The Brand Strategy Podcast The Brand Strategy Podcast

Do you need a brand assessment for your creative, service-based business? Tune in to find out!







Today on the Brand Strategy Podcast, I’m chatting about brand assessments and how to figure out when it’s time to tap into that kind of support. You might be searching for clarity with your current brand as you attempt to figure out if your messaging, visuals, and website are still doing the heavy lifting for you. Or you might be curious about thoughtful updates and strategic changes that could take your current brand from minimally effective to wildly successful. A brand assessment can help you find that clarity!







And in today’s episode, I’m sharing just what goes into a brand assessment, how to identify it’s time for one, and steps you can take to enlist that support from an industry friend, a biz bestie, or a professional.







Tune into the full episode above to learn more!







Discover Brand Clarity through a Custom Brand Assessment







As a brand strategist and designer with over a decade of experience, I’ve been honored to support hundreds of clients throughout the years through my signature brand strategy process. And I’m thrilled to bring back my 1:1 Brand Clarity Sessions to help service-based entrepreneurs like you tap into tailored clarity on your current brand, website, and/or graphics in a way that cut through cycles of indecision, overthinking, or overwhelm.







If you’re feeling lost about what the next best step to take in order to elevate your brand or website looks like, you’re in the right place. With my decade of experience as a brand designer, strategist, and creative director, I’m here to help you elevate your current brand to align with your big picture goals. 









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REVIEW THE TRANSCRIPT:







Please note this transcript has been auto generated and may contain typos.







Bonnie (00:07):Hi, friend,

Showing up as Future You in your business right now.







Today on the Brand Strategy Podcast, I’m chatting about a fresh way of showing up in your creative business that inspires growth. You might have heard about the concept as showing up as the future version of yourself right now in order to think, act, and operate in a new way. But what does that actually look like, and how am I personally playing around with this approach in my own life and business?







In today’s short and sweet episode, I’m getting into it all in under 10 minutes. So hit play if you’re curious about hearing more!







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IN ORDER TO PROVIDE CONTENT YOU LOVE I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRAND STRATEGY PODCAST AND LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW HERE. THE MORE REVIEWS, THE MORE I’M ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS FREE-ACTIONABLE CONTENT!







REVIEW THE TRANSCRIPT:







Please note this transcript has been auto generated and may contain typos.







Bonnie:Hi, friend, and welcome to the Brand Strategy Podcast, a show created to equip you with the inspiration, encouragement, and clarity you need to build a brand of your dreams. I’m your host, Bonnie Bakhtiari, brand designer, strategist, and founder of the Illume Retreat. From sustainable Strategy to heartfelt Encouragement. Each episode is designed to equip you with the tools you need to chase after your dreams, because you deserve a brand that empowers you to do what you love, connects with your dream clients, and offers a deep sense of fulfillment along the way. So grab a cup of coffee and join me on this journey, won’t you?







Today I’m sharing a little bit of bite-sized episode that is intended to hopefully encourage you wherever you are in your journey as a creative. So whether you’re just getting started and you’re building your business, or you’re in those seasons of scaling and you, like me, have been in business for years and you’re exploring what further growth looks like along the way, I wanted to share with you something that has really been resonating with me. It’s actually kind of some advice that, um, I’ve been taking myself. And it is along the theme of making decisions and showing up as the version of you that aligns with your big picture and long-term definition of success. So if you’ve been a longtime listener, then you know that, um,

Making your marketing feel more fun with a custom quiz







In today’s episode of the podcast, I’m sharing how service-based businesses and creatives can use a custom quiz to make marketing feel more fun, inspire deeper connection with your ideal clients, and increase conversions in the long run! No matter how many times you’ve seen them in action before, a custom quiz can be so effective.







If you’ve ever used an online tool to find your perfect concealer match or to determine which running shoes meet your needs, there’s absolutely a way to take inspiration from e-commerce uses and leverage them to connect with your incredible ideal clients through your own custom quiz. If you love the idea of having more fun with your marketing, engaging your potential clients more intentionally, and ultimately driving more conversions, then this episode may be for you, friend.







Be sure to tune into the full episode above.







Resources to help you make your own custom quiz









* Links to Resources Mentioned in this Episode:



* Bonnie’s Expert Brand Quiz: If you want to see what a custom quiz can look like in action, here’s a link to a self-guided assessment I created for my ideal clients to help them figure out what specific steps they need to take to propel their brand towards success!







* Embed an Interact Quiz on Your Showit Website: For my fellow Showit users who want to utilize a custom quiz on your website, here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to do just that. No complex coding or professional web designer required.







* People-Led Marketing: The main marketing strategy I’ve been using (and loving!) lately. Catch up on this episode of the podcast here.













Try Interact + Create Your Own Custom Quiz







Take this fun quiz to find out what kind of quiz you could create!







Try Interact out for free and, if you love it, use code BSP25 to save 25% off of any plan. Check it out here!







Some of the links above are affiliate links. Thank you for your support!







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ACQUIRING HIGH QUALITY CLIENTS AS A CREATIVE SERVICE PROVIDER







In today’s episode of the podcast, I’m chatting with Growth Strategist Marion Wagner about effective lead generation strategies for service providers. As a creative business owner, you’ve probably heard all sorts of advice around lead gen, but what are strategies actually worth implementing and which ones just won’t cut for you? In today’s episode, Marion is peeling back the curtain on lead gen tactics that aren’t worth your time, and she shares what to do instead to reach your ideal clients!







If this kind of topic is just what you’re looking for, then be sure to tune into the full episode above!







TAKEAWAYS + HELPFUL INSIGHTS TO Master Lead Gen in 2024









* Authentic Engagement: In today’s episode, Marion emphasizes the power of authentic engagement by sharing her journey from blogger to Growth Strategist and Lead Generation Expert. She also shares an engagement tip that creates the opportunity for meaningful interactions to build genuine connections.







* Mistakes to Avoid:



* Follow-Unfollow Game: Marion warns against this outdated tactic of using follow loops or giveaways. This is so 2015 anyway, right?







* Cold DM Approach: Sending unsolicited direct messages to people who don’t follow you is deemed a high-effort, low-quality lead generation strategy.







* Buying Followers: The outdated practice of purchasing followers is discouraged, as it yields inactive and disinterested accounts.







* Paying for Ads Without a Proven Offer: Marion advises against investing in ads until you a proven, well-received offer to share. This ensures you’re able to use your resources more wisely and see bigger positive outcomes as a result!







* Focus on Follower Count Over Relationships: Marion challenges the misconception that the once-coveted 10K follower count is worth it. She instead encourages building relationships by being authentic, sharing stories, and adding value. The emphasis is on quality rather than quantity, especially for those aiming for their first consistent five-figure months.











* Looking Ahead to 2024: Marion anticipates the continued importance of relationships in the online space. She advises focusing on building connections, vulnerability, and storytelling to resonate with the audience. In fact, Marion’s upcoming book, “Small Audience Big Income,” dives even deeper into this theme!









CONNECT WITH Marion







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Intentional Business Trends Creatives + Service Providers in 2024







In today’s episode of the podcast, I’m chatting about the biggest business trends I anticipate impacting the way we show up both internally and externally in our businesses as creatives and service providers in 2024! The way we did things back in 2019 no longer applies, and for many of us that’s a fantastic thing. This episode shares creative ways to strategically do business your own way as we continue to dive into 2024 with intention. If this kind of topic is just what you’re looking for, then be sure to tune into the full episode above!







Intentional Business Trend Takeaways From This Episode:









* Descaling Your Business:



* I’m sharing how we’re now seeing an intentional shift away from relentless growth to thoughtful downsizing.







* Now more than ever, it’s important to align your business structure with your personal goals as the CEO of your business, along with your financial goals.







* Let’s normalize running your business in a way that works for you. Whether you dream of having a massive team or you want to stay a solopreneur, choose what works for you.











* Rethinking Million-Dollar Goals:



* At this stage in the game, do we really need to keep chasing after ever-increasing financial milestones?







* How to assess your actual financial needs and redefine success accordingly.







* Leveraging your self-awareness in determining your future business goals.











* Return of Long-Form Content:



* Blogs are back, baby! Did they ever really leave, though? In all seriousness, we’re seeing a huge resurrection of blogs, email marketing, and newsletters.







* Why long-form content on channels you own (like your newsletter or your blog) trump short-form content on channels you’re simply borrowing (like TikTok and Instagram).







* How creating more long-form content can pave the way for a deeper connection with your audience through meaningful, substantial content.











* Doing Business Your Own Way:



* We’re independent business owners so why do we insist on running our businesses like big corporate structures?







* Why I skipped the January goal-setting frenzy this year, and what I’m doing instead.







* Advocating for self-compassion as we evolve and experiment with our business strategies.













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Acquiring High Quality Clients as a Creative Service Provider







In today’s episode of the podcast, I’m chatting about attracting high quality clients with business growth coach Heidi Taylor. As a creative service provider, you may have found yourself connecting with clients who aren’t quite the best fit for your unique service. And in this episode of the Brand Strategy Podcast, Heidi shows us how to leverage our individual strengths to call in our ideal clients. If this kind of topic is just what you’re looking for, then be sure to tune into the full episode above!







Takeaways + Helpful Insights to Acquire High Quality Clients









* Identifying Challenges in Client Acquisition: This conversation with Heidi delves into the challenges creatives and service-based business owners face in attracting the right clients, like dealing with low-quality leads, evolving beyond the current audience, and unconsciously continuing to sell to client who aren’t quite the right fit.







* Leveraging Strengths for Client Alignment: Heidi emphasizes the importance of understanding and leveraging individual strengths, using the Gallup StrengthsFinder assessment as a tool. She shares some fantastic examples of clients who successfully shifted their focus by aligning their strengths with their client’s complementary strengths.







* Language and Messaging in Marketing: Heidi shares the significance of using client language informed by strengths to attract clients who truly are the right fit. Heidi provides practical tips into how adjusting language and marketing strategies can lead to more effective client communication.







* Case Studies: Heidi shares two case studies where clients underwent significant shifts in their businesses by reassessing their strengths, client relationships, and aligning their services with their natural abilities.







* Final Takeaway: Heidi encourages business owners to conduct a yearly postmortem on their businesses, evaluating client alignment, strengths, and overall satisfaction. She offers a free resource for the audience to guide them through this process.









CONNECT WITH HEIDI







Heidi’s Instagram







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Leave a Review!







LIKE THE SHOW?







IN ORDER TO PROVIDE CONTENT YOU LOVE I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRAND STRATEGY PODCAST AND LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW HERE. THE MORE REVIEWS, THE MORE I’M ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS FREE-ACTIONABLE CONTENT!