Hiring a branding and web designer for your small business can be daunting, especially if you’ve never outsourced anything before and have no idea what to expect. Here I’m unveiling an in-depth look into my brand and website design process as a freelance designer, ensuring you know what to expect from inquiry to launch.
If you’re an entrepreneur, your business is kind of your baby and you don’t want to hand your baby off to just anyone. I have been perfecting my creative process and client experience for four years as a freelance brand and web designer. It’s my goal to make sure every business owner I work with has a good understanding of what the process will look like from the beginning. So you can rest assured that your business is in good hands!
So here’s a super thorough look into what my process looks like from start to finish!
Phase 01: Onboarding
After I receive your inquiry, first I obviously do a happy dance. Then the brand and web design process begins! I reach back out with a scheduler so you can pick a time that works within your schedule to have a 30 minute discovery call. My discovery calls are all about hearing your business’ story, where you want to take it in the future, and your “why” — the passion behind what you do.
Toward the end of the call, I’ll walk you through my whole process and answer any questions you might have about working together.
Within 24 hours of the discovery call, I’ll send my proposal (via my CRM, Dubsado) which outlines my packages. Any package may be amended to a custom package which we’ll discuss on our call. It’ll also offer all of my available add-ons, timeline details, and payment information, including the payment plan that’s automatically applied.
Once you submit the proposal, you’ll be taken to your contract and invoice for your initial installment. With those three things squared away, you’ll be sent my branding questionnaire to kick us off.
The branding questionnaire gets into all the details about your vision for your brand. This includes fonts, colors, the way it looks and feels, your mission, your target audience, and more. It also has a place to drop your mood board so I can get some visual inspiration as well (because I’m a visual person, of course). I have many Pinterest boards on branding, logo design, website designs and layout, etc. that you can use as a jumping off point!
Phase 02: Design
I mark my calendar to deliver your first Brand Book within two weeks of receiving that finished questionnaire. The Brand Book is a PDF booklet that covers all the details of your brand. It won’t just be a logo, but multiple logos, your color palette, fonts, illustrations, and patterns (plus some fun mockups and application ideas). Of course it’ll also dig into the strategy behind the direction I went with your branding. I only present one branding concept, and put all my energy and research into that one concept. But there will be a lot of room to revise and perfect it.
We’ll go through up to three rounds of revisions where you’ll be able to comment directly on the Brand Book and tweak whatever you’re not in love with. I’ll send revised versions within 2-3 business days, and once you approve the Brand Book, your brand identity is finalized!
Phase 03: Delivery
The Brand Book is finalized once it is 100% perfected, it practically screams your name, and you’re absolutely in love. At this point, I’ll take the final Brand Book and export all of the brand assets individually. This includes your main logo and all secondary logos, favicons, icons or illustrations, web elements, and brand patterns. I’ll export each one in each of your brand’s colors in your color palette, plus black and white. I export these files as transparent PNGs so you can drag and drop them onto any background color, and I can export other file types if you know you’ll need them! I’ll also share your brand font files at this point.
Phase 04: Mockups
If you’ve also booked me for web design, this is where we’ll move from brand design into the web design process. First, I’ll create three folders where you’ll share website inspiration, website copy, and photos.
Website Photos
Website photos include all the photos you’ll want on your website. I know this is a huge undertaking, so pixieset or pic-time gallery links are also fine! If you have an existing website, I can sometimes save them from there.
Website Copy
Website copy all the text that will go on your website. Many of my clients hire a website copywriter, but if you don’t, I have a great copywriting worksheet to help get you started on writing for your website, and to give me all the necessary information.
Website Inspiration
Website inspiration could be links, screenshots, or a Pinterest board of websites you like. Some of my clients will create a wishlist of things they absolutely need on their website, ensuring I won’t miss a thing.
(This is typically the lengthiest portion of the project and is the most often cause of a website design timeline being delayed — so the earlier in the process you can gather these assets, the better!)
If your website is going to be on ShowIt and you don’t currently have a ShowIt website*, once I receive some content in each of these folders, I’ll start building mockups of TWO pages for your website, typically the Home page and About page. I design them in Adobe Illustrator, so they won’t contain all the functionality that your final site will have, but I do this to nail down the overall vibe and layout of the website. You’ll be able to do revisions on these mockups as well.
A note:
*If your website is via ShowIt but you already have a ShowIt website, I’ll create a new design within your ShowIt account to work off of.
If your website is via Squarespace, I’ll typically jump right into Squarespace with no mockup phase, or have you pick a Squarespace template to use loosely as inspiration and a jumping off point.
Compare ShowIt and Squarespace’s pricing and functionality with these links!
Phase 05: Development
Once those two mockups are approved, I’ll have you create a ShowIt or Squarespace account. Both platforms offer a two-week free trial. During that time, I’ll build out the Home and About pages, but online this time! PS, if you choose ShowIt, I have a code for your first month free as well — “omgthanksmaddie”!!
I’ll continue building the rest of the pages of your website and send you previews periodically. You’ll be able to review every page and send your revisions as we go.
(This is typically the second longest portion of a brand and website design or web design project. The quicker we’re able to go back and forth with feedback, the sooner your website can be launched!)
Phase 06: Finalization
Once you’re 100% in love with your new website, we’ll connect your domain name so that it’s live and make sure everything is ready for launch!
I’ll record and share customized tutorial videos so you feel comfy making updates to your website whenever you might need to in the future. But I’m still available and happy to help with any website questions or edits you want after you launch!
Phase 07: Launch!
Your new branding and website are ready to go! I’ll design an Instagram post, carousel, or reel for you (if you want). You can post these to announce your rebrand / new website in style and in a super cohesive and beautiful way.
Then I’ll just sit back and watch you launch and implement your new brand and website out in the world seamlessly and effortlessly! But don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any support using your new website and branding. I’ll be around and will be your business’ literal biggest cheerleader for years to come.
Ready to start the brand and web design process yourself? Inquire with me today to begin turning your branding and website dreams into a reality.
