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2024 Books Now Open

Well, that was quite the year! I took 2023 off for maternity leave to get to know my new little one, Layla. As we approach her 1 year birthday in January, I am so excited to reopen the By the Bay Branding books for new and returning clients for 2024!

I’ve had a few inquiries on timelines so I’ve been taking those nap time breaks to do some updating for you here and there to get ready to start booking. Take a look at the portfolio section to see some new OG clients, check out our branding and design/writing pages to see what our services offer now and then let’s talk!

I’m currently only opening the books on branding and design/content to ease my way back in, but if you’re in dire need of a new website, website revamp or social media services, still reach out! We might be able to work something out.

I can feel the creative juices flowing already and can’t wait to make some branding dreams a reality! Inquire below to be one of the first in line for the new year ⬇️

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Your Edits are Valid

I am here for YOU.

It’s not my job to doodle a few simple drawings, slap your name on it and call it your logo.

It’s not my job to add some clipart to a document and call it graphic design for your info guide.

It’s not my job to take an existing website template, change the name and say it’s yours.

It IS my job to gather details from you before a job to understand your expectations and vision.

It IS my job to provide you with multiple logo versions (way more than I promise usually) to give you variety to start.

It IS my job to do revision after revision until we get the logo or design completely perfect for you.

It IS my job to tell you to please stop apologizing – you are allowed to have an edit! 5 edits! 20 edits! Because it is your brand, your identity and your passion.

You will never walk away from a job with me wishing you had asked for just one more revision, because I am determined to make sure you are 1000% satisfied with your brand at the end. And if you’re not? Let’s keep working. We’re going to get there. I promise.

❤️

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What ‘Bay’ is she ‘by’?

What ‘Bay’ is she ‘By’? Why is there a wave in her logo?

The Bay that I am physically by is the Bay of Quinte. I grew up here and moved back here, always drawn to the water. My parents now live by North Bay and I have clients there too! No matter the Bay, I can be by it for your brand.

The wave represents water which – aside from my husband and family – is the most important thing in my life. I feel so completely calm and at home by the water, it’s when I feel the most ‘me’.

So there’s a little insight into me and this biz, and a calming video of the ocean in NS and fluffy clouds to cheer up your feed 😍

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Be the Brand

I can’t believe I’m saying this – but I think all those times I watched Caddyshack with my Dad growing up might be paying off.

If you haven’t seen Caddyshack, there is a scene where Chevy Chase is giving Danny future advice through golf, saying he needs to “be the ball”. He puts on a blindfold and swings the golf club, saying “find your centre, hear nothing, feel nothing, be the ball”.

As corny as it sounds, I feel like as business owners, we need to step up and be the brand too. Find what your passionate about deep inside, don’t listen to the competition, don’t let the naysayers stop you and be the brand.

Be the brand you were meant to create, and live your brand. If you are an eco-friendly brand, be that brand! Live your life eco-consciously and be passionate about it.

Because when it’s your own business, it’s not just work, it’s not just a job – it’s YOU.

Be 👏the 👏brand 👏

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“I’m Not Sure What I Want my Logo to Look Like”

You’re definitely not alone if you’re wanting a logo for your business, but don’t know what you’d like or have any direction. That’s common! I’ve rounded up some key ideas I encourage people to consider to help the gears get turning.

💡Simple icons are a great way to show instead of explain what your business is and what you offer.

💡 Will your logo be blown up onto big signs? Small coffee cups? T-shirts? Consider the final placement of your logo to help determine how much detail you’re wanting to include.

💡 White space ensures people can read your logo from a distance or read it when it is really small. Less is more in terms of logos sometimes, so consider subtracting some elements.

💡 Colour is your friend! Pops of colour help make your logo stand out and are a great way to create a cohesive brand. One or two key brand colours can help you theme your materials, social media and more. This helps clients recognize your brand before even reading your business name.

💡 Above all, remember it is YOUR logo. You need to feel happy and confident with your final design. Revisions can always be made in the future to adapt to your changing ideas and business growth.

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Is a Blog Right for my Business?

If you’re wondering if your business should start a blog, start by asking yourself a few questions:

❓Do you like to write?
❓Do you have the time?
❓Do you have tips to offer?

Blogs are a great way to gain respect, position yourself as an expert in your field and increase website views. Google ranks websites with blogs higher than those without because of the engagement with readers. Blogs give you extra content to share on social media and across your website.

But as beneficial as they are, they also require work. The most successful blogs have a strategy, planned content and consistent posting.

If you have the time to add an extra element to your online strategy, I absolutely encourage a blog and can help you start one!

But if you’re already feeling overwhelmed with the platforms you’re on, don’t add more to your plate! Focus on excelling on a few key platforms rather than just meeting the minimum on all platforms possible.

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Google My Business Tips

As the most popular and most used search engine, Google is a great asset for businesses to use to reach customers. By utilizing the FREE Google My Business platform, you are able to have your listing come up on the side of search results with all the information you can upload like hours, website, photos and more.

Just having a Google My Business is a great step – but here are some tips to get the most out of your profile.

🕐Always update your hours. Especially if you have a brick and mortar storefront that you want people to visit, make sure you are updating your hours regularly to reflect any holiday closures, hour extensions, etc.

📱Encourage customers to review you on Google. Especially for food establishments, Google reviews are key for potential customers deciding if they want to buy your product. Encouraging customers to review you on Google with an incentive like a contest or discount is a great way to gain trust.

📷Update your photos. Your customers can upload their own photos to your listing which helps with community trust, but also make sure the photos you upload are up to date. If you have a short term rental or cabin and you do renovations, upload those new photos! It will give a better sense of the experience for your customers.

📈Look at your analytics. You can sign up to receive analytics from your Google My Business profile every month. They will tell you how many people saw your profile, where they clicked and what search items they used to find your business. These are all key pieces of information that can inform your SEO and strategy moving forward!

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About Page Tips

Raise your hand if you’re uncomfortable talking about yourself 🙋

9 times out of 10, the ‘About’ page is the one my clients struggle the most with when we’re developing their website.

Here are the top 5 things you should consider putting on your ‘About’ page:

1️⃣ A picture of you. Bonus points if it’s from a branded photoshoot! A picture can help your clients feel more connected with you, like they already know you. If your service is one where the person will come see you in person at some point, it can help them recognize you more easily on the first visit.

2️⃣ Education/Background. Do you have certifications and experience that makes you an expert in your field? Mention those front and centre to get the qualifications out of the way off the bat. Think of it like a resume – first you need to use the facts to justify you as an expert and then back it up with your other information.

3️⃣ A bit about your story. Why did you start offering the service that you do? What excites you about your work? Keeping it personal keeps people engaged and interested. If I know you used to make hair clips for your friends 5 years ago and then decided to follow that passion into your current business, add that!

4️⃣ Talk yourself up a bit. This one can be tough. What makes you tick? Why should I buy from you? A good trick with this part is to ask a close friend or family remember to write something short for you. You might feel too flattered about what they wrote and want to remove some parts, but keep the core. How your friends and family see you is usually the best representation of how you make others feel and why you deserve someone’s business.

5️⃣ A call to action. So your clients now know all about you… Now what? Tell them what to do next. Contact you? View your products? Give them direction before they just exit out of your site.