Brand Strategy Unwankified

49. Reflections on Being a Female Creative on International Women’s Day

In this off-the-cuff, reflective episode of The C Word Podcast, I explore my very personal musings on what it is to be a female designer.
 
This episode is inspired by the sentiment of International Women's Day and my view that this day should be a demand for change as much as a celebration of women.
 
I share some of my own experiences as a female designer and how I think they were influenced by gender bias in the design industry.
 
I also reflect on what needs to change in the design industry to address the glaringly uncomfortable statistic of how many females enter the industry as juniors versus how many go on to occupy senior positions. It's not pretty!
 
And finally I share my view on how this bias in agency life impacts those who go on to be female creative business owners. Something I want to help change in my own contribution to the industry.
Bec
 
WORKING WITH ME
If you’re ready to connect with me on a deeper level and work together, there are 2 ways you can do that:
1:1 Creative Insider Business Coaching… visit bechughes.com/business-coach-for-creatives
The Creative Value Incubator… visit bechughes.com/incubator/
 
SAY  HELLO!
Let's connect on Instagram
My Website
Download My Free Profit Plumping Strategies Training and Worksheet
‘Meet Me at the Water Cooler’ for monthly creative conversations, coaching and chats

48. Beyond Socials: Digital Marketing Inspiration with Maryanne Amies

Digital Marketing is probably highest on most business owners priority lists. For some it's an exciting, evolving opportunity, and for many others it's a minefield.
In this podcast I’m joined by one of my favourite people Maryanne Amies, founder of award Winning Digital Marketing Agency, Wise Up Marketing. Mary-Anne has lived through the launch of Instagram, Paid Social ads, TikTok and everything in between – you could call her the veteran of digital marketing.
In this episode we cover a lot of ground. Maryanne is an all round good human being.
 
Settle in for some light-hearted banter and stick around for the digital marketing gold.
 
We cover:
~ Challenges and opportunities of social media for creatives
~ The future of the curated feed
~ Digital strategy beyond socials including your website, list building, email marketing and digital networking
~ Trends to look out for
 
Oh and you’ll find out what Maryanne really thinks about the British royal family and what she’ll do to you if you give her cheap chocolate!
 
CONNECT WITH MARYANNE
Instagram
Website
 
WORKING WITH ME
If you’re ready to connect with me on a deeper level this year and work together, there are 2 ways you can do that:
1:1 Creative Insider Business Coaching… visit bechughes.com/business-coach-for-creatives
The Creative Value Incubator… visit bechughes.com/incubator/
 
SAY  HELLO!
Follow me on Instagram
Website
Download My Free Profit Plumping Strategies Training and Worksheet
‘Meet Me at the Water Cooler’ for monthly creative conversations, coaching and chats

47. Communicate Your Value: What, How & Where

How do you communicate your value as a designer?
It's a question that comes up a lot amongst the designers I connect with.
Being able to confidently communicate your value is the foundation for feeling more valued and becoming more valuable as a designer. 
In this episode of The C Word Podcast I talk about the what, how and where to define and then communicate your value effectively:
• What the 5 key elements are you should focus on to articulate your value
• How to communicate that value in the most engaging and meaningful ways
• Where you should be talking about and showcasing your value with purpose and intention
Bec x
 
WORKING WITH ME
If you’re ready to connect with me on a deeper level this year and work together, there are 2 ways you can do that:
1:1 Creative Insider Business Coaching… visit bechughes.com/business-coach-for-creatives
The Creative Value Incubator… visit bechughes.com/incubator/
 
SAY  HELLO!
Follow me on Instagram
Website
Download My Free Profit Plumping Strategies Training and Worksheet
'Meet Me at the Water Cooler' for monthly creative conversations, coaching and chats

46. A Client Off-Boarding that Future Expands Your Business

We all know about client onboarding but what about client off-boarding? 
It's sometimes the poorer cousin of the onboarding, but an intentional client off-boarding is often an overlooked but awesome opportunity full of potential goodness for your business.
On this episode of The C Word I share why I think it’s something you should pay more than lip-service to and what I think a good off boarding looks like:
• The 3 important jobs of a client off-boarding
• Why projects don't always wrap-up neatly
• The benefits of a well considered client off-boarding process
• 10 questions to ask yourself when masterminding your approach to off-boarding
• What it means to future-expand your business
 
WORKING WITH ME
If you’re ready to connect with me on a deeper level this year and work together, there are 2 ways you can do that:
~ 1:1 Creative Insider Business Coaching… visit bechughes.com/business-coach-for-creatives
~ The Creative Value Incubator… visit bechughes.com/incubator/
 
SAY  HELLO!
Follow me on Instagram
Website

45. If You’re Not Earning $100k You’re Not Successful

If you're not earning $100k you're not successful! Of course I don't belief that to be true. Because no one can tell you what you should be earning.
But I received an email recently from a coach and mentor and to be honest it really pee’d me off.
In short it implied just this... if you’re earning anything less than $100k as a designer you're underachieving. You’re just another struggling designer statistic.
And I felt it was important to address everything that's not only wrong, but dangerously misleading about that statement.
So in this podcast I discuss:
• What's wrong in the coaching industry and the marketing constructs of 'cult coaches'
• The real reason coaches talk about money and earnings... spoiler, it's not to benefit you
• Why it's important to set your own financial goals
• Why the revenue figure isn't what you should be focusing on
I also talk very openly about my own challenge to myself as a coach and mentor and how I want to do things not only differently but much better.
This is a ranty one, at times it's a raw one, because I am deeply concerned by what I see sometimes. And I want to talk about it openly because I know it's not just me.
Bec x
 
WORKING WITH ME
If you’re ready to connect with me on a deeper level this year and work together, there are 2 ways you can do that:
1:1 Creative Insider Business Coaching… visit bechughes.com/business-coach-for-creatives
The Creative Value Incubator… visit bechughes.com/incubator/
 
SAY  HELLO!
Follow me on Instagram
Website

44. What Does it Actually Mean to ’Show Up’?

I hear it all the time that you need to ‘show up’ in your business, in your marketing and for your audience.
And I wanted to pick the concept apart. Because I don’t disagree with the sentiment of it, I just think the phrase has become overused and misunderstood.
Very often it just manifests itself as showing your face and the occasional (re)introduction post on social media.
In this podcast, I talk about what the concept of 'showing up' means to me, the ways in which I’ve found it beneficial in my business and how I choose to apply it.
 
WORKING WITH ME
If you’re ready to connect with me on a deeper level this year and work together, there are 2 ways you can work with me:
Creative Business Insider 1:1 Coaching… visit https://bechughes.com/business-coach-for-creatives
The Creative Value Incubator… visit bechughes.com/incubator/
 
SAY  HELLO!
Follow me on Instagram
Website
 
 

43. The Client Centred Business Model is Broken

In this episode of the C Word Podcast I want to challenge one of the most ingrained concepts in the creative industry, and that is the client centred business model. Because I believe it's fundamentally broken and it doesn't serve clients or creatives.
 
I'll share:
1/ Why I think the model is problematic
2/ The impact it has on designers creating a business that works for them
3/ An alternative creative-centred model
4/ 5 key ingredients to crafting that business and becoming a more valuable and valued designer
 
THE CREATIVE VALUE INCUBATOR
Join the guest list
 
RELATED EPISODES
Eps28 - Setting Boundaries with Clients and Staying Friends
Eps24 - Cultivating Unshakeable Belief in Your Creative Work
Eps16 - Are Your Missing the Opportunity to Sell Strategy
Eps10 - A Simple Model to Price Your Creative Work

42. 9 Ways to Jump Start Your Revenue During a Quiet Period

In this episode of The C Word podcast I get super practical with 9 ways to jump start your revenue if things have gone a bit quiet.
Most design businesses have ebbs and flows and will experience quiet periods. January is often a slow month, with little client activity.
But with talk of an economic down turn, I know those experiencing lean times are feeling the pressure and the worry of things feeling a bit slow.
So I wanted to help get you into a growth mindset and share some immediate actions you can take to get some instant revenue into your design business quick sticks!
 
Working with me in 2023
If you're ready to connect with me on a deeper level this year and work together, there are 2 things happening at the Strat go 2023:
✨Aspiration to Action Intention Setting Challenge... visit bechughes.com/one/
✨Doors open soon for the first live round of the Creative Value Incubator starting on 6 Feb... visit bechughes.com/incubator/
 
Say hello!
 
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Visit My Website

41. A Game-Changer for Every Design Business

In today's episode I'm sharing one of the biggest game-changers for any design business - brand, graphic, web or otherwise. And that is presenting your creative work in person.
 
This is something I think many designers are reluctant to do. However, I believe it can have such a positive influence on how much your clients value you and the impact you can create with your work.
 
So I share the key reasons I think this is so important for designers, as well as tackling the key objections I hear from fellow creatives when the subject of presenting your work in person comes up.
 
FIND OUT MORE & SAY HI!
 
Creative Value Incubator Guest List
Private Coaching & Mentoring with Me
Follow me on Instagram
Website

40. Choosing a Word for the Year: Where I Landed and Why

Is choosing and being guided by a word for the year something you do? Or does it seem like pointless nonsense to you!?
In this episode of The C Word podcast I share why I love the practice of choosing a word for the year and how it helps to focus and simplify my behaviours, actions and decision-making in business and life.
I'll give you an insight into past years and the words I chose and why.
Plus I'll share my word for 2023 and what prompted me to make my choice.
If you have a word for the year or if you're not sure why it's even a thing, send me a DM on Instagram or email me at becky@bechughes.com and let me know.
Bec x
 
FIND OUT MORE & SAY HI!
Aspiration to Action 2023 Intention Setting Challenge
Creative Value Incubator Enrolment
Private Coaching & Mentoring with Me
Follow me on Instagram
Website