brand strategy coach and branding website designer for creatives Sarah Forest at Ponder Trail

I'm Sarah, brand strategist and graphic designer.

Welcome to Ponder Trail, your guide for creative online business strategy, branding, and website conversion.

branding and website design for creatives
brand strategy coaching and custom design by Ponder Trail

I became an entrepreneur because of chalk-dust and a magical world. (But more on that story in a moment.)


 

Business strategy and branding for creative entrepreneurs.

 
 

I relate first-hand to the ideas, excitement, and hard work that goes into starting and growing a business. And I've known the feelings of frustration and failure, too.

When I dove into the creative business world five years ago, I didn't know why a niche was important or how to stand out amid a sea of brands. I thought I could offer everything and follow all of my ideas.

Thankfully, though, I learned a thing or two along the way.

The late nights, research, and trial-and-error taught me how to grow a profitable business that supported my personal goals and ideal lifestyle.

The more I experimented, explored, and discovered, the more I wanted to share my insights with others. So I created Ponder Trail to share everything I've learned and to guide you through your journey as a creative entrepreneur.

 

 

Give your business dreams a sprinkle of pixie dust:

 
 
 

Creative Business Coaching

Is it time to take that passion and start, grow, or scale your dream brand this year? Get strategies and support to make it happen.

Way more than just a pep talk, my in-depth coaching helps you navigate your business ideas and goals so you can make true progress and see results.

Find clarity, direction, and follow a tailored (and doable) action plan.

Also includes 3+ months access to the Treehouse Membership.

Get started today, and view the details of my fully customized creative business strategy program.

 
 

Brand and Website Design

Ready for a unique visual identity and website that stands out and attracts your audience?

Give your business more than a spruce with design that’s rooted in strategy and built to convert visitors into clients (so you can focus on more important tasks).

In addition to graphic design, with 6+ years of SEO, copywriting, marketing, and content-creation experience, no part of your brand is left uncovered.

Includes access to the Treehouse.

Learn more about my approach and process on my design service page.


Take action with time-saving tools:

 
 
 

Brand Strategy Membership

Want to skip the research, trial-and-error and time-wasting route?

Cut to the chase and join the productive strategy membership for busy creatives like you.

A new focused topic each month brings you weekly video lessons, guides, workbooks, and resources to keep in your back pocket as you journey along your own unique business adventure.

Includes a collection of graphics, stock photos, and captions each month.

View the details and features of my brand strategy Treehouse Membership.

 
 

Digital Tools for Creatives

There’s a lot that goes into being a creative entrepreneur, so we’ve already done a chunk of the work for you.

Start working towards your next goal today with tools made specifically for busy business owners.

Save time with products designed to help you take action and make progress.

View planners, workbooks, and more.

 

insights + resources

to implement strategy + grow your creative online business

BLOG
Tips and tricks to grow a thriving online business
new post on weekdays

PONDERSTREAM
A weekly webinar for creative entrepreneurs
new episode on Mondays

TRAIL CRUMBS
Online business action steps and strategies
delivered on Tuesdays


creative entrepreneur business story pondertrail

My Story

 

My entrepreneur dreams started with chalk-dust.

I was 8 years old, and my cousin and I were about to cash in on a million-dollar idea.

Well, we were trying.

Our vision was to make play dough out of giant, colorful sticks of side-walk chalk.

We turned the chalk sticks into dust by scraping them on the rims of our sand buckets.

It wasn't very efficient.

Several hours later (or so it seemed), a light dusting had collected far down in the bottoms of our buckets. We carefully gathered the chalk-dust onto a spoon and headed to the spigot to add some water.

We figured the water would create a clay-like consistency, but one-too-many drops trickled out, and our business efforts turned into an opaque, green puddle.

But we didn't let that stop us. Years later, we went on to make and sell "Lipshine" with the help of our sisters and a few other cousins. We made a whopping $3.25. (Haha.) I still have it set aside to this day.

While this little venture was by no means profitable, it taught me several lessons and ignited a flame and a passion that drew me towards having a "real" business someday.

My branding journey began with a magical world.

My love for design goes back to the same childhood days when my sister, cousins, and I wrote fiction stories. We lived our characters lives and created richly imagined adventures wherever we went.

We had a favorite magical world, and it had a brand. 

I thought of it as a set or a kit where everything fit together. I designed its "signature" (my term for logos back then). It was a tree with bright red apples and a hole in the trunk. (Very original, right?) I drew it on the top of every piece of paper like a letterhead.

We used green, red, blue, and brown crayons for most of our drawings, and everything was coordinated and felt enchanted. The names of landmarks and characters were flavored with nature and whimsy.

Then, in high school, I started a lifestyle magazine that I sent out to my cousins each month. Working on it was the highlight of my day, and I gained experience with layouts, formatting, writing, and editing.

A few years later, we started a collaborative lifestyle blog, and my favorite part was designing and updating the site to make it look beautiful and run smoothly. (Hence my love for a fully functional, branded, and well-designed website!)

 
 

And that's what kick-started my passion for entrepreneurship and branding.

 
 

After graduating college with a degree in English and Art, I pursued my passion for graphic design, branding, and business, and I put it to use while building a handmade knitwear and accessories shop from the ground up. It taught me about starting and growing a brand, and I learned a lot along the way.

I discovered that you can't just "start" a business; you have to create and nurture a thriving and profitable one (if you hope to keep it going). But that takes time and know-how, so I started Ponder Trail to share everything I've learned and to guide you through your journey as a creative entrepreneur.

 

brand strategy coaching, brand and website design for creatives

Work with Me

Ready to take your business to new territories? Let’s work 1-on-1 together this year!

Brand Strategy Coaching
Brand + Website Design

Now booking fall + winter 2022. And winter + spring 2023.