An Inside Look at My Brand and Website Design Service

My love for graphic design and creative entrepreneurship is what led me to venture out and start Ponder Trail. I wanted to offer branding for small businesses and be a valuable resource, too.

While I have a page dedicated to my design service, I haven't yet spelled out the process on my blog.

So today, I’m sharing the details of my brand and website design package.

There are several features that make it a little different, and this post walks you through the process and highlights some of the elements that make it unique.

I hope you enjoy this in-depth look at what it’s like to work with me to transform the visual brand identity of your business.

4 Key Areas of Branding a Small Online Business

By now, you’ve probably heard it: a brand is more than just a logo.

As a brand identity designer, I know this first-hand and talk about it often on the blog. A business’s branding is created from building color palettes, pairing fonts, and through compiling an entire style guide—just to mention a few of the visual elements.

However, branding goes even deeper than what the outside of a business looks like. And many of these other critical areas are often neglected and in much disarray.

Branding is more of an abstract concept—like developing a writing style; it’s something that takes quite a bit of unpacking to understand fully because there are so many components and the possibilities are endless.

So I’ve broken the essentials of creating a brand into 4 simple parts to make it easy to digest and implement in any creative business.

Learn the ins and outs of these 4 key elements of branding in today’s crash course.

What is Branding? And Why it is Important?

These days, branding gets a lot of buzz. However, I still come across many businesses that just don’t seem to grasp the full concept of branding.

I suspect this is the case because branding is a bit difficult to master. It’s an abstract concept made up of many parts and often looks different for every creative company.

But the truth is, branding will either drag your business down or allow it to soar.

So it’s paramount for every entrepreneur to set aside time to delve into forming and refining their brand identity.

Maybe you’re new to learning about branding, or maybe you’ve already covered some bases. Either way, I’m spelling out the nitty gritty of this critical notion to make it easy to understand.

As a brand designer, this is one of my favorite topics to talk about, so I hope you glean some helpful insights from today’s post on branding basics!

Branding, Getting StartedSarah ForestMay 1, 2019creative business Comments

How to Plan 30 Days of Instagram Content

Planning Instagram content 30 days in advance has many benefits.

It allows you to create and prepare everything so you only need to spend a few minutes on Instagram each day.

It helps you to “show up” consistently without Instagram becoming your full-time job.

It saves so much time and lets you create an Instagram routine that works with your busy life.

And, you never again have to stress out about throwing a post together last-minute.

If you’re wishing for a better posting strategy, or if you’re just curious about this whole “planning” thing, you’ve come to the right place. Because today, I’m sharing my simple step-by-step process for intentionally planning 30 days of Instagram content.

Branding Project: Logo Suite for Rustic Spunk Decor

Caitlynn is in an exciting season for her business. She has just decided to transition her side-hustle into a framework that fits her family even better. With new things on the horizon for her and her husband, she wanted to focus on pursuing a new-found passion of clean living.

While she will be changing up the name and theme of her business, I still had to share her branding project and the fun logo I designed for her back when she was selling handmade candles and nature-inspired home decor.

Branding, PortfolioSarah ForestSeptember 27, 2018Portfolio, Design, Branding Project, Client Work, creative business Comments

An Inside Look at the Strategy Behind My Homepage

Last week, I shared a post about the 7 essential pages to include on your website. As I was writing, the content I wanted to share about the strategy behind a homepage kept growing, so I decided to create an in-depth post dedicated just to this one topic.

If you're itching for a look behind the scenes at the thought process and purpose behind an effective homepage, this post is for you!

If you already have a website, or if you're are just getting started with one, I hope you enjoy today's insights as I spill the beans on the strategy behind my homepage.

Business, Squarespace, BrandingSarah ForestSeptember 25, 2018Website, Strategy, Blog Pod, Experience, Design, creative business Comments

7 Essential Pages Every Website Needs (and the Strategies behind Them)

It’s no secret that every business in 2018 needs a website.

It’s the best place to build your online presence because you own and control your website.

. . . And because you won’t have to worry about changes to algorithms on social media.

While the possibilities are endless for designing and setting up your brand’s website, there are 7 pages in particular that are critical for a successful site.

Keep reading to learn how you can implement these essential pages on your business’s website.

How to Transform Your Service (or Course) into an Experience

People want to buy an experience--not just a service.

An experience elevates your service to something extra special.

It makes your service more beneficial and enjoyable for clients. It provides more value, which it makes your service worth more. And when clients get more out of your service, it helps you get better reviews and testimonials.

In today’s post, I’m sharing how to turn your service into an experience in 9 simple steps. (This system applies to courses, as well!)

Business, BrandingSarah ForestSeptember 19, 2018Experience, Value, Services, Blog Pod, creative business Comments

10 Reasons to Use Squarespace for Your Website Platform

I’m all about saving time.

As an entrepreneur, there’s always so much to do. From creating content for the blog and website to managing design work, my to-do list is in constant ebb and flow.

I’m sure you can relate, too.

Since my website is the headquarters of my business, it’s essential for me to use an effective platform that keeps things simple.

That’s why Squarespace is my website platform of choice. It’s among my list of top 5 things I couldn’t run my business without, and it’s one of the most effective time-saving tools I use.

Squarespace is simple, streamlined, and straightforward. And it has allowed me to be more intentional and strategic with my business. I recommend it to each of my design clients and to almost every creative entrepreneur I meet.

I’ve been a Squarespace user for over a year now, and here are 10 reasons why I love it.

Squarespace, Website DesignSarah ForestSeptember 7, 2018Blog Pod, Website, creative business Comments

7 Powerful Benefits of Strategy-Based Brand and Website Design

As creative small business owners, we wear a lot of hats.

From creating new offerings to blogging, marketing, and research, we strive to get the attention of our ideal customer or client.

Once we get their attention, we work hard to show them how our products or services can give them value.

Because we wear so many hats, it’s a game-changer when your business is equipped to carry some of that work for you so you can focus on what’s most important.

A well-designed brand does just that.

It puts the best face forward for your business so you don’t have to work as hard to attract your ideal audience or show your worth.

Not only does it make your business more appealing and professional, but the strategy behind a high-quality brand design creates many advantages.

If you have a creative business, here are 7 powerful benefits of a well-designed brand that no entrepreneur will want to miss.

Branding, DesignSarah ForestSeptember 3, 2018Blog Pod, Design, creative business Comments

The latest insights for creative entrepreneurs