Ep. 5: SEO Basics for Small Businesses

Join hosts Chloe and Darci as they explore how to set realistic timelines for building your brand without burning out.In this episode, they discuss the common struggle of managing self-imposed deadlines and balancing client work with personal business development. They share their own experiences with procrastination, missing goals, and learning to give themselves grace when things don’t go as planned. You'll also hear about their year-long journey of launching Brand Jam and how they stayed motivated despite setbacks.If you're feeling overwhelmed by endless to-do lists and arbitrary goals, this episode is what you need. It offers practical advice on how to set timelines that work for you and celebrate your progress, even if it’s slower than expected.View Episode TranscriptResources mentioned in this episode include:Neurodiversity Media NetworkThinking about starting a podcast and not sure where to start? Reach out to NMN founder, Briar HarveyFollow Brand Jam:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brandjampod/Threads https://www.threads.net/@brandjampodWebsite https://www.brandjampod.comFollow Chloe at Chloe Arielle Design:Website https://www.chloearielle.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chloearielleThreads https://www.threads.net/@chloearielleFollow Darci at Sweet Tooth CreativeWebsite https://sweettoothcreative.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweettoothcreative/Threads https://www.threads.net/@sweettoothcreative

Join hosts Chloe and Darci as they chat about the value of having clear brand guidelines, even if you’re a business of one. Bringing together insights from the last 8 episodes, they lay out how to combine visual elements with key aspects of brand voice and messaging to create a comprehensive guide for keeping your brand identity clear, consistent, and easily accessible.For small business owners who struggle with feeling confident in their brand presence, this episode is a can’t miss.View Episode TranscriptFollow Brand Jam:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brandjampod/Threads https://www.threads.net/@brandjampodWebsite https://www.brandjampod.comFollow Chloe at Chloe Arielle Design:Website https://www.chloearielle.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chloearielleThreads https://www.threads.net/@chloearielleFollow Darci at Sweet Tooth CreativeWebsite https://sweettoothcreative.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweettoothcreative/Threads https://www.threads.net/@sweettoothcreative

Join hosts Chloe and Darci as they explore the essential first step towards brand awareness: identifying your audience.Drawing on their own experience as busy small business owners, they discuss the pitfalls of trying to appeal to everyone and share recommendations for the best ways to direct your efforts and build an engaged audience.Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just launching your business, this episode offers valuable advice for connecting with the *right* people and forming genuine relationships that drive your business forward. You don’t want to miss it!View Episode TranscriptResources mentioned in this episode include:The Catalyst by Create the Rules - the virtual, co-working and business support membership where Darci first tried out the done-with-you (DwY) service modelFollow Brand Jam:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brandjampod/Threads https://www.threads.net/@brandjampodWebsite https://www.brandjampod.comFollow Chloe at Chloe Arielle Design:Website https://www.chloearielle.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chloearielleThreads https://www.threads.net/@chloearielleFollow Darci at Sweet Tooth CreativeWebsite https://sweettoothcreative.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweettoothcreative/Threads https://www.threads.net/@sweettoothcreative

Join hosts Chloe and Darci as they discuss an all too common struggle for small business owners -  defining your brand’s key messages.Key messages are an essential ingredient for a cohesive and effective marketing strategy. Clearly defined key messages will save you time when creating content and make building a cohesive brand feel so much easier. Yet they’re frequently overlooked by entrepreneurs when they DiY their branding.In this episode, Chloe and Darci dispel the myth that defining key messages is a daunting process and show you how mixing in a pinch of intention and a dash of strategy can make all the difference when it comes to your brand’s development.View Episode TranscriptFollow Brand Jam:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brandjampod/Threads https://www.threads.net/@brandjampodWebsite https://www.brandjampod.comFollow Chloe at Chloe Arielle Design:Website https://www.chloearielle.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chloearielleThreads https://www.threads.net/@chloearielleFollow Darci at Sweet Tooth CreativeWebsite https://sweettoothcreative.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweettoothcreative/Threads https://www.threads.net/@sweettoothcreative

Join hosts Chloe and Darci as they explore how defining your brand values and infusing them into your marketing helps you connect with your audience, build trust, and inspire customer loyalty.82% of buyers want a brand’s values to align with their own and, again and again, we’ve seen that play out in real time. From Starbucks to StickerMule, when a brand’s audience realizes its values don’t align with their own, many decide to shop elsewhere.Whether you've just begun to define your brand values or are looking to further refine them, this episode offers practical steps to help small business owners uncover what truly drives their business and communicate it in a way that inspires long-term brand loyalty.View Episode TranscriptFollow Brand Jam:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brandjampod/Threads https://www.threads.net/@brandjampodWebsite https://www.brandjampod.comFollow Chloe at Chloe Arielle Design:Website https://www.chloearielle.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chloearielleThreads https://www.threads.net/@chloearielleFollow Darci at Sweet Tooth CreativeWebsite https://sweettoothcreative.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweettoothcreative/Threads https://www.threads.net/@sweettoothcreative

This week Chloe and Darci walk listeners through the basics of SEO (search engine optimization) or how to ensure your business is discoverable through search.For small businesses, every audience member matters and showing up in search results is a great way to generate organic traffic to your website.But confusing algorithms and complicated tools can make SEO seem scary or overwhelming. Well, Chloe and Darci are here to show you it really doesn’t have to be.If you’re a small business owner seeking a simple, intuitive approach to SEO, you won’t want to miss this episode!View Episode TranscriptResources mentioned in this episode include:Experte (page speed test)PageSpeed InsightsSolarwinds Pingdom (page speed test) TinyPNG (Image compression for web use)Follow Brand Jam:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brandjampod/Threads https://www.threads.net/@brandjampodWebsite https://www.brandjampod.comFollow Chloe at Chloe Arielle Design:Website https://www.chloearielle.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chloearielleThreads https://www.threads.net/@chloearielleFollow Darci at Sweet Tooth CreativeWebsite https://sweettoothcreative.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweettoothcreative/Threads https://www.threads.net/@sweettoothcreative

Episode Overview:Join hosts Chloe and Darci as they discuss the importance of building accessibility into your brand from day 1 and breakdown the basics for business owners who might be new to the topic.From color contrast to alt text (and more), this episode of Brand Jam offers actionable tips and helpful tools to make your brand’s digital presence accessible to a wider audience.So, if you’re a small business owner who wants to build an inclusive brand, you won’t want to miss it!View Episode TranscriptResources mentioned in this episode include:PikaWeb AIM color contrast checkerFigma (contrast plugin)Using Design Accessibility in Canvaaxe DevToolsaxe DevTools chrome extensionFollow Brand Jam:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brandjampod/Threads https://www.threads.net/@brandjampodWebsite https://www.brandjampod.comFollow Chloe at Chloe Arielle Design:Website https://www.chloearielle.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chloearielleThreads https://www.threads.net/@chloearielleFollow Darci at Sweet Tooth CreativeWebsite https://sweettoothcreative.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweettoothcreative/Threads https://www.threads.net/@sweettoothcreative

Join hosts Chloe and Darci as they talk about an essential ingredient that’s easy to overlook when you’re baking your brand from scratch: Brand Clarity.This episode takes listeners beyond the buzzword, explaining why brand clarity is a critical first step towards building brand awareness and sharing practical ways to prioritize it in your creative process, even when you’re learning as you go.So, if you’re building your brand on a budget and things feel a bit muddled, there’s no need to worry. Brand Jam has your back!View Episode 3 TranscriptFollow Brand Jam:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brandjampod/Threads https://www.threads.net/@brandjampodWebsite https://www.brandjampod.comFollow Chloe at Chloe Arielle Design:Website https://www.chloearielle.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chloearielleThreads https://www.threads.net/@chloearielleFollow Darci at Sweet Tooth CreativeWebsite https://sweettoothcreative.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweettoothcreative/Threads https://www.threads.net/@sweettoothcreative

Join hosts Chloe and Darci as they give listeners a behind-the-scenes peek into the early stages of their own creative processes, sharing exactly how they turn jumbled thoughts into clearly executed ideas.Breaking down the difference between a brain dump and a brainstorm, along with how to use each one, this episode’s conversation is packed with valuable advice for finding your creative flow when your brain feels busy or (worse!) blocked.So, whether you’re sifting through endless ideas for your brand or struggling to get started, Brand Jam has your back!View Episode 2 TranscriptResources mentioned in this episode include:Chloe & Darci’s favorite free graphic design tool > CanvaDarci’s favorite pens > Pilot G2 in .38Chloe’s favorite pens > Pilot G2 in .5Creative coach extraordinaire > Caitlin Liz FisherBird by Bird by Ann LamottFollow Brand Jam:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brandjampod/Threads https://www.threads.net/@brandjampodWebsite https://www.brandjampod.comFollow Chloe at Chloe Arielle Design:Website https://www.chloearielle.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chloearielleThreads https://www.threads.net/@chloearielleFollow Darci at Sweet Tooth CreativeWebsite https://sweettoothcreative.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweettoothcreative/Threads https://www.threads.net/@sweettoothcreative

Join co-hosts Chloe and Darci as they talk about what it’s like to build a brand from scratch as a small business owner.Drawing on their professional expertise (Chloe’s as a brand and web designer, Darci’s as a brand voice copywriter), as well as their personal experiences as solo entrepreneurs, they offer listeners realistic and actionable advice for crafting a brand identity that grows with your business.This episode covers what a brand needs from day 1 (hint: it’s not a logo!), what you can put off for later, and common pitfalls to avoid when going the DIY-route.So, if you’re ready to increase brand awareness and boost your brand visibility but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place!View Episode 1 TranscriptFollow Brand Jam:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brandjampod/Threads https://www.threads.net/@brandjampodWebsite https://www.brandjampod.comFollow Chloe at Chloe Arielle Design:Website https://www.chloearielle.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chloearielleThreads https://www.threads.net/@chloearielleFollow Darci at Sweet Tooth CreativeWebsite https://sweettoothcreative.com/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweettoothcreative/Threads https://www.threads.net/@sweettoothcreative