You know what you do — but knowing what you do and being able to talk about it in a way that actually attracts the right people are two very different things. A lot of businesses get stuck here, assuming that describing their services is enough. Sometimes it is, but usually? There's competition, and blending in is easy. Standing out takes intention.
State of the Creative helps small businesses differentiate themselves from the competition by building a strong brand, crafting compelling visuals, and developing a brand voice that not only speaks to what you do but also to why you do it.
Step One: Say Hi
You’re a small business owner who’s just getting started, and possibly feeling a little overwhelmed, or you’ve been in business for awhile and aren’t satisfied with how your business is showing up in the world. Either way, you need help, so you reach out.
I’m typically pretty quick to respond. You should hear from me within 24 hours.
Step Two: We Talk
We'll set up a time to talk (in person, by phone, or online) so I can learn about you, your business, and your goals. If we're a good fit, I'll send over a proposal and contract, and we'll get to work.
Step Three: We Work
First, your Brand Voice. Over two or three meetings, we'll dig into who you are and what you're about. You'll walk away with a brand voice document that includes your purpose, vision, and mission statements, an elevator pitch, and your core brand values.
Then your Visual Brand. Your voice informs your visuals — so once we know how your brand sounds, we figure out how it looks. You'll get a flexible logo suite, a color palette, typography, patterns, and anything else specific to your business needs.
Step Four: Try Not to Be Surprised When People Start Taking Notice
This is what happens when your brand actually sounds like you and looks like you — people get it, and more importantly, the right people get it. Go get ‘em, tiger!
-
Brand work starts at $3000. Half of the payment is due when you sign your contract, and the other half is due upon completion of the project. I do offer payment plans. If you’re interested in working together but experiencing sticker shock, please email me and let’s figure out a plan that works for you: susan@stateofthecreative.com
-
You’re right, there are a lot of inexpensive logo options available online. But what you're getting is an image — not a brand. How do you talk about what you do? What does your website say? How do you introduce yourself at a networking event without fumbling through it? A logo is a small piece of your brand identity. The real work is figuring out who you are, what you stand for, and how to tell people about it in a way that actually lands — and that's what we do together.
-
Fill out my contact form! it’s available under “Contact” in the main menu. I’m typically pretty quick to respond and should get back to you within 24 hours.
-
Yes! If you love your logo and it's working for you, we don't need to touch it. A lot of clients come to me because they have visuals but no clear brand voice — they don't know how to talk about what they do, their website copy is all over the place, or they just can't get their messaging to feel right. We can absolutely start with brand voice and go from there.
-
Absolutely. Sometimes you've been at it long enough that you've outgrown your brand — or you never quite nailed it in the first place and you've just been living with it. Either way, a refresh is a totally legitimate reason to reach out. We'll figure out what's working, what isn't, and where to go from there.
