Ellen Dawn Design

Being passionate about what you do is crucial for growing your brand.

Passion is one of the very first things I look for when talking to prospective clients. Are they driven by a vision, a goal, a desire to serve their dream clients or provide a solution to a problem? These are the kind of entrepreneurs I love to work with, those who have a reason, outside of just monetary gain, to build their business.

If you love what you do, it shines through and makes you, and your brand, magnetic. 💫

I would love to know what you do and why you do it, so drop a comment if you feel like sharing!

Branding and website designed by Ellen Dawn Design

Website design is not just about making your site look pretty.

It’s about creating a high-converting system that provides your audience with the information they are looking for while helping you achieve your business goals. A site focused solely on aesthetics may be beautiful, but it won’t necessarily encourage clients to purchase your product, book a call, or subscribe to your newsletter.

The great news is that functionality and aesthetics can complement each other! By first prioritizing an elevated customer journey and building systems that support it, we can then create a visually stunning experience with obsession-worthy visuals that's both enjoyable to use and generates repeat business.

Ultimately, the objective is to build a website that is aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly, informative, and supportive of your business goals.

If you are in the market for a strategic, high-converting website, apply via the link in bio to get started ✨

If your brand looks like every other business, then you’re missing the point.

Branding should be strategically designed to make your business stand out from the crowd rather than fade into the background. Your brand needs to be unique and recognizable, otherwise, it simply won’t be effective.

My favourite way to create a unique brand identity is by customizing the typography in the logo. Small customizations can instantly take a brand from basic to bomb.

Swipe through to see how type customization changes AYELE from a word to a logo that works ➡️

[AY-E-LE] (n.) Strong and Powerful

is a social enterprise that curates quality handmade pieces from around the world. They are dedicated to celebrating global artisans and honouring the cultures & communities they come from. Ayele is committed to sourcing eco-friendly and sustainable products that support fair trade for their artisans.

“We help mindful shoppers find gorgeous, ethically sourced handmade accessories, so they can fuel their shopping addiction without buying into fast fashion.”

Brand, web and packing design by Ellen Dawn Design

I wouldn’t change being a small business owner for anything, but as amazing as it can be, it can also be challenging and mentally exhausting. It is so important that we prioritize looking after ourselves in the best ways that we can, especially when we are busy. Here are some of my favourite ways to practice self-care as a small business owner:

✨ Take short breaks throughout the day to get away from the screen. This may be as simple as getting up to stretch your legs and make a cup of tea or even go out for a walk in the sunshine.

✨ Give each item on your to-do list a priority designation and start with the high-priority task. This has been a game-changer for me! I put fewer things on my to-do lists and organize them by priority. As long as the high-priority tasks get completed, I feel accomplished.

✨ Cultivate a community of people in the same boat as you who get it. This year I have made an intentional decision to start building a community of fellow business owners and entrepreneurs, and I can’t even begin to tell you how much it has helped! Knowing there are people out there who understand the life of a small business owner, who I can talk to when I need advice, has been such a level up.

✨Schedule time to batch reply to all non-urgent messages and emails. You know those messages that you really want to get to but they seem impossible to deal with? Put aside some time every day or week to reply to all the messages and emails that build up. I can guarantee this will free up so much mental space! Remember to not put any pressure on yourself or feel guilty for taking time to respond, those who value you will understand.

✨ And lastly, sometimes self-care looks like getting the work done. When I am really stressed I tend to build things up in my mind to a point where they take up way more mental space than they should. I’ve found that just starting to tackle the task instantly frees up some of that mental space and makes me feel 100x better.

If you have any tips for self-care as a small business owner, please share them below so we can all learn from each other 🤍

This may come as a shock, but as a business owner, your branding is not about you.

Your business exists to cater to a specific group of people and help solve their pain points; your branding should be designed to attract and connect with this unique group (your target audience).

Your visual identity, tone of voice and brand story are all elements of your branding that support your audience's journey and help them assess whether or not your business is right for them.

The beauty of strategic branding is that every design decision is made intentionally and ties directly back to your target audience.

If you are in the market for a gorgeous brand that attracts your target audience and makes lasting connections, apply to work together via the link in bio ✨

It really is all in the details ✨

There is something so special about submark logos. Distilling an entire brand into a simplified logo of only a few letters or symbols is a challenge, but one I truly love!

What do you think of the Belle & Beau Blooms submark logo?

Brand design by Ellen Dawn Design

A flower shop website but make it minimal and modern ✨

Streamlining your website can do wonderful things for your conversion rate. Visitors to your website are on a mission to find information and a way to book with you or buy your product. Make it as easy as possible for them with a well-designed website that is a delight to use.

If you need help building a high-converting website that is chic as anything, apply to work with me via the link in bio.

Brand and Web design by Ellen Dawn Design

Introducing Belle & Beau Blooms, master florists specializing in contemporary flower arrangements for every occasion 💙

Brand design by Ellen Dawn Design

I believe that branding should be simple to implement and flexible enough to meet the many need of your business. One of the ways in which we achieve this is by creating a wide range of logo variations for your brand that are optimized for different uses and situations.

Swipe through for a look at the variations I include in my brand identities and how to use them ✨

Every day is International Women’s Day when you partner with amazing female entrepreneurs 💫

I often get asked why I work primarily with female entrepreneurs and the honest reason is that I love working with strong, ambitious women following their dreams! My clients inspire me every day and I feel incredibly grateful to play such a pivotal role in their business journey.

Let’s continue to support each other and put community over competition 🤍

Branding is an investment, yes, but it's an investment that pays off. The ROI of strategic branding makes it one of the best investments you will make in your business.

Here are some of the ways you will see that return on investment:

1. Increased customer trust
People buy from brands they trust, 81% of consumers say they need to trust a brand before purchasing from them. Having a consistent brand presence across all platforms will give that trust a much-needed boost.

2. Established authority in your industry
Customers come to your business to benefit from your expertise. A unique brand will ensure you stand out from your competitors and establish yourself as a leader in your industry.

3. Elevated client experience
Reward your clients for their support with such a sleek, chic, and elevated client experience that they can’t help but come back for more.

4. Obsession-worthy visuals
Visual appeal is more important than ever, especially with the prominence of social media as a means of marketing, in particular, organic user-generated content. Use it to your advantage with obsession-worthy branding your audience can't help but share!

If you’re ready to take the first step toward building 
the brand of your dreams, enquire via the link in bio to get started.

Your business needs a website 💻

Okay, you've probably heard that a million times, but here are my top three reasons why (plus a bonus because it's Friday and I'm in a fun mood):

✨ A website improves the visibility of your business
Quite simply put, more eyes on your business = more sales.

✨ It gives your brand an instant credibility boost
People buy from brands they trust, and having a great website is one of the best ways to boost client trust.

✨ Converts leads from followers to customers
Your website should be designed like a map to guide your customers through your
business ending in the desired call to action. This is what I mean when I talk about a high-converting website.

✨ Your website is truly yours
Your site serves as a central hub for your audience to learn more about your business and offerings. Social media is a great way to get your audience to your website, but it shouldn’t be your brand’s only home.

If you're in the market for a strategic, high-converting website, apply via the link in bio to get started.

There’s no better feeling than when branding comes to life ✨

Branding design, social media templates and podcast cover design by Ellen Dawn Design

Its a….brand reveal  💫

Breakfast with Tiff is a lifestyle podcast for everyday millennials in pursuit of meaning. With topics discussed ranging from self-love and personal development to fashion and beauty.

Brand design by Ellen Dawn Design

A little sneak peek of a brand I’ve been working on recently 🌹

Can you guess the industry? Here’s a hint:🎙

Brand design by Ellen Dawn Design

Logo vs brand identity: which is right for your business?

Okay, let’s break it down:
A logo is a visual mark that differentiates one business from another.
A brand identity is a system of elements that work together to curate a visual voice for a brand and establish its place within the competitive market.

Essentially, while a logo is an important element of a brand identity, alone it cannot showcase the full extent of what the brand is about, who it is for, its personality, or its mission.

Still undecided?

It all comes down to the goals you have for your business. If your goal is to boost brand recognition, build a community, elevate the client experience or increase revenue, then I recommend a brand identity that supports these goals.

If you are a first-time business owner at the very start of your journey, by all means, get off the ground with a DIY logo and reach out to a designer when the time is right.

A fun lil update for Ellen Dawn Design: I have officially launched a blog on my website  💻

Every Monday, there will be new blog posts about all things business, design and branding.

If that sounds like a bit of you, head over to the link in bio to check it out!

Let’s talk about brand consistency real quick.

Customers expect to have the same brand experience, whether unboxing a product, browsing your website or scrolling on your socials.

I often say that great branding helps you stay consistent and cohesive across all platforms, and this is exactly what I’m talking about. A full brand identity allows you to be flexible and play around with your marketing and content while always maintaining the same brand essence.

If you are in the market for a chic brand that grabs, and maintains attention, enquire via the link in bio and let's connect.

The best way to build your business is to build your brand.

Why?

While your business is what you offer customers, your brand is the reason those customers choose you.

Think about the last time you needed a pair of shoes or a new bag, chances are you had a brand in mind before you even started shopping. That’s because you associate certain brands with great quality items, high fashion, price, or maybe you just love their branding 😉

Strategic branding does exactly that by putting your business front of mind and making you the obvious choice for your customers. So do yourself a favour, and start building your brand today.

PSA: Your website needs to be optimized for mobile devices.

Here’s a fun fact, over 50% of website traffic is generated from smartphone users, and of those users, 79% have made an online purchase within the last six months from their phone.

It’s really not that surprising when you consider how much time we all spend on our phones every day, from scrolling on social media to finding recipes to booking appointments.

Okay, but how exactly do you optimize a website for mobile? Great question! Here are a few things to keep in mind:

✨ All the functionality of your website needs to translate to mobile use and not hinder the customer from doing the do intended action of your website e.g. booking a call with you or purchasing a product.

✨ All images need to resize correctly and load quickly to keep the customer invested in your website.

✨ All text must be legible on small screens. If the customer can't read your site, they won't stick around long enough to see how amazing your business is.

✨ Any of course make it pretty 😉

Make 2023 the year you ace your website and reach a wider audience!

I do love a good brand reveal 🦩

Chill Pill is a female-founded wellness brand promoting an improved quality of life through the power of CBD. They value education surrounding holistic health and making CBD, and its benefits, accessible to all.

Brand design by Ellen Dawn Design

Slow seasons are the reality of every business, and while they can be scary at first, if we reframe our mindset, they can provide opportunities for growth and change.

If you're currently in a slow season, remember:

✨ They are entirely natural. Think of your business like a flower, it needs time to rest in order to blossom.

✨ It won't last forever.

✨ Use this time of less client work or fewer customers to level up your business from the inside. Focus on improving your internal systems, your brand presence and your skillset.

✨ Take this time to rest and recharge; you will be grateful for this break when things pick up again.

Tell me, do you have any tips for surviving slow seasons in your business?

Yep, you heard right, 2023 is the year to invest in your business.
Want some ideas for how to do so? I've got you covered:

✨ Do a brand photoshoot. You could have the coolest business in the world, but photos taken on your phone are really going to let your brand down.

✨ Upgrade software and automate as much as you possibly can on the backend of your business. This will streamline your work and save you hours every month to dedicate elsewhere.

✨ Branding, okay so this was a given on my list, but for great reason! Branding is the first thing clients see when they interact with your business and the main decider of whether or not they want to stick around and see what you offer. Use this to your advantage with bomb branding that sells your business for you.

✨ Education. You can never go wrong with learning something new or building on your existing knowledge. There are so many ways to learn; I recommend reading, investing in a course or even attending a class.

I would love to know how you are planning on investing in your brand this year, drop a comment below to share your tips!

A brand is so much more than a logo; a brand is a feeling.

As a designer, my objective is to help my clients reach their goals, so I spend hours, days, and weeks creating brands strategically designed to evoke the desired feelings from an audience.

Why do I do this? Well, Emotional Branding, branding that creates a long-lasting emotional bond between brand and consumer, is 50% more effective than non-emotional branding. Consumers are people, and at our core, we all want to feel and be a part of something meaningful.

What feeling do you want your brand to evoke?

The truth is that, if your current branding doesn't excite you, then you won’t share it.

Fortunately, there is a simple fix: investing in a quality brand identity that aligns with your business and supports your goals will have you rushing to share it at every chance!

And I know it’s a big step, because not all that long ago, I was right there with you. My branding didn’t excite me, it didn’t align with my goals and it didn’t show the value my business offers. Since rebranding, I’ve fallen IN LOVE with my brand and I share it at every chance I get. This led to more eyes on my business and finding a more aligned community and clients.

If you’re looking for your sign to rebrand, this is it 🤍

Simplicity & elegance never go out of style ✨

Brand & web design by Ellen Dawn Design

There are so many reasons why your business needs a great brand, so here are just a few:

✨It’s true what they say, first impressions matter. Why not use this to your advantage with an attention-grabbing, wow-inducing brand that captivates your audience from the outset?

✨ Use your brand identity to set the tone of your business and allow potential clients to immediately assess whether you are right for them.

✨ Great branding is designed with the client at the forefront. Make sure you attract the right type of clients with a brand that speaks directly to those you cater to.

If you’re thinking about rebranding and would like to work with me, enquire via the link in bio to get started.

Say hello to Jenny Andrews, a lifestyle photographer capturing the beauty of every day 🖤

Branding and creative direction by Ellen Dawn Design

Happy Monday, and Happy New Year my loves 🤍

After the whirlwind that was 2022, I decided to take a little extra time off over the holidays while visiting my family and friends in Scotland. I had the best time seeing everyone and taking intentional time to rest and refill my cup.

This year I chose to do a slow transition into the new year rather than rush to fit in with social expectations. I took time to really think about what I want for myself and my business both this year and in the future. My main focus for this year is finding balance and doing my business my way. Here is to a year full of experimentation and growth ✨

I can't wait to see what 2023 has in store; what are your hopes for this year?