Why your brand is stuck in the friend zone (+ how to fix it)

Today, I’m diving into the third and final episode of our 2025 brand building series. We’ve touched on how authenticity is one of the things people value this year when it comes to purchasing, and I’ve been seeing the levels of success that founder-based accounts have because they help funnel new customers to the brand. Now I'm not saying you have to go and create a whole separate account that's personal focused, but I would encourage you to bring some personal branding elements into your brand this year, if you haven't already. If you already have done that, let's relook at what you've done and how you've done that and see how we can make things even better for 2025. What I cover in this episode:Practical ways to integrate personal elements into your brand for a stronger connection with your audienceAvoiding oversharing and sharing things that are not relevant to your audience and why they follow youLeveraging your brand anchors like colours and routines for audience recognitionWays to audit your recent content and identify ways to incorporate parts of your personalityListen to my episode about brand anchors on Apple or Spotify.---Access The Brand Lab here.Get instant access to the Audience Attraction Masterclass here.Join Studio Society here. Enrol in my brand strategy mini-course, Be That Brand.Want to work with me? Book a free consult call here!---Connect with Alex: @havenstudiocowww.havenstudio.com.auFollow the podcast: @brandologypodMake sure to hit FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE so you can stay up to date with every episode! Loving Brandology? It would mean the world if you could leave a rating/review and tell your biz besties!

I’m coining 2025 as the The Year of the Authentic Brand. As the business landscape shifts this year, brand authenticity has become more important than ever. In this episode, I'm chatting about brand authenticity and why we need it, why it's suddenly so important and also some ways you can start to do this in your brand so you can actually finish listening and go make some changes, because that is what I'm all about. I want to see you taking fast action because that will help you see faster results. No matter what size business you have, authenticity is going to make a huge difference because as I mentioned in the last episode, what you do is not enough to make people choose you.What I cover in this episode:What consumers are prioritising in the current economic landscapeWhy authenticity requires you to show up, share personal stories and build connectionsHow to be authentic across your social media and my tips for creating content to connectAvoiding consuming too much content that will inevitably cloud your creativity---Access The Brand Lab here.Get instant access to the Audience Attraction Masterclass here.Join Studio Society here. Enrol in my brand strategy mini-course, Be That Brand.Want to work with me? Book a free consult call here!---Connect with Alex: @havenstudiocowww.havenstudio.com.auFollow the podcast: @brandologypodMake sure to hit FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE so you can stay up to date with every episode! Loving Brandology? It would mean the world if you could leave a rating/review and tell your biz besties!

As we dive into a fresh year, it's the perfect time to reflect on how to level up your brand and truly stand out. Over the next three episodes, I’ll guide you through what it takes to build a magnetic and thriving brand in 2025. We’re starting off this series with an overview of how to shift from a ‘business energy’ mindset (which is focusing on what you do) to ‘magnetic brand energy’ (which is embracing who you are). Whether you're a service-based solopreneur or a product-based business, this approach is about authenticity and connecting with your dream clients in a meaningful way.What I cover in this episode:Why your services and skills alone aren’t enough to set you apart from your competitorsIncorporating your personality, experiences and authenticity into your brandThe importance of personal branding and ways to connect with your audienceTips to make your brand memorable to your potential customers---Access The Brand Lab here.Get instant access to the Audience Attraction Masterclass here.Join Studio Society here. Enrol in my brand strategy mini-course, Be That Brand.Want to work with me? Book a free consult call here!---Connect with Alex: @havenstudiocowww.havenstudio.com.auFollow the podcast: @brandologypodMake sure to hit FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE so you can stay up to date with every episode! Loving Brandology? It would mean the world if you could leave a rating/review and tell your biz besties!

Merry Christmas! I can hardly believe we’re at the end of the year, it feels like I blinked and December was halfway gone! If you’re anything like me, the festive season has been a whirlwind, but it’s also the perfect time to pause, reflect, and prepare for what’s next.In this episode, I’m sharing my tried-and-true process for auditing and refining your brand at the end of the year, a practice I’ve honed over the years to ensure my brand keeps evolving and growing. From messaging to offers to your ideal client, I’ll take you through the three key areas I like to to review and refresh. Because let’s face it, a brand that stays stagnant won’t thrive, and just like us our brands need to grow and adapt.What I cover in this episode:Why your messaging, offers and target audience don’t have to stay the same foreverMy belief that brands should evolve every 6–12 months to avoid stagnationThree key areas that I recommend focusing on for auditing your brandThe importance of reviewing where your year so you can focus on your goals for 2025---Access The Brand Lab here.Get instant access to the Audience Attraction Masterclass here.Join Studio Society here. Enrol in my brand strategy mini-course, Be That Brand.Want to work with me? Book a free consult call here!---Connect with Alex: @havenstudiocowww.havenstudio.com.auFollow the podcast: @brandologypodMake sure to hit FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE so you can stay up to date with every episode! Loving Brandology? It would mean the world if you could leave a rating/review and tell your biz besties!

The last few months have not gone to plan for me. After back-to-back illnesses threw my plans for Q4 completely off track, I’ve had to rethink how I approach the end of the year. If you’ve been feeling like things haven’t gone as planned, you’re not alone. This episode is a bit of a brain dump of my reflections on missed goals, my vision for a fresh start in 2025, and how I’m focusing on a more sustainable, balanced way forward when it comes to content, business and life in general. If you are feeling a bit defeated by how 2024 has ended, I hope this chat gives you some tips and encouragement to set yourself up for success.What I cover in this episode:Reflecting on why my Q4 did not go to planHow a lack of prepared content made it hard to maintain my momentum while I was sickMy tips for an action plan moving forward if this last quarter did not pan out as you wantedWays that you can plan and execute to make 2025 stronger than Q4---Access The Brand Lab here.Get instant access to the Audience Attraction Masterclass here.Join Studio Society here. Enrol in my brand strategy mini-course, Be That Brand.Want to work with me? Book a free consult call here!---Connect with Alex: @havenstudiocowww.havenstudio.com.auFollow the podcast: @brandologypodMake sure to hit FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE so you can stay up to date with every episode! Loving Brandology? It would mean the world if you could leave a rating/review and tell your biz besties!

It is an extra special day because this is the 100th episode of Brandology! For the 100th episode I wanted to give you a few of my biggest lessons in brand building. I've got 6 different lessons that I want to chat you through, which I really encourage you to apply to your brand ASAP. These are things that I have learned along the way, whether it's through making mistakes, figuring things out as I go, or through coaching or mentoring that I have received. These are all things that I've applied to my brand, and I have seen results from bringing these tips into my business. I'm not saying you'll see overnight results from doing these things, but I can tell you right now that if you do apply these to your brand, it will strengthen it. They are going to make it more sustainable and much more likely to succeed and turn into that dream brand that you've been wanting to build in the long term, which is what we want.I'm so excited about this milestone and am really proud to have reached 100 episodes. Thank you so much for coming along on the journey and for listening in and I really hope that this podcast has been useful to you in some way. What I cover in this episode:Why what you do is the least interesting thing about your businessHow to shift your messaging from self-focused to customer-focusedBuilding a brand that you love, then finding people who resonate with itFocusing on what your audience is thinking, feeling, and experiencing before and after interacting with your brand---Access The Brand Lab here.Get instant access to the Audience Attraction Masterclass here.My podcast manager Em: https://www.studiosoluna.com.au/ —Podcast links for further listening:Your audience cares about what's in it for themHow visuals + messaging are linkedShowing up as your dream brandBringing YOU into your brandUnderstanding your dream client---Join Studio Society here. Enrol in my brand strategy mini-course, Be That Brand.Want to work with me? Book a free consult call here!---Connect with Alex: @havenstudiocowww.havenstudio.com.auFollow the podcast: @brandologypodMake sure to hit FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE so you can stay up to date with every episode! Loving Brandology? It would mean the world if you could leave a rating/review and tell your biz besties!

Today I’m diving into a conversation that comes up so often with my clients, and that is what it really means to create a luxury or high-end brand. I’m diving into why simply labeling your brand as “luxury” isn’t enough to stand out or connect with your ideal audience. It's not enough to differentiate you, and I can tell you right now - you have a lot more going for you. Your brand has a lot more going for it than just being like high-end or luxury. If you’ve ever found yourself using those terms to describe your business or dream clients but haven’t dug deeper into what they truly mean for you and your brand, this episode is for you.What I cover in this episode:The misconceptions of labelling your brand as ‘luxury’ or ‘high-end’Defining what a high-end client means to you and understanding how your service truly helps themCommunicating luxury through your messaging and customer experience, not just through branding and aestheticsStanding out in a sea of ‘luxury’ brands by exploring what makes your brand unique---Access The Brand Lab here.Join Studio Society here. Enrol in my brand strategy mini-course, Be That Brand.Want to work with me? Book a free consult call here!---Connect with Alex: @havenstudiocowww.havenstudio.com.auFollow the podcast: @brandologypodMake sure to hit FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE so you can stay up to date with every episode! Loving Brandology? It would mean the world if you could leave a rating/review and tell your biz besties!

When I caught a recent episode of Shark Tank, one pitch stood out to me, not because it was extraordinary but because it perfectly illustrated an important lesson about brand building. The brand in question had stunning visuals and packaging, but despite this, the Sharks didn’t invest. Why? Because it lacked the deeper substance that truly sets a brand apart in a crowded market. In this episode, I’m diving into why beautiful visuals alone aren’t enough to build a successful, memorable brand. I share insights on the soul and substance your brand needs to connect with your audience on a deeper level, to turn your followers into customers, and create lasting loyalty. What I cover in this episode:Why visual branding is crucial, but not the only important element of your brandGiving your customers a reason to invest beyond the aestheticsWays to identify your brand’s personality, values, and beliefsBalancing visuals and substance for a successful, lasting brand---Access The Brand Lab here.Join Studio Society here. Enrol in my brand strategy mini-course, Be That Brand.Want to work with me? Book a free consult call here!---Connect with Alex: @havenstudiocowww.havenstudio.com.auFollow the podcast: @brandologypodMake sure to hit FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE so you can stay up to date with every episode! Loving Brandology? It would mean the world if you could leave a rating/review and tell your biz besties!

I wanted to have a chat today about Black Friday sales, and more specifically, why I don't ever put my services on sale in my own business, because that's something that I have been asked a couple of times. I've spoken about to my brand design studio mentoring clients and I wanted to chat about it on the podcast because I think for high ticket service providers, or service providers in general, honestly, this is something that could be of use to you or at least to hear my take on it. Since this whole month is basically Black Friday and every business is putting stuff on sale, I want to give you my thoughts. What I cover in this episode:Why I don’t ever discount my services, unless I am offering beta rounds of new servicesHow discounting services can impact value perception and consistency of incomeReserving sales for your digital products rather than your one-on-one servicesOffering value instead of discounts to avoid devaluing your services---Access The Brand Lab here.Join Studio Society here. Enrol in my brand strategy mini-course, Be That Brand.Want to work with me? Book a free consult call here!---Connect with Alex: @havenstudiocowww.havenstudio.com.auFollow the podcast: @brandologypodMake sure to hit FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE so you can stay up to date with every episode! Loving Brandology? It would mean the world if you could leave a rating/review and tell your biz besties!

Today I'm going to be talking about the three levels of branding - visuals, voice and values. This is basic for me, but for many people I talk to about this, it's something that they haven't really considered. I guess it's because I probably think about it in a slightly different way as well, especially regarding how all these things work together. You really need to have all three of these levels nailed down to have a brand that is actually going to make money and help the right people, encourage them to buy and encourage them to tell their friends. What I cover in this episode:A breakdown of the three levels of brandingHow they work together to create a strong brand that attracts and converts customersThe need for alignment and flow between the three levels to ensure customers are engaged at every stage of their journeyWhy the branding process should move from the outside in---Access The Brand Lab here.Join Studio Society here. Enrol in my brand strategy mini-course, Be That Brand.Want to work with me? Book a free consult call here!---Connect with Alex: @havenstudiocowww.havenstudio.com.auFollow the podcast: @brandologypodMake sure to hit FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE so you can stay up to date with every episode! Loving Brandology? It would mean the world if you could leave a rating/review and tell your biz besties!