THE REAL FUNDAMENTALS OF RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS
The Blog for the Small Business Owner
Being a business owner means we're always learning. We're so excited to share our knowledge with you! These articles are inspired by FAQs you have and common issues/myths we hear and see in the design and marketing industry.
Explore to find tools, resources, and more to understand how to grow your business the right way!
Featured Blog Posts
Pretty Isn’t Profitable: What Strategic Websites Actually Do
One of the most common compliments we hear is:
“Your websites are so pretty.”
And while we appreciate it, we also know something most people don’t realize yet:
Pretty is never the goal.
Pretty is a byproduct.
Profit is the point.
Your Platform Is Not Your SEO Strategy
If you’ve ever hesitated to update or rebuild your website because you were afraid of “hurting your SEO,” you’re not alone.
Why Most Websites Feel Outdated Before They Look Outdated
Most business owners come to us saying some version of this:
“Our website just feels old.”
And usually, they’re right.
But here’s the part that surprises them:
By the time your website looks outdated, it’s probably been underperforming for years.
Why “One More Layer” Rarely Solves the Real Problem
When a business is growing and stable, it’s natural to look for ways to “enhance” what’s already there. More visuals, more content, more polish often feel like the next logical step. But without reviewing the foundation first, those upgrades rarely deliver the results people expect.
“But All My Clients Come From Word of Mouth or Instagram”…
Why You Still Need a Strategic Website
If you’ve ever said, “I don’t really need a website, all my business comes from referrals and Instagram,” you’re not wrong.
You are just missing what happens next.
Not Sure What You Need? Ask Yourself These 21 Questions Before You Invest in Branding or a Website
You know something’s off.
Your brand feels DIY.
Your website feels… tired.
Your photos don’t match your level.
Your messaging is a little everywhere.
And you’re at that stage where you’re finally ready to invest — you just have no idea what to invest in first.
Where to Start When You're Ready to Invest in Your Business (The MWD Way)
If you’ve been circling the “it’s time to invest” moment for… longer than you’d like to admit, you’re in the right place.
Most business owners have the same question when they finally feel ready: “Where do I even start?”
The Full Picture: Why a Brand Can’t Be Boiled Down to One Icon
Somewhere along the way, the logo became the celebrity of the branding world. The star of the show. The “if I just get this one thing right, my brand will take off” magic bullet.
When It’s OK to DIY Your Website (And When You Really Need a Pro)
Let’s be honest, there’s a time and place for rolling up your sleeves, watching a few YouTube videos, and dragging and dropping your way through a free website builder. We’re not here to shame the DIY hustle. Heck, some of our clients came to us after duct-taping a decent little Squarespace site together during nap time or late-night bursts of creative energy. If that’s you? Respect.
Brand Guidelines Are So Much More Than Just a Logo, Font, and Colour Palette
Let’s be real: if your brand guidelines are just a page of logos, fonts, and colours… you’ve got brand suggestions, not actual guidelines.
Is It Time to Rebrand? What to Keep, What to Let Go, and How to Know the Difference
Whether you’ve been in business for 2 years or 20, there comes a moment when you look at your brand and think:
“Does this still fit me?”
Maybe your logo feels dated.
Maybe your business name doesn’t feel right anymore.
Maybe your entire brand identity feels like it belongs to a past version of yourself.
The Ultimate Health & Wellness Brand Shoot Guide
A strong brand shoot is more than just professional headshots—it should capture the full essence of your health and wellness business, including your approach, environment, tools, and client experience. This guide will help you create a strategic collection of images for your website, social media, and marketing materials.
The Ultimate Mental Health Brand Shoot Guide
A brand photoshoot for mental health professionals should capture the warmth, trust, and professionalism of your practice. This guide will help you prepare for a strategic and compelling collection of images to use across your website, social media, and marketing materials.
The Ultimate Interior Designer & Home Stager Brand Shoot Guide
A well-planned brand shoot for your interior design or home staging business should capture more than just headshots—it should showcase your creative process, styled spaces, and brand personality. This guide will help you plan a shoot that provides a strong visual identity and a content library for your website, social media, and marketing materials.
The Ultimate Medical Aesthetics Brand Shoot Guide
A brand shoot for your medical aesthetics business should go beyond headshots—it should tell the full story of your brand. From the client experience to the tools of your trade, this guide will ensure you capture the essence of your business and create a powerful library of images for marketing, social media, and your website.
The Ultimate Design & Build Brand Shoot Guide
A professional brand shoot for your design and build business should showcase more than just finished projects. It should capture the full scope of your expertise, process, and brand personality. This guide ensures you walk away with a powerful collection of images for your marketing, website, and social media.
The Ultimate Beauty Industry Brand Shoot Guide
A successful brand shoot for your beauty business should showcase more than just headshots—it should highlight your artistry, expertise, client experience, and the ambiance of your space. Whether you’re a salon owner, makeup artist, hair stylist, wax specialist, or spa owner, this guide will help you create a diverse and powerful image library for marketing, social media, and your website.
The Ultimate Athletics Brand Shoot Guide
A brand shoot for athletics-based businesses—dance studios, yoga instructors, fitness trainers, martial arts schools, and other movement-focused brands—should capture the energy, expertise, and atmosphere of your business. This guide ensures you get a dynamic collection of images that reflect your brand identity and engage your audience.
