Have you ever thought about collaborating with other brands as part of your business and brand? It's definitely something I've been exploring and today on the podcast, I'm chatting to Phoebe Sherman, who I actually met through working with Adobe.

In this episode, Phoebe shares her wealth of experience working with a variety of brands, how it has fitted into her business, and her top tips for finding collaborations, building relationships, and working successfully with brands. If you've been thinking about brand partnerships, or are just curious about how they work, I really hope you enjoy this episode!

Key Takeaways

• Having multiple revenue streams can help your business navigate uncertainty and changes in consumer behaviour.
• Brand partnerships can be a significant revenue stream and you don't need a million followers or a service-based business to pursue them.
• Be prepared to pitch to brands, follow up multiple times (initial email and two follow-ups), and don't be afraid to negotiate your rates, especially regarding usage rights for your content.
• Finding brands to partner with involves understanding your audience, paying attention to the ads you see, and researching who to contact within a company (marketing manager, social media manager, PR email).
• It's important to align yourself with brands that share your values, but also be aware that this can be complicated and may change over time; trusting your intuition and being willing to say no to opportunities that aren't the right fit is key.

Episode Highlights

• 00:01:07 - Phoebe shares the origin story of Girl Gang Craft and its evolution.
• 00:05:05 - Discussing the challenges of letting go of aspects of the business that are no longer working.
• 00:08:46 - Phoebe reveals the significant revenue generated from brand deals and her future goals.
• 00:12:58 - Practical advice on how to find and pitch to potential brand partners.
• 00:21:54 - Tips and insights on negotiating fees and understanding usage rights in brand collaborations.

About the Guest

You can find Phoebe on Instagram at @‌GirlGangCraft and at @‌PhoebeSherman. She is also on TikTok at @‌phoebe.sherman.

Mentioned in the episode

• Adobe Express
• Beyond Nine (Beyond Nine pants)
• Boomerang (email tool)
• Phoebe's free brand script
• Phoebe's brand partnership class

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. 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 episode I chat with Nicky Borowiec about her journey from in-house creative roles to establishing her own business as a design and brand consultant specialising in the publishing industry. We delve into the advantages of being a sole creative when pitching against larger agencies, and we explore valuable insights into the pitching process, client communication, and pricing strategies.

Key Takeaways:

• Being a sole trader can be a superpower, offering cost-effectiveness, specialised knowledge, and a more personalised client experience compared to larger agencies.

• Transitioning from a freelancer to a consultant mindset can significantly impact business growth and client interactions by shifting the focus from seeking approval to providing expert guidance.

• Automation and systemisation are crucial for streamlining business operations, saving time on administrative tasks, and allowing more focus on creative work.

Episode Highlights:

• 00:01:00: Nicky discusses her 17-year career in creative roles in publishing, including marketing design, book cover design, and managing design teams.

• 00:07:00: Nicky shares her experience of pitching against bigger agencies and how being a sole trader can be a strength.

• 00:12:00: We explore strategies for pricing work, respecting your value, and charging your worth.

• 00:25:00: Nicky provides insights into automating business processes to save time and improve efficiency.

• 00:33:00: We discuss the use of AI tools to streamline business operations.

About the Guest:

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Alison Jones (Website)
• Alison Jones (Episode)
• Katie Chappell (Website)
• Katie Chappell (Episode)
• Hannah’s book
• Adobe Express (aff link)
• British Library mentoring course

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!

There's something about writing a book that seems so glamorous, so I'm always keen to hear from people who've actually done it and can give me an honest review of what it's like.

So in this episode, I chat with previous guest, Alice Benham, about her experience of writing her bestselling book The Digital Marketing Handbook. We delve into the ins and outs of the book-writing process, the strategic reasons behind writing a book for your business and the impact it can have. Alice was super honest about the experience, including the challenges and legal issues she faced.

If you've ever considered writing a book for your business, this episode is a must-listen!

Key Takeaways:

• Writing a book can be a strategic move for business owners, helping to elevate their brand and establish them as thought leaders.

• The book-writing process can be challenging and time-consuming, with unexpected hurdles such as editing, design and legal issues.

• Launching a book requires a different skill set than writing one, and it's important to have a strategy in place to maximise its impact.

• It is important to set your expectations, it might take over your life for up to two years.

Episode Highlights:

• 03:31 The Book Deal Journey

• 11:15 Editing Challenges and Lessons

• 19:30 Legal Issues and High-Level Problems

• 23:51 Balancing Business Growth and Personal Goals

• 33:39 The Challenges of Book Promotion

About the Guest:

Alice Benham is a business strategist who helps people to take their big vision into their daily action.

• Website: alicebenham.co.uk

• Podcast: Starting the Conversation

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Buy Alice's book The Digital Marketing Handbook on Amazon | Bookshop.Org | Waterstones

• Meg Fatharly

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 (http://lucylucraft.co.uk)

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Have you ever considered how your desk affects your productivity? Or if the background of your Zoom chats could be tweaked to reflect your brand? In this episode I chat with interior designer and podcast host Becca Mizzi-Harris about the impact physical spaces have on people's perceptions of a brand.

We explore how to create spaces that truly reflect a brand's values and intentions and Becca provides really helpful tips about how brands can use using design elements like colour, furniture, and layout to evoke specific feelings and enhance brand identity.

I'm already excited to have a desclutter and perhaps get a neon logo too ;)

Key Takeaways:

• The design of a physical space should align with the brand's values and desired customer experience.

• Colour plays a crucial role in creating the right atmosphere, but it's essential to consider factors like the building's orientation .

• Furniture choices, including style, fabrics, and finishes, contribute to the overall feel and should complement the brand's image .

• It's important to consider the practical use of the space and how it can be set up to support daily tasks and activities .

• Attention to detail is crucial; small elements can significantly impact how people perceive and experience a space .

Episode Highlights:

• 00:06:00 - How furniture choices reflect brand identity .

• 00:07:30 - The importance of brand guidelines in the design process .

• 00:11:40 - Tips for incorporating brand elements into a home office .

• 00:19:50 - The impact of a room's orientation on colour choice .

• 00:21:50 - The importance of consistency in wood finishes .
  

About the Guest:

Becca Mizzi Harris is a freelance interior designer specializing in commercial spaces such as shops, offices, cafes, and hospitality venues .

• Instagram: @Stiwdio.mh

• LinkedIn | Website | Podcast

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 (www.lucylucraft.co.uk)

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5* rating and review!1

I really love trying new things for my business, whether that’s Reels, or AI or something else fun and shiny! And I REALLY love chatting to people who’ve managed to master something new so, in this episode, I chat with Felly Day all about using Threads for business.

Felly has been using Threads consistently and has seen great success in attracting clients and getting people to sign up for her programs. It blew my mind how she approaches content repurposing.

We discussed her experiences, what's been effective, and what she's noticed about the platform. It was a really interesting conversation and I'm excited to give Threads another go myself.

If you're curious about marketing your business on Threads, you’ll find this episode super helpful.

Key Takeaways:

• Threads is a great platform for "train of thought" marketing, allowing for quick, unfiltered sharing of thoughts and ideas.

• Engagement on other people's posts can be just as important, if not more so, than your own original posts.

• Don't be afraid to include links to sales pages in your Threads content.

• Authenticity and transparency are key on Threads – share your journey and build trust with your audience.

• Threads can be a valuable tool for repurposing content and validating ideas.

Episode Highlights:

About the Guest:

Felly Day runs a content repurposing agency. You can find her on Threads and Instagram as @‌FellyDay and on her website at FellyDay.com

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Liz Mosley's Instagram: @‌lizmmosley.

• Building Your Brand Podcast Instagram: @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast.

• Podcast production by Lucy Lucraft: http://lucylucraft.co.uk .

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 (http://lucylucraft.co.uk).

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode, I chat with Frankie Tortora, the founder of the Doing it for the Kids community and fellow graphic designer and podcaster!

Frankie shares her experiences, challenges, and rewards in building a thriving community for freelancing parents and, as I’m sure you’d expect, is super honest about some of the harsh realities of it.

Whether you’re considering starting a membership or a community, this episode is a really juicy deep dive into what it takes to do it.

Key Takeaways:

• Building a community is not as easy as it looks; it requires a lot of emotional labor and dedication.

• It is important to differentiate between building a community and building an audience, as they are not the same.

• Engaging with the community and modeling desired behavior is crucial for creating a positive and supportive environment.

• Dealing with churn is one of the biggest challenges of running a community.

• The rewards of building a community, such as seeing members connect and support each other, are invaluable.

Episode Highlights:

01:47 Frankie's Journey: From Freelancer to Community Builder

04:09 Challenges and Triumphs of Managing a Growing Community

07:17 Transitioning to a Paid Community Model

09:52 Understanding the Difference Between Community and Audience

22:06 Balancing Community Management with Freelance Work

About the Guest:

Frankie Tortora is the founder of the Doing it for the Kids community, an award-winning podcast, and a graphic designer.

• Community Website: doingitforthekids.net

• Graphic Design Website: francescatortora.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ftortora

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Circle (community platform)

• Penny Wincer (writer)

• Steve Folland (co-host of the "Doing it for the Kids" podcast and founder of the Being Freelance community)

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 (http://lucylucraft.co.uk )

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Remember my rejection challenge?! Of course you do! Well last summer I recorded an episode about it which led to someone contacting me to be on the podcast as part of their own rejection challenge! So, in this episode, I have a coaching session with Sam from The Float Space. Sam is a career and life coach who specialises in helping working mothers. In this episode, we delve into some of my resistance to sharing my work online and explore how I show up.

Key Takeaways:

• Identify your resistance to sharing your work online and explore ways to overcome it.
• Create a plan for how you're going to share your work online, starting with small steps.
• Be clear on your position of what you're going to do and actually do it.

Highlights:

02:41: I discuss my resistance to sharing my work online.

12:52: Exposure therapy.

14:45: The challenge of creating content that is good enough to share online.

20:52: The Ladder Method

About the Guest: Sam can be found on Instagram at @‌thefloat.space

Sam's website: thefloat.space

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 https://www.lucylucraft.co.uk

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!