in alignment. Once you decide to book, I will email you an onboarding form, an e-contract, and a deposit request. Next, I will look over the onboarding form and reach out if I have any questions. Then, I will begin the actual design portion of the project following these steps: industry and audience research, a mood board to ensure we are on the same page, sketching ideas, finalizing ideas, sharing ideas with you, touching up the final pick, and creating and saving the final assets.
Billing Questions
Can I get a custom quote?
Yep! For most projects, I work on flat fee pricing and intensive timelines. However, I can still provide a quote before we start working together so you know what to expect. We can also work through any budgetary concerns during our first call.
I need something budget-friendly. Are you able to accommodate my budget requirements?
Branding and web design should be an investment for your business. If you want these things to actually work for you, they need to be backed by research and strategy. Each piece of my work is crafted to be personalized for you and to streamline your own systems even more. A lot of the work I do is an investment, with huge returns not only in time and stress, but by getting things done right the first time, you’ll be saving yourself money in the long run too.
If you truly are just starting out and aren’t sure if you’re ready for this type of investment, check out my Resources page for some free guidance on getting started.
If you want to invest but are on tight budgetary limitations, I do offer payment plans and can sometimes provide budgetary options for branding and web design. Schedule a call and let’s chat!
What payment processors do you accept?
I use an online invoicing platform, which sends out invoices via Stripe. Stripe is a super secure system that will accept any credit card.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes! I never want to make someone choose between putting food on the table and investing in their business. If you require a payment plan, let me know and we can work out a month-to-month plan that works with your personal budget.
How much time do I have to pay my invoices?
All invoices will have the payment period listed on the invoice, but most are on a 30-day payment period from the day they are sent out.
Web Design Questions
How do I even begin with getting a website?
If you want a professional website design, the first step is to talk with me. From there, I can provide you with more guidance on the process and steps it will take to get the website of your dreams!
Can you help me with an existing website?
Occasionally I will take on existing websites, but it is dependent on the current state of your existing site, what platform it is on, and what goals you have for it in the future. Schedule a call with me so we can discuss on a case-by-case basis.
If you’d like me to take a look and to give you feedback on your current site’s strengths and weaknesses, check out my web audit service. This can be done on any website, no matter what platform it was built on or who it was built by.
Can you work with my existing brand?
Yes. If you have a brand that I didn’t do for you that is a-okay! I’m happy to work with your existing logo, color palettes, fonts, and design elements to create any branded collateral or a website.
Do note: A professional brand can make all of the work I do for you so much more powerful, so it is not something you should disregard.
How do I gather content for a website (written copy, photos, etc.)?
In most cases, my services are able to include assistance in these areas where needed. I am able to provide basic copywriting and to find stock photography for most businesses. If you’d like to hire out a copywriter who focuses on conversion and your brand story, I have recommendations and trusted partners. If your budget allows, I also recommend hiring out a lifestyle photographer in your area to take some brand photos.
Will I have access to my website after we are done?
Absolutely! My business model focuses on the client. What you pay for is yours. I make sure you have full access to everything we work on together AND you know how to use it. If you’re afraid to touch your website once it’s up, I will gladly stay on your team as a support member or share videos within my resource library that can help you out.
Why should I invest in professional design services when I can just make it myself?
You can for sure make it yourself. So can my brother, my partner, and my nephew. But let me ask you these questions…
How professional will it look? Will people enter your website and think “Damn, they know what they’re doing and I want to work with them!” or will they think “They seem like they kind of have it together, so they might work out?”
Moreover, have you considered: How much time will it take you? Are you prepared to learn a website builder like Squarespace or Wix? Do you understand how to implement a brand into a website? Will your site be customizable or a template? How many times are you going to have to Google something, search forums, and still be confused?
Do you have the knowledge and skill to write your own compelling copy that answers all of your clients questions and fits in SEO keywords? Heck! Do you know how to find out what your SEO keywords are?
Do you understand how layouts or colors can affect usability? You definitely don’t want something as simple as not finding an answer or link being so frustrating to someone, that they just leave your site and never come back.
So yes, you can make it yourself. But why not hire a professional that can help you answer all of those questions and more. Save yourself the time and headache. The investment is SO worth it.
What if I want to adjust something later after we finish?
That’s the beauty of a website – it is ever evolving. Since a website can be quite an overwhelming process, not just in the preparation and creation, but in the organization of your businesses internal systems as well, I usually recommend starting with the basics. Then once the site is launched, one at a time you can focus on each huge, incredible idea you’ve been mulling over, and of course, I will be there to help you get it off the ground 😊
What is the overall web design process like?
Websites are a complex process and you should expect to do some homework.
You’ll begin by setting up a call with me to make sure we are in alignment. Once you decide to book, I will email you an onboarding form, an e-contract, and a deposit request. Next, I will look over the onboarding form and reach out if I have any questions. Then, I will begin the actual design portion of the project following these steps: industry and audience research, SEO keyword research, wireframing and copywriting, static mock development (implementing visual aesthetics), online development (aka building, coding, etc.), SEO and speed optimization, and a final live tutorial so you know how the heck to use your shiny new website.
Did I miss something?
Send me a note.
