I would absolutely recommend anyone who wants support with their brand strategy to reach out to Ruha and will be 100% referring people to her.

Sydney Fletcher

The post Finding clarity and confidence with the Brighter Brand Blueprint appeared first on Signal + Hearth.

The Challenge

Deborah and her team are driven by their passion for the fashion industry and a desire to create positive change around its ecological and social impacts.

They already had a strong foundation with a deep understanding of their mission and values. Our challenge was to convey those concepts in an attractive way, and without overwhelming clients.

The organisation needed simple but impactful language to convey their mission, values, and a complex process, so that clients understand the benefits of getting certified, and specifically why they should hire Global Measure to do it. 

They also needed a modern, elegant, and seamless website that allows clients to easily learn more about the certification process and take the first step to start working with Global Measure.

The post Global Measure appeared first on Signal + Hearth.

The Challenge

Cameras for Girls offers a service that appeals to their donors. It is clear that the program uses a successful formula.

Their biggest challenge was to get in front of a larger audience and earn their buy-in.

In order to do this successfully, they needed a website that reflects the creative nature of photography, is aesthetically appealing, engaging, and informative, so that visitors are eager to learn more about how they can get involved.

The post Cameras for Girls appeared first on Signal + Hearth.

Visit Website

Learn more about The Forum Pitch

The post The Forum Canada appeared first on Signal + Hearth.

The Challenge

Laura is really good at what she does and cares deeply about her clients. She takes note of the little things, surprises them with acts of kindness and care, and tailors her coaching and support to ensure it’s right for them.

Her biggest challenge was getting in front of the right people, educating them about what a fertility coach can do for them, and positioning herself as the expert they need.

She needed a powerful brand to showcase her magnetic personality through her marketing and website, and a clear plan to attract and book more clients so that she can empower and support more people on their fertility journeys.

The post Laura, Your Fertility Coach appeared first on Signal + Hearth.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to convert the DIY website you built into an effective tool that looks like it was designed by a professional website and converts visitors into clients?

I’m going to show you exactly how I do it using a real-life business website that I recently helped a client with, where we completed her website redesign in two days and launched to rave reviews

Some background information:

My client, Kim, is a language service provider. She offers translation, interpreting, and copywriting services to organisations in different industries. Her work helps her clients get in front of broader audiences by communicating effectively across languages and cultures.

Kim reached out to me to complete her website redesign project which had been trapped in limbo for a couple of months. She had built her website herself, and wanted to elevate it and make some crucial changes to reflect the new direction her business is moving in.

Additionally, Kim wanted to make sure her email marketing platform and lead magnet were effectively integrated into her website so that she could start building and nurturing an email audience.

She generously agreed to let me share my feedback with you to help you see what makes a successful website project – especially one with such a quick turnaround – so that you can prepare for it if you are also thinking of redesigning your site.

Let’s get into it!

I want to start with what I believe is one of the most important things to know about this project:

1. Kim did not need a full brand redesign.

Unlike clients who go through my full process that ranges from strategy through to visual identity design, copywriting, and marketing strategy, Kim already had a strategy, strong branding pieces and copy to support that strategy, and the bones of a website.

(Remember, we were building on top of her original DIYed site. In fact, she had hired someone else to incorporate some changes before we started working together.)

In order to turn a website redesign around quickly, you need to know exactly where you are and where you want your business to go, and how you will do it. And you must know how your website fits into that overall plan.

2. She had already prepared her copy.

Kim is an expert copywriter and had already written all the words that had to go on the website. Everything was written up in Google Docs and I just had to transfer them over to the website pages.

The copy was strong enough that I made minimal suggestions to ensure visitors smoothly interacted with her information and on to the next steps, the main goal being to encourage them to book a discovery call.

3. She had EXCELLENT photography.

If you know me, you’ll know that if I had to choose between effective copywriting and impactful graphics and photography, I’ll always choose copywriting. Potential clients need to know what you’re selling and why they should buy from you.

However, getting your website to look great will help bolster the impact of the words people are reading. And Kim nailed this.

Showing photos of herself throughout her website helps build trust and rapport in a way that words can’t accomplish quite as readily, especially since she’s the face of her business.

Her photographer provided her with high-quality images that show Kim in appropriate and relevant “scenes”, and they completely transform the mood and overall feel of the website. They instantly make the website feel more polished, and also more approachable.

Once I designed graphics to use as visual aids and add interest to blocks of text throughout the site, the site was looking…let’s say, expensive.

4. She already had a lead magnet and booking system.

In fact, she had her first emails written and designed in Flodesk, and after a quick design update, her lead magnet was also ready to go.

A little tech magic on the backend…and we had her email marketing platform connected to her website so that she could start building her email list as soon as the site went live.

Connecting her discovery call booking system was as simple as adding her scheduling link in all the right places.

5. Kim made herself available to work on the site.

This was really important for us to launch with such a quick turnaround. Kim was ready and responsive anytime I needed to check in with her about something, and we were able to review the site in real time.

She made my job easier by being there to green light the work I was doing, so that once we were both happy with everything, Kim was able to confidently hit the big GO button and launch her website to the world.

Five main takeaways you can apply to your own website redesign…

If you read all the way through, bravo! And if you’re looking for the tl;dr version, here you go: 5 key takeaways to consider so that you can launch a new website in two days.

1. Identify the goal(s) of your website and how you want to accomplish it.
2. Get your copy ready. Hire a copywriter with experience writing copy for websites.
3. Prepare your photographs and other imagery. You might find inspiration looking at 3-5 other websites that convey the feeling you want to accomplish. Show your photographer how they use their images.
4. Get all your tech integrations ready. Want to build an email list? Get an account on ConvertKit or MailerLite. Prepare your lead magnet. Need a booking system? Set up a scheduler on Acuity or Dubsado.
5. Set aside time to work on it. The real magic happens when the prep work is done and you can focus on

And that’s how Kim and I built her new website in two days and launched to great success! Interested in seeing the results?

Visit Kim’s website, Arvorei Communications.

Want me to redesign your website or build your online presence?

• ​Launch your website in 2 days, just like Kim.
• ​Start at the beginning with a Brand Blueprint so we uncover why clients aren’t buying from you now, and what we can do to change that.
• Unsure where to start? Book a quick, no-pressure call for us to figure out if I can help you.

The post How to launch a new website in just two days appeared first on Signal + Hearth.

The Moodboard

Visual Brand Assets

The post Lis Lee Accounting appeared first on Signal + Hearth.

Now you’ve got your domain name, you just need web hosting to house your website and get in front of your audience!

Note that this guide is for WordPress websites. Services like Squarespace offer hosting as part of their package so you won’t need to get hosting separately.

WordPress is a hugely popular platform to build your website on. It’s free to use and is versatile. I recommend it because a WordPress website is flexible enough to grow with you as you scale your business. 

Think of WordPress as the frame you build your website on. You need to place that frame somewhere people can see it. That’s where web hosting comes in. A hosting provider offers digital real estate for you to house your website.

*This post contains affiliate links for tools and resources that I have tried, used, and love. Click here for my full disclosure statement. Thanks for your support!

Choosing WordPress hosting

My clients get premium managed WordPress hosting through Flywheel as part of the services I offer. This means they get lightning-fast, secure websites that can handle higher traffic, and don’t have to worry about any of the upkeep that comes with a WordPress site. I take care of all the technical stuff for them.

If you’re working with a web designer, ask them if they offer web hosting services. This option is usually the priciest. It’s ideal if you want someone else to take care of the techy side of your website needs so that you can focus on other aspects of running your business.

Another option is to take care of your own hosting through Flywheel or Siteground. Both companies offer managed WordPress hosting and have excellent customer service – check out the reviews on their websites! This is a great option if you want to be more involved in this aspect of running your website, but want a great support team who has your back.

On the other hand, you may be just starting out and want to prioritize keeping your costs as low as possible until you know your business is viable. 

In that case, Bluehost is a popular option and offers a free domain name along with hosting services. I find this is also the most complex option in terms of setting things up. However, if you just need something quick and basic without worrying about the backend, it’s a learning curve that you can manage.

All three hosting providers mentioned above offer a free SSL certificate to keep your website secure (as should any other reputable hosting provider).

In most cases, I recommend getting managed WordPress hosting instead of shared hosting for optimum website performance.

If you’re new to this and can’t decide, just pick one host for the shortest term possible (usually a year) so that you can get your website online. Once you’ve used it for a while, you’ll have a better idea of what you and your business need. At that point, you can reevaluate your options and migrate to another hosting provider if necessary. 

Trying to choose a web host can be overwhelming, especially when you’re first starting out. I hope this guide makes your choice a little simpler!

Haven’t picked up your domain name yet? Here’s my simple guide that walks you through registering your first domain, step by step.

The post How to choose web hosting appeared first on Signal + Hearth.

You figured out what you want to name your new business and you’re ready to build your first website! Now what? You’ll need to buy a domain name and get hosting. Time to see if the domain name you want is available, and snag it for yourself! 

To do that, you’ll have to get the name you want at a domain name registrar. The registrar then registers your domain name with ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), after which you officially own the domain. 

Technically, you’re registering your domain name for a set period of time. You can’t buy it and then own it for life, but will have to renew your registration periodically. 

You can register domain names whenever you like, even if you don’t have a website or hosting yet. Good domain names tend to be taken fast, so I’d suggest doing it sooner rather than later!

Read on for the quick guide on how to register your domain name and some tips and advice for a smoother process.

*This post contains affiliate links for tools and resources that I have tried, used, and love. Click here for my full disclosure statement. Thanks for your support!

Buy your domain name: a step-by-step guide

1. Visit a domain registrar to first check if your domain name is available. 

I use Domain.com and find it really easy to manage, and that’s what I used in the screenshots below. However, the process will be very similar with other registrars.

Alternatively, if you are planning to use Bluehost for your hosting needs, you can get a free domain from them for a year.

Search your preferred domain name to see if it’s available.

2. If your choice is available, it will be automatically added to your cart. You might be shown recommendations for similar domain names to “secure your brand”, so to speak.

Some businesses opt to purchase domain names that reflect common misspellings so that they can redirect that traffic to the correct site. Others buy similar names or multiple TLDs (top level domains, otherwise known as domain extensions) to avoid sharing similar domain names with other businesses.

In most cases, this is probably overkill and you won’t have to worry about it.

You have a couple of options if your domain name is unavailable. There are ways to pursue a domain name that someone else has purchased, which I won’t get into here as most people aren’t interested in the hassle involved.

You can try searching a different domain name to find one that is available. Alternatively, you can try a variation with a different TLD. 

Domain.com makes it easy for you by offering a list of available suggestions that include TLD variations as well as variations on the full name, with corresponding one-year pricing.

So for example, if creativepursuits.com isn’t available, explore your options like creativepursuits.design, .tech, or creativebusiness.com. (I know they’re not great examples, I’m just trying to illustrate my point!)

If you’re picking a different TLD from the list of suggestions then you can go ahead and add your domain name choice to the cart!

3. You can’t purchase a domain for life. Instead, most registrars will offer it for a number of years.

If you’re concerned about forgetting to renew your purchase, you can purchase your domain name for a longer period of time OR just enable reminders and auto-billing to ensure your site suddenly doesn’t have an address. 

Pick the length of time you want to purchase the domain name for, select any add-ons you want, then make your purchase!

4. Your registrar will send you information confirming your purchase and your login credentials to manage your domain.

Things to consider when buying a domain

Choosing a domain registrar

You don’t have to buy your domain name from the same place that you get your hosting.

In fact, I encourage getting your domain name and hosting services from separate companies. This way, if you decide you want to switch hosting services later, you can do it easily without worrying about having to move your domain name as well.

Choosing a domain name and TLD

Your TLD is the last part of your domain name, most popularly the “.com”. 

.com URLs are popular and easy for others to remember, so it tends to be first choice for most people. Also, smartphone keyboards have a dedicated ‘.com’ key which makes it easier to type in a website address, so it’s a smart move to make your visitors’ lives a little easier.

However, if it makes sense for your business, then go ahead and choose something like .space, .me, or .design! 

You can expect most .com domains to cost around $15 per year, though it could be less or more (sometimes significantly more). Pricing for non-‘.com’ TLDs can really vary.

Try to keep your website address short and simple. Type it out the way it would look in a browser address bar with no spaces and show it to a couple of friends to make sure it reads the way you want. 

To make it more search engine-friendly, use your brand name and/or keywords in the domain name. 

Choosing add-ons: privacy protection

ICANN requires that you provide accurate contact information. (You’ll want to make sure to update this with your registrar if you change your address.) 

If you have concerns about your address being listed with your domain purchase, you’ll want to include privacy registration (WHOIS Protection) in your purchase.

It will be offered as an option before you check out. Namecheap even offers it for free. You will have to renew privacy protection when you renew your domain.

Alternatively, use a postal box address if you’d rather not register your domain name using your private address.

Choosing add-ons: SSL certificate

You will want an SSL certificate, but most reputable registrars now offer basic SSL for free. An SSL cert keeps your website safe to browse and helps you rank in search engine results – secure sites are better for business!

Unless you handle sensitive information like credit card numbers on your website, a basic SSL certificate should suffice and will help keep visitors to your site safe. In the event that you do start processing information that needs to be secured, you can easily upgrade to a premium SSL certificate.

When enabled, it will show in your URL as the ‘s’ in “HTTPS” and visitors will know that your website is secure as a padlock icon will show next to the URL in your browser window. In fact, some browsers won’t even open unsecure sites, so don’t skip this!

Choosing add-ons: email registration

Some domain registrars offer email registration so that your email address looks professional and reflects your business. If you aren’t sure whether you need this yet, you can skip it for now and upgrade later.

And that’s it, simple and easy! Ready to buy hosting and get your website online? Here’s my (very) simple guide to choosing a web host based on your current priorities.

The post How to buy a domain name appeared first on Signal + Hearth.

I’ve been so caught up with the excitement of setting my new year goals and planning for them. In fact, I was almost surprised when my old familiar fears and mental blocks hit. And I wasn’t the only person coming up against imposter syndrome.

I was chatting with a good friend who published her first book a while back. I’m so proud of her accomplishment, but I wasn’t surprised when she said that she was uncomfortable marketing her book. She was afraid she might waste people’s money and time and wasn’t thinking about what she had to offer her audience with her book. 

Another highly-talented person close to me just got his dream job, a pay raise, and mentorship with an idol. He was more worried about how he might mess up than being excited about having secured this very competitive position. He wan’t thinking about all about the success and growth he would be bringing to the company.

Imposter syndrome is an insidious thing though, creeping up everywhere and feeding on internalised fears, doubts, and even expectations.

Kajabi, the content marketing platform, recently released a study. They found that an astounding 84% of entrepreneurs and small business owners experience imposter syndrome. 

Here’s the thing though: most small business owners and entrepreneurs often succeed at tasks they worry they’re going to fail at. 

So how do you deal with imposter syndrome when it starts creeping in? Here are a few things I have learned. They range from general approaches to specific things you can do right now. Try these ideas to squash your doubts and gain a little boost of confidence!

Knowledge is power

Learn to be aware when imposter syndrome comes up. (It probably affects your thoughts and decisions more frequently than you might expect.) Learn about it as it affects you specifically.

Ask questions about your imposter syndrome. Which beliefs have you internalised about yourself that lead you to question your capacity? What are your expectations of yourself? How much of that is dictated by how you feel others might perceive you? What events trigger it? On occasions when you do overcome it, what worked? When you were unable to overcome it, what would have helped?

Market yourself

Tell people what you do

Here’s a story. When I first started a web design business, I was too afraid to tell anyone. 

I am self-taught. With all my experience building websites and planning marketing strategies and copywriting and designing and running a business, I was too embarrassed to say the words “I am a web designer”. I felt this way even though I was obviously confident enough in my skills to risk starting the business in the first place!

It was like I was afraid someone would catch me in a lie because the experience was new to me. 

I noticed my imposter syndrome would kick up whenever someone asked me what I did. I would get uncomfortable or nervous and embarrassed and give them a vague answer.

It didn’t help that I was just getting to know my partner’s family and, naturally, everyone wanted to know more about me! 

I decided that the next time someone asked about my job, I would tell them that I’m a web designer. I practiced this in a mirror. I literally pretended someone was asking me what I did, and I explained to my mirror that I just started a web design business. 

When someone actually asked me about it, I kept my answer brief and simple and actually used that answer. Just like I had practiced in my mirror.

What I eventually found was that people are happy for me, or they accept it as matter of fact and move on with the conversation. No one is out to get me, no one is trying to trip me up. They’re just curious. When I share this about myself, they learn a little more about me, and I started to believe internally that I am a real-life web designer.

Tell even more people what you do

Once I started feeling more comfortable thinking of myself as a web designer, I decided that I would make it more public. 

I don’t use social media much and generally never post about work on personal accounts, but here are a few ideas that I have tried:

• I posted a photo of myself holding my business card up to the camera and publicly announced it when I officially launched my business.
• In personal conversations and also in online settings among strangers, I started saying that I am a web designer or that I own a web design business. I even talked about some of the work I was doing and the experience I was having.
• I designed a (very) simple banner that said I build websites, and then posted it on my personal Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. (The Facebook one got some real love, I tell ya.)

Build up a bank of personal success stories

I’ve talked before about building a folder to store all your successes. Use a physical folder or digital one to capture your achievements and compliments you’ve had on your work. 

Pick a project, job, or volunteer experience, and list out the ways in which you brought value to it that others appreciated.

The last thing I just added to my folder is a text from a friend that expresses how much she loves my business website. Simple text, major confidence injection.

Refer to this folder whenever you need a boost on confidence!

Recognize that you don’t have to be perfect, or know everything

Not knowing something doesn’t make you a fraud, it makes you a student.”

Marie Forleo

Find a community for support. They’ll not only help you see past your doubts, they’ll also help you find answers when you need them. 

I used to assume finding a community meant I had to find a group of friends among my existing social circle. 

I have learned that, despite my misgivings about Facebook as a company, there are some incredible Facebook groups made up of intelligent, supportive people who are there for your success and demand of you your best efforts. 

Find a few that share your values and goals and start networking there!

Also, if you are able to, find mentors who have been where you are now and know how to support your growth. They’ll be among the biggest catalysts for your personal and career growth, I promise you.

Get off the ‘gram

Remember that Kajabi study I mentioned at the beginning of this post? It turns out small business owners and entrepreneurs have a tendency to compare themselves to the people around them and often feel less intelligent or competent.

When my imposter syndrome gets really bad, I find it helpful to deactivate my social media accounts for a while. I can go months without looking at Instagram or Facebook, but you might find even a one-week break beneficial for your mental health.

I find that what happens is I stop thinking about what everyone else is doing and focus on what I need to accomplish.

If you are serious about managing your imposter syndrome, I suggest picking one thing from this list to act on immediately. Something quick and easy. 

If you haven’t already, perhaps design that Facebook banner for your personal profile. Nothing complex, don’t think about it too hard. Just head over to Canva and look through their Facebook cover templates, but make sure it states what you do. Here are a few examples:

Remember that you’re growing, always. I still constantly struggle to overcome my discomfort asking for help and making offers.

However, these exercises not only let me position myself to other people, but more importantly, flipped a switch in my brain that allowed me to believe, deep down, that I am unquestionably a web designer with real value to offer my clients. And that is valuable stuff.

Resources

1. You can find the study I referenced above here.

The post Overcoming imposter syndrome as an entrepreneur appeared first on Signal + Hearth.