Most businesses are cyclical and experience periods of intense focus on customer work and others where you find yourself with a few spare minutes to invest a little bit of time in the nuts and bolts of the business of your brand. If you find yourself with some time to spare at the beach or at the office this summer, here are a few ideas for checking in on your brand fundamentals.

There’s a quote from Donald Miller, CEO of StoryBrand and author of a powerful TedX talk called “How to clarify your message so people will listen”, that gets right to the heart of effective communication: “Talk 75% about your customers’ problems and 25% about your products and you’ll sell a lot more products.”

It’s a powerful reminder that successful marketing isn’t about leading with what you do. It’s about leading with what your audience needs.

One of the most overlooked first steps in the creation of a new brand or business is the thoughtful creation of the name. While Jane Doe Consulting may seem like an obvious choice, your brand name is an opportunity to tell a story, convey your personality, and more practically, save you money in hidden costs.

Whether you’re ready to invest or just looking to make thoughtful improvements, here are five trends worth knowing. They’re current, practical, and flexible enough to meet you where you are.

If your website isn’t attracting, engaging, and converting visitors, it may be time for a performance review.  Here are 5 questions to ask yourself to ensure your lowest-maintenance employee is doing its job.

You’ve got a million ideas for marketing your business, but every time you sit down to execute, the overwhelm sets in. Sound familiar? You’re not alone! The trick is to start small, stay focused, and build momentum. Here are some no-nonsense tips to help you cut through the noise and get moving:

Your brand is more than just a logo—it’s the story, emotion, and experience that people associate with your business. A well-built brand has the power to create connections, build trust, and drive long-term success. Whether you’re just starting out or refining an existing brand, investing in a strong, cohesive brand identity is one of the best decisions you can make.

The new year is a great time to make sure your brand reflects where your business is today. Whether you’re a well-established company or just starting out, even small changes can make a big difference. Here are five practical branding resolutions for 2025, with easy-to-follow tips to help you get started.

Let me walk you through a not uncommon conversation with a potential web client.

Me: Tell me about your website.

Client: Honestly, I set it up some number of years ago. It doesn’t really reflect what I do and I know I need to level it up.

Me. That’s totally relatable. When was the last time you updated it?

Client: [insert grimance here]….the day I launched it.

This is one of the top 5 questions I get asked by clients who need a website and aren’t sure where to start. So, I decided to sit with that question and really think hard (and troubleshoot a lot) to give my clients the best answer I could come up with.