I’m super excited to finally start sharing all of your branding stories! First up, we have Raewyn Sangari from Be A Warrior Queen. I’ve been working with Raewyn on her design and we’ll hopefully be launching it soon. But don’t worry, I won’t be featuring all of my clients in my Branding Interview series!
About Be A Warrior Queen
When the Warrior Queen movement began, I was a journalism student and dreamed of starting a magazine to rival Seventeen or CosmoGirl! I received my journalism degree in 2012, but before that, I wanted to grow a following for my magazine before trying to print it. Since then, I realized my dreams and goals were bigger than a magazine and have begun to focus more on the movement. My blog is my platform, it allows me to reach women seeking self-love.
Did you create a vision or mood board?
I did not, but I have several collages of what I wanted to include in my magazine.
How did you come up with your voice?
As a writer, it came naturally for me. I think that my voice has become more precise and less emotional as I have matured. It was always easy to write news articles and be unbiased, but writing motivational copy without making it personal took some practice.
Pick three words that describe your brand.
Inspiring, bright, and affirming
How has your brand evolved over time?
It has morphed so much! I never had set colors, fonts or style before. I was used to writing a more personal blog, so I’ve been learning about branding and considering my blog a business for a very short time. In the very beginning, I used a Blogger template before I had Photoshop on my laptop. Then, when I got more serious in 2012 and 2013, I created my own images and figured out how to get social media buttons in my blog’s colors. As you can see below, the pink that I am currently using has been my color of choice the whole time. In 2014, a blog friend redid my graphics to make it a little more fun and to fit the more lifestyle blog I was trying to embrace. Toward the end of 2014, I wasn’t feeling my blog design matched where I wanted the blog to go and it was holding my writing back. So, in January 2015, I switched to WordPress and designed my whole blog myself. I loved it, but it still wasn’t exactly what I wanted. Emily’s totally capturing it, though.
What was your favorite part/experience when developing your brand?
Feeling like I finally understood what my brand was for myself. I struggled with my content and what it was that I wanted to do for a long time. Developing a set font and color scheme and having a blog design that represented what I saw in my head was amazing.
What was your biggest struggle with developing your brand?
I LOVE TOO MANY FONTS. hahaha
How many times have you rebranded? What made you decide to rebrand?
I’ve had re-designs on my blog at least 4 times. Last year I switched to WordPress and established the path toward my current brand. As I began to think of my blog as a business, I decided a rebrand was necessary to truly focus on what my vision is.
What were your favorite resources to use while DIYing your brand?
Canva is amazing! I also just discovered the Creative Market!
Do you have any advice for anyone else that is going to DIY their brand?
Don’t get discouraged by what seems like scary tech terms or programs. I used to be a technology teacher and I taught little kids programs like Canva and graphic design. If they can do it (and they barely know how to use a mouse), you definitely can!
How was your experience working with a coach to develop your brand?
I’ve had a few coaches throughout this year and I have loved getting the insight. My biggest struggle is feeling paralyzed because I don’t know what to do. Having my decisions validated are so helpful!
What was the best part of having a designer help you develop your brand?
My brain is very creative, but the only way that other people see the creativity that I see, are with words. Words I can get out clearly. Images that I create never represent what I was hoping for or planning for in my head. By telling my designer what it is that I’m looking for, it has finally been captured!
What was the hardest part about having a designer help develop your brand if any?
None!
Do you have any advice for anyone looking to hire a designer?
Well, it might sound biased since we’re on your blog, but you are an amazing designer! I love the images that you create. When I first saw Tiffany at Endless Bliss’s blog redesign that you did I was in love! So, go with Emily Finta is my advice 😛
Do you want to be featured or have someone’s branding story you want to hear?
