Branding lessons from an inspirational trip overseas.

For the first time since I opened the proverbial doors to Doodling Pandas several years ago, I took two whole weeks off to explore a few of the many places on my travel bucket list. While I was successful at creating a wall between myself and my inbox for those two weeks, I didn’t completely break away from work. Rather, this exploratory time afforded me space to experience and absorb the creative inspiration that overflows in spaces outside my small circle of the world.

Here are some of the creative lessons I took away from a beautiful trip abroad.

There’s something noble about the DIY spirit in small business. Bootstrapping, learning as you go, and trying to save money wherever possible are hallmarks of getting businesses up and running, and I credit them for catalyzing a profound amount of growth in a business’s beginning stages. There usually comes a tipping point in the journey, though, where the DIY mindset stops serving you and your brand. The time spent on tasks for which you are NOT an expert costs you more than you stand to gain by redirecting your focus in the places where you shine. Let’s unpack the research on how DIY efforts in branding and marketing can hinder growth, and what to focus on instead.

The season of warm coats and holiday sweaters is upon us. The lights are twinkling. The auto-responders are taking effect. And, we have few precious days before the calendar turns over and the new year is here. In between the school parties and the gift shopping and the holiday plans, I try really hard to make time to pause and savor the best parts of the year, both personally and professionally.

This week, I’ve found myself reflecting on the many parts of Doodling Pandas‘s year that made it so rewarding and a theme emerged that I really loved. VARIETY.

Instead of highlighting specific clients (because, seriously, how could I possibly choose? My clients are literally THE BEST.) I want to celebrate the kinds of work that made this year special. Here are some of the themes where strategy and creativity came together in the best ways in 2025.

Last Fall, after many many months of having “brand photos” on the bottom of my to-do list, I finally booked a brand photo shoot. Now, as a branding professional, I could (and have) listed the many legitimate reasons to invest in brand photos. But, as a person and an entrepreneur, I found the task daunting. It’s a significant investment in the business. It’s also a lot of pressure to find the right clothes, and get a little more pampered than usual in preparation to have all eyes (and lenses) on me. Like many of my clients, I prefer to be behind the camera, not in front of it.

Businesses trying to market themselves often think of AI as a tool to make writing and researching easier. It can help with idea generation and many of the more tedious tasks of mass communication. But many are not paying close enough attention to what AI means for exposure on a greater scale and how we need to change our tactics to make us visible in an AI-first environment. In this article we explore what’s changing, and what we can do about it.

I’m excited to introduce Frozen in Focus by Doodling Pandas Creative.

Frozen in Focus is the home for our brand and family photography services. It’s all about authentic storytelling, capturing your why through curated shoots designed to showcase personality in a refined, elevated way.

While all of Doodling Pandas’ services have their own identities, photography requires a different kind of system and client experience. By giving it its own dedicated home, we’ve made things simpler and more intuitive.

If you are a small business owner with any social media presence, then we don’t have to tell you that your social marketing efforts aren’t going as far as they used to. This month, we’re talking about the ever-evolving algorithms, how they’re making organic visibility harder than ever, and most importantly, what you can do about it.

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.