Building your Brand

In this episode, I have such an interesting chat with graphic designer Bhavini Lakhani, a specialist in brand identity and marketing collateral.
Get your notebook out because her tips are SO helpful. Bhavini shares her journey from an unexpected start in self-employment following a redundancy in 2011 to becoming an expert in branding for small, independent businesses.
Together, we demystify essential design principles, from color contrast and font legibility to the science of hierarchy offering simple, actionable tweaks that you can implement immediately to build trust and boost sales.
This episode is sponsored by Ivy Malik. Ivy has created a free training to help you understand how higher-paying clients actually think, behave and buy, so you can attract and sell to them more confidently. If you want sales to feel more natural (and less awkward), head to lizmosley.net/Ivy to watch the free training.
Key Takeaways
First Impressions are Critical: You get only one chance to make a first impression; intentional branding communicates professionality and builds the trust necessary for clients to invest in you.
Prioritize Accessibility for Sales: Using high color contrast and legible fonts ensures that potential customers can actually find your contact details and make a purchase.
Stop Center-Aligning Long Text: Left-aligned text is significantly easier for the human brain to process; center-aligning long emails can frustrate readers and lead to missed sales.
Lead the Eye with Hierarchy: Coordinating different font sizes and weights allows you to direct your viewer exactly where you want them to look first.
Consistency Boosts ROI: Using brand elements consistently across all platforms builds immediate recognition and can increase your return on investment by as much as 23%.

Episode Highlights

03:41: We discuss the flexibility of self-employment and working around family life
07:07: Common branding frustrations and the importance of tonal variety in colour palettes
10:55: Discussion on font legibility, the pitfalls of script fonts, and the importance of "kerning" (letter spacing)
16:38: Why you should avoid center-aligning email newsletters to prevent losing potential customers
19:54: Understanding visual hierarchy and leading the audience's eye through a design
23:14: How brand consistency impacts trust, recognition, and ROI
About the Guest
Website: B81designs.com
Instagram: @b81design
LinkedIn: Bhavini Lakhan

Mentioned in the episode:
Ivy Malik: Friend of the podcast and sponsor of this episode! Get a free training video on co-creating sales at lizmosley.net/ivy
Bhavini's Book: A self-published guide with easy-to-follow design tips, available on Amazon or as a digital copy on her website

End Credits:
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this solo episode, I'm unpacking comparison culture in the creative industries and the impact it can have on our confidence, creativity, and how we show up online.
After seeing some negativity and public mocking circulating online recently, it got me thinking about how easy it is for comparison to spiral into jealousy, criticism, or self-doubt; especially in creative work that feels deeply personal. I share my own experiences of navigating negative comments, the fear of sharing work publicly, and the mindset shifts that help me channel comparison into something healthier and more constructive.
If you've ever felt discouraged by someone else's success or found yourself questioning your own work after scrolling online, this episode is for you.
 
Key Takeaways
1. Comparison is normal but how we respond matters It's natural to compare ourselves to others, especially in creative industries. The important thing is how we process those feelings.
2. Sharing your work online comes with vulnerability Putting yourself and your creativity out there means opening yourself up to opinions, criticism, and misunderstanding.
3. Jealousy can reveal what you truly want Sometimes comparison highlights desires or goals you haven't fully acknowledged yet.
4. Someone else's success doesn't take away from yours Creative opportunities aren't finite. Another person's win doesn't mean there's less available for you.
5. Turning comparison into encouragement changes everything Using those feelings as a prompt to encourage others, or focus on your own growth, creates a much healthier mindset.
 
Episode Highlights
00:30 – Why comparison culture in creative industries has been on my mind 02:00 – The fear of sharing work online & dealing with criticism 05:30 – Jealousy, social media & asking yourself better questions 08:00 – Scarcity mindset vs abundance mindset in creative work 10:00 – Detaching your self-worth from your creativity
 
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written, recorded and produced by me
If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube.
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode, I chat to my 'graphic design daughter' Robin Son, a branding designer and podcast host who has built a thriving creative business in just three years without any formal training.
Robin shares her incredible journey from working at KFC to launching her design career during maternity leave; all while sitting in the corner of her mum's kitchen during newborn nap times.

We discuss the power of learning on the job, the efficiency of the "One Concept Method," and how Robin strategically used social media to grow an audience of over 100,000 followers.
This episode is sponsored by Ivy Malik. Ivy has created a free training to help you understand how higher-paying clients actually think, behave and buy, so you can attract and sell to them more confidently. If you want sales to feel more natural (and less awkward), head to lizmosley.net/Ivy to watch the free training.
Key Takeaways
The Best Way to Learn is by Doing: Robin and Liz both agree that the fastest way to master complex tools like Adobe Illustrator or InDesign is to have a real client project with a deadline.

Confidence Over Credentials: Despite being self-taught, Robin's willingness to say "yes" to projects and figure out the technical details later allowed her to scale quickly and attract international clients from day one.

Maximize Your Content: Robin grew her following by repurposing single projects into multiple types of content, including mood boards, process reels, and logo suites.

The Power of the One Concept Method: Presenting only the strongest design concept can save time and reinforce your authority as an expert.

Episode Highlights
01:40 - Robin's backstory: From retail jobs to starting a design career during maternity leave
04:40 - The "fake it 'til you make it" approach to learning Adobe Illustrator
05:10 - Liz's first big project: Learning InDesign on the fly for a charity annual report
07:00 - Pricing and the panic of those first few $50 client projects
10:50 - Why Robin has used the "One Concept Method" since her very first client
14:50 - The strategy behind growing from 2k to 20k followers in just six weeks
About the Guest
Website: https://brandsbyrobin.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandsbyrobin/
Robin's podcast: https://podfollow.com/creativeconfessions
 

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft ( lucylucraft.co.uk)
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this solo episode, I'm giving you a behind-the-scenes look at where my clients actually come from, what's converting into paid work, and what I've learned from finally tracking my enquiries properly.
I share the surprising patterns I noticed around repeat clients and referrals and the role my podcast and Instagram relationships are playing in my business growth. I also chat about transparent pricing, why personal connection matters more than cold outreach for me, and what a high conversion rate might actually be telling you.
If you're a creative business owner wondering how to attract more aligned clients, this episode will give you an honest glimpse into what's working for me right now.
Key Takeaways
1. Repeat clients are a powerful sign of a healthy business One of the biggest sources of enquiries came from previous clients returning for more work, which says a lot about trust and client experience.
2. Referrals are still one of the best ways to get clients Personal recommendations continue to bring in highly aligned enquiries and strong-fit clients.
3. Content builds trust long before someone enquires Whether through Instagram, the podcast, or ongoing online conversations, many clients felt like they already knew Liz before reaching out.
4. Transparent pricing helps attract better-fit enquiries Having pricing guidelines on the website helps filter enquiries and leads to a much higher conversion rate.
5. Relationships matter more than cold marketing The common thread across most enquiries was some kind of personal connection or familiarity—not strangers finding the business out of nowhere.
Episode Highlights
00:30 – Why I started tracking where my clients come from 01:20 – The power of referrals, repeat clients & relationship-building 03:20 – How clients usually contact me (email, Instagram & WhatsApp) 04:35 – Why transparent pricing leads to higher conversions
 
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written, recorded and produced by me
If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube.
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode, I chat with Jeanetta Gonzales a multidisciplinary artist, illustrator, surface pattern designer, and mentor to creatives . Jeanette shares her journey from the early days of graphic design (pre-internet!) to building a thriving career in art licensing and coaching .
We dive deep into the emotional side of creativity, discussing how to overcome imposter syndrome, why we often seek "permission" to follow our dreams, and how to spot the early warning signs of burnout .
If you need permission to REST this is the episode for you!
This episode is sponsored by Ivy Malik. Ivy has created a free training to help you understand how higher-paying clients actually think, behave and buy, so you can attract and sell to them more confidently. If you want sales to feel more natural (and less awkward), head to lizmosley.net/Ivy to watch the free training.

Key Takeaways
The Confidence Connection: Most creative blocks; whether they relate to portfolio building or pitching, are rooted in a lack of confidence and the feeling of not being "good enough".
Permission is Personal: Many creatives stay stagnant because they are waiting for external permission to take the next big leap. Recognizing that you have the power to give yourself that permission is the first step toward action.
Creativity and Life are Intertwined: Unlike data-driven roles, creative work is deeply influenced by personal life events. It is essential to nurture your environment to protect your creative output.
Recognizing Burnout Early: Learn to identify when your creativity "nose dives" as a signal to rest before you hit total exhaustion.




Episode Highlights
04:02: Navigating the "dot-com bomb" of 2000 and surviving economic uncertainty in the creative industry.
06:55: The most common struggles Jeanetta sees in her 10 years of coaching artists. 
09:42: Why we look for "permission" and how a coach provides a safe space for creative growth. 
13:50: Practical advice for working through a "funk" or a period of low creative confidence. 
15:59: Identifying the "alarm bells" of burnout and the importance of rest.
19:10: How to handle comparison and "negative voices" from the past that hinder your current work.

About the Guest
Website: jeanettagonzales.com
Instagram: @nettdesigns
Mentioned in the Episode
Ivy Malik: Sales coach and mentor (Free training at lizmosley.net/ivy ).
UCLA: Where Jeanetta attended art school
Software Tools: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, and the "old school" Freehand and QuarkXPress

End Credits
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!