The road map for defining and simplifying a unique creative brand on a secure, meaningful foundation, so you can stand out and sell well in a crowded market
You’ve been studying your competition’s new website for weeks and watched their rebrand process with more than a tiny bit of envy.
You see them RAVE about their dream clients, and wonder for the umpteenth time why it feels like everyone but you has their brand figured out?
I mean, your brand is good enough for now... right? 😬
Sure, you’re not *exactly* clear on who your ideal client is, but you’ve got a somewhat steady stream of clientele so you're thinking eventually, the answer has to pop into your head. Is that how these things work?
Gosh, you hope so...
And it’s not like you haven’t tried to define your brand- it’s just that the concept feels... unknowable.
The way people throw phrases like “my brand,” “on-brand” and “off-brand” around, you wonder if you missed an invitation to the cool kids’ table (complete with a local dialect guide to help you converse in the fluent creative tongue.)
So you click on yet another blog post from Pinterest (today’s digest- “10 questions to define your brand!”), and convince yourself that someday, you’ll get there. One day, this whole brand thing will stop being SUCH👏🏼A👏🏼STRUGGLE.
For now, you guess you’ll just resign yourself to the fact that you don’t know what makes your brand different from the masses. 🥺
But what if you didn’t have to wait for someday (or a magical brainwave) to start differentiating your brand’s purpose, message, and voice?
What would it look like for your brand to be the perfect fit right now?
- You could discover what make you unique and claim your corner of the market, generating stronger leads and higher booking rates
- You’d stop guessing on what to say to reach your audience- you'd know which messaging speaks to your dream clients. Even better, you know *exactly* who those dream clients are!
- That feeling of being a fraud? It disappears because you've ditched the phony online persona you thought you needed to reach the audience you thought you were “supposed” to be aiming for.
- You’d finally have a clear vision for where your brand is headed, so you can STOP with the yearly cycle of rebranding (seriously: step away from the website template shop for a sec).
You don’t have time to wait for your dream brand
to magically land in your lap.
You KNOW there’s something you’re meant to do, and people you’re meant to reach… it's just that every time you sit down to figure out WHY and WHO, your brain fogs over 😳 and you end up on Reels. Again.
It’s time to stop the seemingly endless process of “figuring out your brand” and get some real answers, so you can start showing up for the dream clients who need your gifts and services most.
Does this sound like you?
“I want to build a brand of my own, not one that imitates everyone else in my industry, but.... I don’t *actually* know what makes me different."
“I guess I sort of know who my target audience is?...but I have no idea how to speak to them!” 😖
“I’m fed up with all the ‘quick’ fixes I see online for building a brand… none of them have ever worked for me! Am I doing something wrong?” (you’re not!)
“Don’t judge, but I’ve tried reverse-engineering my favorite creative’s brand and it’s just not working- I’m NEVER going to get this figured out!” (you will!)
The thought of achieving “meh” results with yet another rebrand is enough to make you want to crawl back into bed with a glass of pinot. Something has to change.
There has to be a better way to develop a cohesive brand than duct-taping together a bunch of scattered (and contradicting) advice from free downloads.
And actually, you don’t have TIME to wait for “eventually”- with COVID's effect on small business, you need to cut the frills and figure out your brand NOW so that you can make it through to the other side.
It’s time to get this figured out, once and for all.
What if it were possible for YOU to steer the ship and determine where your brand is headed, instead of ending up wherever the market feels like depositing you?
Hi, I’m Abby Grace! And I believe that strong brands are MADE, and not the result of a magic wand (even though I’m still waiting for my Hogwarts letter, too).
And I’m sharing my very own framework for building a brand from a place of purpose, a brand that isn’t subject to the whims of the industry (a roadmap I’ve only ever taught privately to coaching students in the past!)
After 11 years of photographing people, I’ve learned that more often than not, simply being talented isn’t enough to grow your business to the heights you’ve dreamed of. In a market full of talented artists, there MUST be something else for your clients to hold onto for you to be remembered!
It isn’t enough to present your best portfolio work like Show & Tell and hope that your dream clients click “add to cart!”
So let’s move all those surface-level, free branding downloads to your Trash folder.
I’m going to hold your hand and walk you through what ACTUALLY goes into defining a unique brand that's consistent across ALL platforms.
And once we’ve done that? I’ll spill the secrets on how your brand’s foundations directly dictate your brand's visuals! (Y'know, the sexy stuff- website, logo, colors, and more!)
Lace up your Chuck Taylors- let’s DO this thing!
AS HEARD
ON/AT
01 . The Goal Digger Podcast
02. Brands that Book Podcast
03. The Creative Speaker Podcast
04. Creative Rising Podcast
05 . Creative @ Heart Conference
06. Signature CEO Conference
07. Showit United Conference
08. Justin & Mary Built to Last Summit
and more...
“This helped me figure out my own brand and what I wanted it to stand for, so that I can help my clients strengthen their own brands (sometimes without them even knowing it!)."
Rachel Leigh
Brand Photographer
There’s a better, more intentional way to build your brand- you can quit the “throwing it at the wall and see if it’ll stick” approach that’s been sapping your joy!
This could be you:
“I know exactly what makes my business different. I know my superpower, and I know exactly why my clients choose to work with me.
"I know exactly who my ideal client is, and I’ve crafted a message that speaks STRAIGHT to them. I never have to wonder what to say anymore.”
“My website, logo, and visuals all speak directly to my dream audience- I don’t have to GUESS what my visual brand should look like!"
Introducing
Branding Foundations
The road map for building a unique creative brand on a secure, meaningful foundation, so you can stand out and sell well in a crowded market
Branding Foundations is an online course designed to help you clarify, uplevel, and distinguish your brand from the masses, reach the clients you dream of serving, and find contentment knowing your brand is the perfect fit.
By the end of the program, you’ll be able to …
- Find your unique position in the market based on your Why, your superpower, and the one-of-a-kind combination of strengths that you bring to the table
- Stop looking to your competition for cues on YOUR brand's destination
- Identify your ideal clients and learn to speak directly to them using the same methods I use to serve the high-end bridal + branding photography markets!
- Craft a custom Brand Manual for your products, messaging, and visuals
- Infuse your brand with personality without resorting to an “internet persona,” even if you are not your own target client
- Stop 👏🏼 feeling 👏🏼 icky 👏🏼 about 👏🏼 selling your products and services, because you've aligned your business with what you ACTUALLY believe in!
What's Inside?
Branding Foundations is an online course formatted to help you FINISH the material, so you can get on your way to defining a memorable, one-of-a-kind brand and book dream clients who can’t wait to work with you!
The course consists of 18 easy-to-finish lessons, with long-form text that doesn’t waste your time with needlessly drawn-out videos.
A simplified format makes referencing back a *cinch*- no more re-watching module after module in search of that one nugget you wanted to re-learn.
No monthly membership fee here—once you’re in, you’re in … it's yours to keep.
Oh... and for all you college alum who miss using highlighters and writing in the margins? You're going to love the printed version. 🤓✏️
Part I: Inputs
We must lay the foundational groundwork of determining what sort of INPUTS we’ll base your visual brand off of BEFORE we can even begin to talk about social media, websites, logos and product packaging
Chapter 1 // So like, what IS a brand, exactly?
Because unless you can get clear on where you’re starting out, there’s NO way you’ll arrive at the right destination.
You'll Learn:
- How your foundational inputs are the basis for your brand visuals, and why developing your brand [[in order]] is CRUCIAL
- How growing slow takes you FURTHER, and rushing the process will backfire
- Why you can’t borrow a brand, and the consequences of trying
Chapter 2: Purpose = Profit and Joy
Thinking your purpose as a creative is limited to your products and services VASTLY underestimates your potential and undersells your value. Understanding your Why as a business owner is a crucial first step in claiming your territory and putting your stake in the ground.
You'll Learn:
- How a Why >>> laser focus, so you can bypass all the other small business owners caught up in chasing butterflies + waterfalls
- Why your brand ISN’T actually about you, and why that's REALLY good news
Chapter 3: Values- Not Just a Buzzword
When your business and values are aligned, you stop working against yourself. Everything gets easier- choosing your offerings, determining your schedule, even selling. Yep- SELLING! No more icky feelings around the S-word!
You'll Learn:
- 3 steps to discover your own set of 5-7 values
- How to stop simply chasing whatever’s "shiny," and the #1 question to help you avoid years of chasing "wrong fit" goals
Chapter 4 & 5: Strengths & Superpower (your secret weapon!)
Knowing your strengths means maximizing your impact with your God-given gifts, and wasting less time forcing the issue with your weaknesses. And discovering your superpower? Well, that might just change EVERYTHING.
You'll Learn:
- 8 questions to uncover those secret strengths you never knew you had
- Why + when you should stop trying to force strengths you don’t have
- Seven questions to discover your superpower, the secret sauce in your business!
Chapters 6 & 7: Finding YOUR Ideal Clients
Here's a secret: THIS is where we see the visual brand begin to take shape! Crafting the perfect website and logo for your brand isn’t about you- it has everything to do with your ideal clients, so you MUST know who they are!
You'll Learn:
- 38 in-depth questions to discover your ideal client so you can stop shooting in the dark (because “where does your brand shop?” doesn’t actually help unless conversation is limited to “where’d you get that top?”)
- 3 ways to learn to speak your clients’ language (including the elusive language of luxury!)
- How to research your market AND your competition, so you can strike with an offer you're confident will do well
Chapter 8: Choosing Your "Perfect Fit" Offers
Turns out that there’s an easier way to determine which products and services your business offers that doesn’t involve the ambiguous question of “what do I feel like doing for work?” When you take cues from your Why, strengths, values and knowledge of your ideal client, the result is an irresistible offer your audience is EXCITED to buy!
You'll Learn:
- 7 steps to infuse EVERY offer with purpose and expertise
- How specializing strengthens marketability, instead of excluding potential clients
- Why being a general practitioner makes it hard to raise your rates (and how to overcome that!)
Chapter 9: Your Brand's Unique Voice
Because sometimes, your tone matters even more than the content of your message! A cohesive, consistent brand voice is crucial but might not come naturally, especially when trying to reach clients who aren't a direct copy of you.
You'll Learn:
- How to develop a personal brand voice without sharing every👏🏼single👏🏼detail of your life
- 3 places to look for clues on HOW to speak the language of your ideal clients
- 21 prompts to help you clarify exactly what your brand does (and does NOT) sound like!
Chapter 10: What To Say- Demystifying "Messaging"
Don’t be overwhelmed by this one! Messaging can feel like such a vague concept, but it’s MUCH simpler than you’re thinking! I'll show you how to PRE-determine a collection of messages that will resonate with your dream clients, so that you’ll never have to scramble for social media, newsletter, or blog material ever again.
You'll Learn:
- A three-tiered formula for crafting the 5-10 storylines that will form the backbone of ALL your business-related messaging
- When to shout and when to whisper, and how to use each as you pivot your message and uplevel your brand
- The 5 Ps of Storyline Dissemination, and why you'll never run out of things to say on social media
Part II: Outputs
NOW you’re ready to start developing those brand visuals! Instead of buying yet ANOTHER new website template and HOPING this’ll finally fix your problems, you'll be creating from a place of utter confidence.
Rather than a step-by-step tutorial for website design, color theory, or the best posting schedule for Instagram (which, let's be honest, seems to change weekly!), consider this your framework for how your core inputs >>> visual outputs, so that when we set out to design, we already have an end destination in mind!
Chapter 11: Consistency, your MVP
Masterpieces aren’t born as soon as you first hammer a chisel into a block of marble- this. takes. time. Consider this me giving you permission to allow your brand to emerge over time, a little bit at time. After all- it took Michaelangelo two years to finish David.
You'll Learn:
- When to start working on your visuals (hint: roots and shoot grow together)
- Why rushing is a HUGE, expensive mistake
- Why you might not actually need to rebrand
Chapter 12: Website with a Purpose
Did you know that your ideal clients (not Pinterest!) should be the ones giving you clues for your online home? Your brand is already starting to take shape, so let’s get it an outfit (your website!) that fits it perfectly, instead of asking our website to dictate the brand
You'll Learn:
- 11 details your website MUST include, tailored to speak to your dream clients
- The essential pre-website design checklist for every new business owner
- When top opt for a website refresh, vs. full-on rebrand.
Chapter 13: Logo + Color Schemes That LAST
Since you’re jonesing for a brand that will last you more than the next 10 minutes, it’s important that you’re intentional about your logo and color choice!
You'll Learn:
- 5 questions to ask when designing a logo with text and/or graphics
- 6 places to look for color palette inspo tailored to YOU
- Do's and don'ts of choosing typefaces
Chapter 14: Portfolio Perfection
To curate or not to curate? That is the question. The answer? Your portfolio should be [[highly curated]] to speak directly to your ideal client!
You'll Learn:
- How to attract ideal clients for dream project (EVEN IF you don’t have your dream portfolio yet!)
- How to be ruthless with your photo selection when it comes to showing off your best work
- How your current head shot might be sending the wrong message
Chapter 15: Subtle Social Media- You Can Stop Yelling Now
Repetition is key- so then why do so many of us feel like we never know what to say on social media? This is where the rubber of messaging meets the road of marketing!
You'll Learn:
- How to literally never run out of on-brand content for social media. Like ever.
- Maximize your audience's attention by sending them exactly where you need them to go
- How to choose the right platforms for YOUR business (instead of downloading every new app that debuts)
Chapter 16: Give Them A Killer Experience
More than just a cute gift you drop in the mail for your clients, the overall experience is impacted by every single touchpoint your clients have with your business (even the ones where you’re not talking directly to them!)
You'll Learn:
- 5 *passive* ways you can positively influence experience without increasing your workload
- How negativity bias affects the final grade your clients give you
- When to outsource for the sake of the client’s overall experience
Chapter 17: Make It Pretty (Packaging, Paper, & Gifting)
The accessory, physical goods associated with your brand should only ever continue the story of your brand in the way you want it told!
You'll Learn:
- What the quality of your packaging says about your brand (for better or worse)
- How to apply your brand voice to every piece of business-related mail you send
- When it makes sense to send a gift, and how to avoid contradicting your own brand
Chapter 18: Potpourri & Resources
A handful of unrelated, less obvious categories that need a dose of “essence of your brand!”
You'll Learn:
- 6 ways to harness email to stand out as an EXPERT
- What outfit choice says about your brand (for better or worse)
- A comprehensive list of every resource we use for cohesive brand maintenance
The Brand Manual
After all the work you've done in the course, you'll finish with a plug-and-play custom guide that acts as a home base for your brand as it grows and matures!
Perfect for handing to a graphic designer when designing your website, or to a new team member during on-boarding, the Brand Manual is the perfect encyclopedia for all things brand-related.
You’ll ALSO get:
- Instant access to all 18 long-form text lessons
- Audio files of every lesson so you can listen on the go
- A 30-page printable workbook
- Unlimited access, so you can review and reference any time you need a refresh!
And for all you pen + paper people...
You have the option to add a printed + bound copy of the course!
For those of you who liked to highlight, underline, and make notes in your college textbooks?
This is for you.
Bonus: you can skip the whole "searching your inbox for that login link + password" thing.
And also the whole "I just spent six hours working and don't want to stare at my laptop anymore" thing.
Enough chit chat: what’s it cost?
Well, you could spend the next couple of years plugging away with freebie downloads that promise to help you piece a brand together... but only if you’re OK with spending hours sorting the meh from the I can’t believe I traded my email address for this, and only if you like seeing your progress bar load 1% at a time.
You could keep reading those unhelpful blog posts that say things like "make sure your brand statement is strong!" and "think about how your values impact your business!" with you on the other side of the screen thinking “wait- that sounds like it’s important! But HOW do I do it?!”
Or you could get yourself on board the Solid Brand Express- with me as your conductor.
Start right now with unlimited access, for only $197
What our students are saying!
Simplify a unique brand that makes a lasting impression on your dream clients
One payment of $197
- You leave your sessions feeling flat and unfulfilled- you know there's more that could have been done to make the session a success, but you're not clear on WHAT that is.
- You're frustrated by clients who don't seem to know their own brands- how are you supposed to capture one-of-a-kind photographs if your client isn't even clear on their own brand identity?
- You have no idea how to price your services, which means you often end up underpaid and overworked, and run the risk of resenting your clients because you're not sure how to best run your own business.
- Your shoots consistently run behind because of a lack of organization, and your clients seem to be unclear as so what's ACTUALLY included in a brand session- is it head shots? Lifestyle photos? Product photography? Who knows!
This time right now is really scary for so many of us.
Now more than ever, it’s crucial that you know your purpose as a creative, and can enunciate your UNIQUE value in the market. Without knowing your brand’s foundational INPUTS, spending excessive time on a pretty Top 9 or a cute About page? It’s just a Band-Aid on a bullethole.
A new website template won’t change the fact that you still have no idea what makes you different.
But investing in yet another course?
You’re not sure if you can take the disappointment of another hours-long, fluff-filled educational resource that reads more like a personal memoir than a workshop.
Friend, I am RIGHT there with you.
That’s why I made this EASY and FAST to get through, so you can take the shortcut to "OMG I LOVE MY BRAND" land. No video, no superfluous bonuses you and I both know you’ll never use.
We’ve boiled it down to the essentials, giving you branding education GOLD.
We had it reviewed by the very students I had in mind while creating this course, and here’s what they’re saying already:
"No one is teaching branding like this- this is so, so, so, so, so good."
"I thought I understood branding- then I took this course, and I realized I had NO idea. I didn't know that I didn't know!"
"This really does teach you how to implement, which is something that other branding resources I’ve purchased DON’T teach you."
"These 'ideal client' prompt questions are WAY more helpful than the ones I normally see! I’ve even been confused by people who 'do branding' for a living when they talk about it.
I’m only 20% through and already loving that your guide is more in-depth."
"You compiled it all in one place and made it digestible- the prompts were a game changer because they were questions I could actually answer without getting overwhelmed."
"It wasn’t a carbon copy of what everyone else is shouting out there. It was a breath of fresh air, it wasn’t just what everyone else is preaching."
Don’t waste another day.
NOW is the time to define your brand, get clear on your purpose, uncover what truly distinguishes you from your competition, and reach those dream clients with an irresistible message that speaks directly to them.
But I’m definitely an advocate for thoughtful course purchases- if you don’t need this course, I truly don’t want you to waste your resources!
How to know if you’re the right fit for Branding Foundations-
- Your clients are happy with the end result you deliver, but after the transaction is complete… you never hear from them again
- You know what you WANT your brand to look like… but have no idea how to get it there.
- You’re constantly losing out on bookings because (wait for it) “it came down to budget.”
- The market you serve is full of ideal clients, but none of them ever seem to find their way to you- you know your work is solid, but that doesn’t seem to be enough.
- Your messaging and marketing plan currently consists of the Show & Tell approach: “look at how good my product is! Money please?”
- If someone asks what makes your business different, *you honestly have no idea how to answer.*
Simplify a unique brand that makes a lasting impression on your dream clients
One payment of $197
- You leave your sessions feeling flat and unfulfilled- you know there's more that could have been done to make the session a success, but you're not clear on WHAT that is.
- You're frustrated by clients who don't seem to know their own brands- how are you supposed to capture one-of-a-kind photographs if your client isn't even clear on their own brand identity?
- You have no idea how to price your services, which means you often end up underpaid and overworked, and run the risk of resenting your clients because you're not sure how to best run your own business.
- Your shoots consistently run behind because of a lack of organization, and your clients seem to be unclear as so what's ACTUALLY included in a brand session- is it head shots? Lifestyle photos? Product photography? Who knows!
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