Recently, a friend complimented me on my skin and it took me by surprise. I sometimes forget that I’m not the younger version of me that suffered from really severe acne. She asked me how I ended up curing my acne and I shared that after wasting SO much time and money on various products and over-the-counter “solutions” to try to fix it on my own, I ended up going to the dermatologist. That was the key to seeing real improvement for my acne. This story is something I hold close to my heart because it taught me that when you try to go the cheap route, you end up paying for it in some other way. I ended up living with acne for years longer than I had to because I didn’t want to pay the money for a specialist. I kept lying to myself saying that it “was not a big deal” since it was just a cosmetic problem. But it was really hurting my confidence. I’m telling you all of this because I sometimes have clients who come to me feeling upset because they tried to create their own branding or their own website, only to end up frustrated because they’ve wasted their time. Some of them even feel like their attempts to create a website on their own might have cost them potential customers. I don’t think most business owners need to spend $20,000+ on a fully custom website with all the bells and whistles. I like to offer that “specialist” option without the crazy price tag by giving my clients a deal when they bundle a brand identity package and a new website! So how does the process work? I’ll show you the steps I took with one of my actual customers, Marble City Ballroom: 1. Exploration - I always start by digging deep into your brand so I get a full understanding of your dream customer. This step will include a client questionnaire, a consultation call, and a collaborative inspiration board on Pinterest. 2. Logo Concept - Next comes the logo design. I will create two different logo design concepts and then we will hop on a video call where I will present the logo designs and you can provide your feedback to me in real time! 3. Brand Design - Once we land on a design concept, I will create the rest of your branding, including the color palette, logo variations, font selection, and all of the supporting brand elements and I share it with you on a brand identity board via email. 4. Refinement + Delivery - After receiving your feedback, I’ll complete any revisions we’ve discussed and then deliver your new brand identity guide and all your master files! I’ll show you how to use everything to create a cohesive brand moving forward. 5. Website Creation - For those who select my Brand Identity + Website package, the next step is designing your new site! All websites include up to five pages, basic SEO, a responsive design, and video training so you can feel confident managing it after I’m done! See the live website here: marblecityballroom.com Plus, as a complimentary add-on, I will arrange to have your website copy revised and optimized by a professional copywriter… because it’s not just about looking good, it’s about sounding good, too! Do you have any questions for me about branding or websites? Do you want to reserve a spot on my calendar? Email me at [email protected] and we can chat more about your project and timeline! I would LOVE to work with you!
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My son Lennon has been getting into day trading lately. If you’re thinking to yourself, “wait… I thought he was like, ten years old?” you are correct. He’s not old enough to be handling stocks and bonds quite yet. But he’s been really into trading snacks and candy at school. Here’s what I’ve learned: Jolly Ranchers are a valuable commodity. So are mints (they are very rare, I guess). In fact, he told me that he’s been trading mints for cookies which just seems crazy to me, but what do I know? Nothing, apparently! 😆 Last week, he came from school bragging that he traded a mint for one of those packaged chocolate croissants! Those are one of my favorite treats, so I asked (very nicely, of course) if he thought he could get one for me, too. The next day, he traded another mint for a croissant and he brought it home for me to enjoy. What a total sweetheart! 💗 Kids don’t tend to overthink when they’re asking for what they want. I think we can really learn something from them… and I’m mostly speaking about myself when I say that. After several years as a business owner, I still struggle so much with putting myself out there and asking for what I want. I avoid asking for the sale because I don’t want to “bother” people or come across as pushy. But look what happened to Lennon when he asked for what he wanted. He had no hesitation about asking for a croissant in exchange for a tiny little mint. And clearly, that strategy worked! I know we hear it all the time, but you really never know until you ask. How do we know there aren’t a bunch of mint-lovers on the other side of the screen just hoping that I’ll offer it in exchange for their croissant? How do I know unless I ask? Sharing my work is another area where I’m working on building my confidence. I know my clients love what I do, and I always get such amazing feedback from them. But it feels like a whole different thing to put my work on Instagram for everyone to see and respond to. Do you have any advice for getting past the FODT (fear of day trading) or any encouraging words to share? I love when I get comments on my blog posts, so please feel free to share your thoughts with me down below! |
AUTHOR
Karla Pámanes is an award-winning designer, branding expert, and mentor who helps businesses elevate their brands through strategic and impactful impactful visual design. Based in San Antonio, TX, she lives with her son, Lennon, and their two quirky cats, Teodoro and Paquito. ARCHIVES
February 2025
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