As a website designer, I’ve worked with dozens of small business owners who started out DIYing their websites. And while I love the DIY spirit (hey, I was once there too!), I also see the same mistakes over and over again. The good news? They’re all fixable.

Today I’m breaking down the 10 most common website mistakes I see DIYers make — and exactly how to fix them. By the end, you’ll feel more confident about your site and know how to avoid the pitfalls that can cost you clients.

Mistake 1: No Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)

If someone lands on your site, what do you want them to do? Book a call? Buy a product? Join your email list?

Too many DIY sites skip over this and leave visitors guessing.

Fix it: Add one main CTA that appears multiple times throughout your site. For example, “Book Your Consultation” or “Shop the Collection.” Keep it consistent, clear, and easy to click.

Mistake 2: Using Too Many Fonts

I get it — fonts are fun! But mixing six different ones makes your site look messy and unprofessional.

Fix it: Stick to 2–3 fonts max: one for headings, one for body copy, and maybe an accent font for special touches. You can find beautiful, free options on Google Fonts, or check out FontPair for curated pairings that work well together.

Mistake 3: Poor Quality or Inconsistent Images

Photos are one of the first things people notice on your site. Dark, blurry, or mismatched stock images can make your brand feel less trustworthy.

Fix it: Use high-quality photos that reflect your brand’s style. If you can, invest in a brand photoshoot — it’s worth every penny. If not, browse free stock libraries like Unsplash or Pexels to find cohesive images that fit your brand.

Mistake 4: Weak Navigation

Ever land on a website and feel like you’re wandering in circles? That’s what happens when navigation isn’t clear.

Fix it: Limit your main menu to 4–6 links max. Prioritize the most important pages: Home, About, Services/Shop, Blog, and Contact. Everything else can live in dropdowns or your footer.

Mistake 5: Forgetting About Mobile Design

More than half of web traffic today comes from mobile devices. But many DIYers only design for desktop, leaving their site awkward or unreadable on a phone.

Fix it: Always preview your site on mobile while you’re building it. Tools like Responsinator let you see how your site looks across different devices.

Mistake 6: Walls of Text

You know what no one wants to do? Scroll through a never-ending block of text.

Fix it: Break up your copy with short paragraphs, headers, bullet points, and plenty of white space. Your visitors will thank you.

Mistake 7: No Social Proof

If you don’t have testimonials or client logos on your site, you’re missing a major trust-builder.

Fix it: Even if you’re just starting out, gather kind words from clients, collaborators, or colleagues. Tools like Google Forms make it easy to collect testimonials, and you can display them with simple sliders or grids right on your homepage.

Mistake 8: Ignoring SEO Basics

Search engine optimization (SEO) can feel overwhelming, but ignoring it means people may never find your site.

Fix it: Start simple:

• Use keywords in your headlines and page titles (try Ubersuggest for keyword ideas).
• Add alt text to your images.
• Write clear meta descriptions.
• Create a blog to share helpful content (like this post ).

Mistake 9: Slow Loading Speed

If your site takes forever to load, people will leave before they even see it.

Fix it: Compress images before uploading them with tools like TinyPNG or ShortPixel. You can also test your site’s load time with Google PageSpeed Insights.

Mistake 10: Trying to Do Everything

DIY sites often suffer from “more is more” — too many colors, too many graphics, too many words.

Fix it: Simplicity wins. Choose a consistent color palette, streamline your layouts, and focus on guiding visitors toward your main call-to-action. For color help, I love Coolors for quick, cohesive palette ideas.

Ready to Fix These Mistakes for Good?

If you saw yourself in a few of these, don’t worry — you’re not alone. That’s exactly why I created the Website Design Ultimate Checklist.

It’s a free, step-by-step guide to help you build a site that feels professional, polished, and ready to impress. Think of it as having a designer (me!) by your side, walking you through the essentials so you don’t miss a thing.

Download the Ultimate Website Checklist here and take the guesswork out of your website design.

Want a Head Start?

If you’re DIYing your site but don’t want to start from scratch, check out my Showit Template Shop.

Each template is professionally designed, easy to customize, and built with all the best practices baked in (so you don’t have to worry about navigation, structure, or page flow). Just add your photos, copy, and colors — and you’re ready to launch a site you’re proud of.

Final Thoughts

Your website doesn’t have to be perfect from the start — but avoiding these common mistakes will save you time, frustration, and lost clients down the road. With the right tools (like my checklist and templates), you can DIY a website that truly reflects your brand and helps you grow your business.

The post 10 Common Website Mistakes DIYers Make (And How to Fix Them) appeared first on Amanda Scott Design Co..

Here’s the thing: most DIY websites either overload the homepage with way too much, or they keep it so minimal that visitors have no idea what they’re supposed to do next. The sweet spot is creating a homepage that’s clear, inviting, and strategic.

I want to share with you the exact formula I use when designing homepages for my clients (and what’s baked right into my templates). Think of this as a plug-and-play guide to building a homepage that actually works.

1. The Hero Section: Make a Strong First Impression

Your hero section is that big, bold area right at the top of your site. It usually has an image, headline, and a button.

What goes here:

• A clear statement about who you serve and how you help.
• A strong image (preferably YOU if you’re the face of your business, or something on-brand if not).
• One main call-to-action button — “Work With Me,” “Shop Now,” “Book a Session.”

Pro tip: Skip the fluffy tagline like “Welcome to my website!” and instead say something like:

“Timeless photography for joyful, adventurous couples in Boise, ID.”

This tells people instantly if they’re in the right place. For great free stock images if you don’t have brand photos yet, I recommend Unsplash or Pexels.

2. A Quick About Section

Visitors want to know there’s a real person or business behind the brand. But they don’t need your entire life story up front.

What goes here:

• A warm photo of you (or your team).
• A short 2–3 sentence blurb about who you are and what you do.
• A “Learn More” button linking to your full About page.

This is just a teaser — not the whole meal. If you’re struggling with what to write, tools like Grammarly can help polish your copy so it’s clear and engaging.

3. Showcase Your Services or Offerings

This is where you show people what you actually do or sell. Too many homepages skip this step and leave visitors confused.

What goes here:

• 3–4 core services or products with a short description of each.
• A button that leads to your Services or Shop page.
• Eye-catching visuals or icons to keep it skimmable.

For icons, I love The Noun Project — it’s a treasure trove of clean, professional graphics that instantly elevate your design.

4. Social Proof: Build Trust Quickly

People want to know if you’re legit before they invest in you. That’s where testimonials or proof of past work come in.

What goes here:

• A rotating slider of client testimonials.
• Logos of brands or publications you’ve worked with (if applicable).
• A favorite before/after example or case study.

Need a simple way to gather testimonials? Use Google Forms to send a quick survey to past clients, or try Typeform for a more polished experience.

5. A Glimpse of Your Portfolio or Work

Show, don’t just tell. Even one or two examples of your work can give potential clients confidence.

What goes here:

• A grid of 3–6 images that link to your portfolio or blog.
• If you don’t have visual work, showcase client results, case studies, or data instead.

If you want to make these visuals shine, you can use a free design tool like Canva to create mockups or clean image layouts.

6. Lead Capture: Grow Your Email List

Don’t miss the chance to collect leads right on your homepage.

What goes here:

• A freebie (like my Website Design Ultimate Checklist ).
• A quick blurb explaining the benefit: “Grab this free checklist and make sure your site is ready to wow your clients.”
• A simple email opt-in form with minimal fields (just name + email).

If you’re not sure how to set up forms, platforms like Flodesk (my favorite for beautiful, simple email marketing) or ConvertKit make it easy to connect your opt-in to your email list.

7. A Final Call-to-Action

Your homepage should always end with a clear next step. By this point, someone knows who you are, what you do, and whether they like what they see. Now tell them where to go.

What goes here:

• A bold, full-width section with a single CTA:
  • “Book Your Design Intensive”
  • “Browse the Template Shop”
  • “Schedule Your Free Call”

Keep it simple and irresistible.

Putting It All Together

When you follow this homepage formula, your site flows naturally:

• First, people know what you do.
• Then, they connect with who you are.
• Next, they see your offers, proof, and examples.
• Finally, they get a clear invitation to take action.

No confusion, no overwhelm — just a strategic path that guides them toward working with you.

Want Help Nailing Your Homepage?

I created the Website Design Ultimate Checklist to help you make sure every page of your site has the right elements in place (not just your homepage). It’s a free, step-by-step guide that walks you through the must-haves for a professional, client-ready site.

Download the checklist here and set yourself up for a website you’re proud of.

Skip the Guesswork with a Template

If you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to put all these pieces together from scratch, you don’t have to. My Showit Template Shop is full of professionally-designed templates that already follow this exact homepage formula.

That means you can open up a template, drop in your content, and know your site is designed to impress — no second-guessing required.

Final Thoughts

Your homepage doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be strategic. Think of it as a warm welcome and a roadmap rolled into one. When you combine clarity, social proof, and a strong call-to-action, your homepage becomes more than just pretty — it becomes a tool that works for your business.

The post Your Homepage Formula: What Every Great Homepage Needs appeared first on Amanda Scott Design Co..

Here’s the thing: the right pricing structure is the one that supports your goals — not just what other designers are doing.

Whether you specialize in full-home remodels, luxury interiors, or smaller space refreshes, your pricing should reflect your expertise, time, and the kind of business you want to run.

Common Mistakes Interior Designers Make When Pricing

If you’ve ever second-guessed your numbers, you’re not alone. Some of the biggest missteps designers make are:

• Relying on industry “standards” without factoring in their own unique goals and overhead.
• Not billing for all their time, like sourcing products, creating mood boards, or managing contractors.
• Underestimating project scope, which leads to extra hours that aren’t compensated.
• Forgetting about taxes and expenses — things like software, travel, assistants, and even product samples add up fast.

The result? You’re working hard but not seeing the income you want.

What to Consider When Setting Your Rates

To price confidently, step back and look at the bigger picture:

1. What are my income goals?
   How much do you want to make each month (after taxes)?
2. What are my business expenses?
   This might include office rent, software subscriptions, travel, contractors, or marketing.
3. How many clients can I realistically take on?
   Consider the scope of each project. A whole-home remodel could take months, while a smaller decorating package may take weeks.
4. How much time goes into each phase of a project?
   From consultations to presentations to site visits, every step matters when calculating your rates.

Pricing Models for Interior Designers

Interior designers typically use a mix of these pricing structures:

• Hourly Rate → Simple, but can feel limiting and undervalue creative expertise.
• Flat Fee/Project Rate → Great for clarity upfront, though you’ll need to be crystal clear on scope.
• Square Footage or Percentage of Project Cost → Works well for large remodels, but may not fit smaller projects.
• Package-Based Pricing → Offering tiers (like design-only, design + sourcing, full-service design) helps clients choose based on budget and needs.

Each model has pros and cons — but whichever you choose should align with your workload, income goals, and business model.

Take the Guesswork Out of Pricing

The hardest part of pricing? Turning those goals and project details into actual numbers.

That’s where my free Price Your Services Calculator comes in.
It helps you:

• Run the numbers based on your unique income goals.
• Factor in expenses and taxes so you don’t get surprised later.
• See how changes in project load or rates affect your bottom line.

Download the free calculator here and finally feel confident about what you charge.

Final Thoughts

Your design services go far beyond picking paint colors or arranging furniture — you’re creating spaces that change the way people live. Your pricing should reflect the value, expertise, and care you put into every project.

When you stop guessing and start pricing with intention, you’ll attract the right clients, avoid burnout, and build the business you’ve been dreaming of.

Grab the Price Your Services Calculator today and take the stress out of setting your rates.

The post How to Price Your Services as an Interior Designer appeared first on Amanda Scott Design Co..

Here’s the truth: your pricing should reflect your goals, not someone else’s.

Whether you’re a wedding photographer, lifestyle photographer, or senior portrait specialist, your business deserves a pricing structure that supports your income goals, covers your expenses, and keeps you from burning out.

Common Mistakes Photographers Make When Pricing

If you’re struggling with pricing, you’re not alone. Some of the most common mistakes I see photographers make include:

• Copying other photographers’ pricing without knowing their expenses, workload, or lifestyle goals.
• Undercharging in an effort to book more clients (which often leads to burnout and resentment).
• Ignoring hidden costs like editing time, software subscriptions, second shooters, or travel.
• Forgetting about taxes — which can take a big bite out of your income if you don’t plan ahead.

The good news? You don’t have to keep guessing.

What to Consider When Setting Your Rates

Instead of picking numbers out of thin air, ask yourself:

1. How much do I want to make each month?
   Start with your take-home income goal (after taxes).
2. What are my expenses?
   Think about both business expenses (gear upgrades, software, insurance) and personal expenses that your business income needs to cover.
3. How many clients do I want to take on?
   Be realistic about your availability — especially during busy seasons. Shooting 10 weddings a month may sound profitable, but is it sustainable?
4. How much time does each project really take?
   Don’t forget editing, communication, travel, and delivery — not just the time behind the camera.

Pricing Models for Photographers

There are a few common ways photographers structure their pricing:

• Hourly Rate → Works well for event photography but can undervalue your expertise.
• Session Packages → Bundling services (like 1-hour session + 20 images) makes it easier for clients to choose.
• Tiered Packages → Offering 3–4 levels (ex: basic, standard, premium) helps clients self-select based on their needs.
• Day Rate → Popular with brand/editorial photographers who shoot larger projects.

No matter which model you use, it should be rooted in your goals and numbers — not just what “sounds fair.”

The Simplest Way to Run Your Numbers

Here’s the part where most photographers get stuck: the math.

How do you translate your monthly income goals, expenses, and number of clients into a realistic package price?

That’s exactly what my free Price Your Services Calculator does.
Instead of crunching numbers on your own, the calculator helps you:

• Set rates that align with your financial goals.
• Build in your expenses and taxes automatically.
• See what happens if you adjust your number of clients or packages.

Grab the free calculator here and start setting prices that actually make sense for you and your business.

Final Thoughts

Your photography is more than just a service — it’s an art form, an experience, and a business that deserves to thrive. Pricing confidently not only supports you financially but also communicates your value to your clients.

Stop guessing, stop undercharging, and start pricing based on what works for you.

Download the Price Your Services Calculator today and take the guesswork out of pricing.

The post How to Price Your Services as a Photographer appeared first on Amanda Scott Design Co..

Logo Package Express isn’t just another Adobe Illustrator extension; it’s a game-changer for anyone who deals with logo exports on a regular basis. From the moment I started using it, I knew my workflow would never be the same. Here’s how Logo Package Express has revolutionized the way I handle logo exports for the brands I create:

1. Effortless Automation: With Logo Package Express, exporting logo files is no longer a manual job. I can select my logo artwork, choose my export settings, and watch as the extension does all the heavy lifting for me – in MINUTES. It’s like having a dedicated assistant who takes care of the tedious tasks so I can focus on what I do best – designing.
2. Complete Package: One of the things I love most about Logo Package Express is its ability to generate comprehensive logo packages with just a few clicks. Instead of exporting individual files one by one, the extension creates a neatly organized package that includes everything I need organized into folders – from high-resolution print files to web-ready formats like PNGs and SVGs. It’s a serious time-saver!
3. Organization Made Easy: Keeping my files organized has always been a struggle, especially when dealing with multiple logo variations and formats. But Logo Package Express takes care of that for me. It automatically organizes my files into clearly labeled folders, making it a breeze to find exactly what I need when I need it. No more digging through endless folders or wondering where I saved that one file – it’s all right there, neatly sorted and ready to go.
4. Tailored to My Needs: Every project is unique, and Logo Package Express understands that. That’s why I appreciate the customization options it offers. From naming conventions to folder structures to color palettes, I can tailor the extension to fit my specific requirements, ensuring that each logo package is EXACTLY how I want it.
5. More Time for Creativity: This is the biggest reason I decided to get Logo Package Express. I no longer spend hours exporting logo files. Instead, I can devote that time to what I love most – designing. Whether it’s brainstorming ideas, refining concepts, or perfecting a layout, Logo Package Express has freed up valuable time that I can now dedicate to my clients.

If you’re tired of wrestling with logo exports and want to streamline your workflow, I highly recommend giving Logo Package Express a try. You won’t be disappointed. Click here to learn more and experience the transformation for yourself.

Experience the power of Logo Package Express and take your logo exports to the next level – click here to get started!

[Disclaimer: As an affiliate, I may earn a commission for purchases made through this link. But I only recommend tools I use in my business that I LOVE!]

The post How Logo Package Express Transformed My Logo Export Process appeared first on Amanda Scott Design Co..

Sebastian Bobby Handwritten Font

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Adelaide | A Bohemian Script

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Lovelight Handwritten Font

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Printed Moments | Modern Casual Font

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Juniper and Sage Script

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Harlow Serif Script Modern Font Duo

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Hukster

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The post Handwritten Script Fonts appeared first on Amanda Scott Design Co..

Fifty-Fifty Serif Font with Italics

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The Seasons Serif Font Family

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Juana Serif

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Albra Collection

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Dark Paradise – Modern Serif Font

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Grand Cru Superfamily

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Casanova Elegant Serif Display

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NOIR et BLANC Stylish Serif

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Adore Modern Serif Font

Download Here

The post Luxury + Refined Serif Fonts appeared first on Amanda Scott Design Co..

I’ve been a design partner with Showit for several years now, but I’ve also tried out a lot of other website builders. That’s why I wanted to share with you why Showit may be the best option for you. 

(If you’re looking for more info on what you needs for your website, check out this post here.)

What is Showit?

If you’re completely new to Showit, let me give you the rundown. Showit is a TRUE drag-and-drop website builder that doesn’t require any coding knowledge. Other builders like Squarespace are more drag-and-snap and need a ton of CSS to make any out-of-the-box changes. Showit uses WordPress as its blogging platform, which also allows to you take advantage of all the powerful plugins. Some of the biggest entrepreneurs use it, including Jasmine Star, Jenna Kutcher, and Rick Mulready.

Features

Showit has a ton of features that make it flexible and powerful enough to accomplish most anything that a website needs to do. But probably the most important feature is the creative freedom that Showit offers. You need a site that actually stands out from everyone else offering the same service you offer.

Capabilities

When I say creative freedom, I mean that you can change colors, fonts, styles, position, rotation, shape, and more ALL WITHOUT USING A LINE OF CODE. I haven’t seen any other website builder offer this same level of customization. They also offer the ability to use modern features like video backgrounds, parallax scrolling, multiple types of galleries, and more to make your site look even more professional and elevated.

Mobile and Desktop Editing

About half of all website traffic is from a mobile device. With Showit, you can independently edit the mobile site from the desktop site to make sure that your visitors are having the best possible experience, no matter what divide they are using. 

Integrations

Showit can also integrate with just about any platform too. Things like Google Analytics, Facebook, Instagram, your favorite CRM, email marketing like Flodesk, and more. The options are endless when it comes to making your website the powerhouse that it needs to be.

Templates

Because of the creative freedom of Showit, it’s best to start with a template if you’re going the DIY route or hiring a designer. Otherwise, you’ll likely be overwhelmed with all the options available (even I was at first, and this is what I do for a living!) But the good news, is there are TONS of templates to choose from in the Showit Marketplace. You can even find others in template shops from people like TONIC and EM Shop, or in other marketplaces like Creative Market and Etsy. Once you find one that you love, it’s SO easy to just start customizing away to make it match your brand.

Support

One thing I love about Showit is they have real humans ready to help you if you have any questions about your website. You can chat with someone from support directly in the website builder, or hop into the Showit Facebook group where there are tons of other users (and designers like me) to help with any question that you might have. Showit also has a great support doc wiki to help walk you through a lot of the basics, and even covers things like blogging, integrations, and more. 

Get a free month of Showit

If you’re interested in trying out Showit after reading through all the different features and the creative freedom it offers, you can get a free month of Showit by using my link here.  You can also use my coupon code “AMANDASCOTT” to get your free month.

The post Why I Use Showit In My Design Business appeared first on Amanda Scott Design Co..

But knowing where to start when it comes to having a brand shoot can be hard! Do you start with the photographer? Where should the shoot be? What do you wear? All great questions friend! I’m going to answer all of those, and walk you through exactly how I went about my most recent brand shoot so you can feel prepared for your next one too. 

The biggest thing I learned through this, prep is key. Even my photographer was impressed with how prepared I was, and it made the whole shoot go smoothly.

A little background info here: I worked with my girl Katie Wilke on my most recent brand shoot and I’m obsessed with how everything turned out. The advice I’m going through below is all from my experience with Katie, but each photographer may work a little differently. Be sure to ask them and allow them to guide you on what will work best!

Starting with your Brand

Before you start looking for a photographer or start trying to figure out where to have the shoot, you need to start with your brand. Do you have an idea of the style of photography that makes the most sense for your brand? Do you need a style that is more light and airy? Or maybe a little more moody and emotive? Reflect on your brand and get an idea of what style makes more sense.

Next, be sure to know what you want to accomplish with the shoot. Do you have an upcoming launch around a specific product or service? What kinds of things do you talk about on your website and on social media (cooking, exercising, your kiddos, dogs?) that you don’t have photos of? Do you work virtually with clients and need content to show that?

Having a good idea of your goals for your shoot will help the shoot have a focus and aid in the planning process.

Photographer Research

Once you have an idea of your goals for the shoot and the style of photos you’d like, then you can start researching photographers. Keep in mind that the photographer you choose doesn’t have to be local to you, but it’s a good place to start. You can also ask your community on Instagram if they’ve worked with a brand photographer they loved!

When it comes to the type of photographer, ideally you would find a photographer that specializes in brand photography. But in my case, I wasn’t able to find one that I really loved in my area. The next best thing is to find a lifestyle photographer. These are photographers who capture portraits in real-life events, but they don’t feel overly staged or posed. Keeping in mind the photographic style that you want for your photos, start reaching out to photographers that match that style. Once you’ve gotten information from them, be sure to ask questions about how they work and the overall process so you know what to expect. Once you find one that you love, book them!

Location Research

The photographer you hired may be able to help with this too, so be sure to ask them if they have a place in mind for your brand shoot. I know some photographers have their own studio, and others have actually rented Airbnb’s in line with the aesthetic for the shoot.

For me, there aren’t really that many cute Airbnb’s near me that would be suitable for a brand shoot (at least not for what I had in mind). So I decided to have it in my own home. Keep in mind that I have a dedicated office space and decent lighting throughout the house so I knew that it would be a good spot to shoot at. I also love that the photos would have the same look and feel as when I meet with my clients virtually.

This also meant that I had to clean my house on top of getting everything ready right before the shoot, which added more to my to-do list. Something to think about!

Create a shot list

I first started by creating a Pinterest board of brand shoots photos that I really liked. Keeping in mind the goals I set first, I curated a board with similar poses or things I wanted to try with my own shoot. I also shared the board with my photographer so we could be on the same page!

If you’re looking for some inspiration for your brand shoot, check out my Pinterest board here.

Once I had a good deal of inspiration, I actually created a shot list to help organize the shots I knew I wanted. This also ended up helping later on when I knew I needed to have props ready for the different shots I was needing to get.  Here’s an example of what my list looked like when I created my shot list. Nothing fancy, just a note on my phone!

Gather Props

After I had my shot list, I made a list of things I would need for the shoot. For me, this looked like my computer, iPad, books, some of my work, ingredients for my favorite cocktail, etc. The list wasn’t long, but I wanted everything to be ready instead of running around trying to pull stuff together on the day of the shoot. 

Things like plants and fresh florals make a big difference too, don’t forget to pull them in for your photos! I actually bought a couple of bouquets of fresh flowers to have sitting in the photos.

Choosing What to Wear

Alright friends, this is not where I shine. In fact, most days you can find me in jeans and a relaxed t-shirt. But I wanted to be true to what I wear and my personality and still have an elevated feel. Most photographers will tell you to wear neutrals and avoid loud, bright patterns because they can reflect weirdly on your skin.

Typically you can have a couple of outfit changes throughout your shoot so you can have a variety of photos. Depending on what your goals are for the shoot, you may want to jump into some workout gear, put on a flowy dress, or something in-between. 

For me, I had one super casual outfit (ripped jeans, v-neck tee, and a cozy cardigan), one that was more dressy (beige blouse and dark pants), and one in-between (dark jeans and a black blouse), that I pulled from my closet. My sis-in-law has a great eye for clothes and what will photograph well, so I Facetimed her while I tried on a bunch of different combos, which was a huge help! So reach out to a friend to help you put a couple of options together if you’re fashionably challenged like me. 

Hair, Nails, Makeup etc.

You want to make sure you look and feel your best for the shoot! This can mean hiring someone for hair and makeup or doing it yourself. 

For me, I gave myself an at-home manicure with press-on nails, applied some false lashes (You can check out my faves here!), and made sure I did a full face of natural-looking makeup and hair. 

If any of that sounds like something you’re not up to, then hire a pro to make you feel and look like the queen you are!

During the Shoot

After alll the prep work you did, it’s finally time to do the dang thing and have the photoshoot! This is where Katie took the lead and worked her magic. She knew the shots I wanted to get, and we had an absolute blast (including sharing Moscow Mules at 10 am ?). 

Remember to have fun! 

Here’s a peek of some of the photos from the shoot:

The post How to Have a Successful Brand Photoshoot appeared first on Amanda Scott Design Co..

If you want to check out some of my favorite tools that I use in my business, be sure to check out this post where I go into details about each of them! You can always mix and match which tools you pay for and others that you utilize the free version of. It really depends on where you are in your business and what you want to spend your time and energy on!

Full disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links, but I wouldn’t recommend anything that I haven’t used in my own business!

For Planning Social Media: Planoly

I still use the free version of Planoly to plan out my posts for Instagram. I love how I can easily layout my feed and see how everything is going to look. I can also write out my captions in advance so I’m not just doing it on a whim every morning. Planoly also allows you to save groups of hashtags which is a huge time saver too!

For Surveys and Questionnaires: Typeform

If you’re a service provider like me, you probably need to be able to send questionnaires to your clients or survey your community to understand how you can help them. I love using Typeform because it’s so user-friendly, and you can capture the response to analyze them in a Google Sheet. It also has a better interface than something like Google Forms or Survey Monkey.

To Send and Sign Contracts: Hellosign

Before I invested in Dubsado to take care of everything client-related, I used Hellosign to send contracts to my clients digitally. They capture legally binding signatures and you can easily copy and paste in your own contracts. 

And yes, you need a contract when working with clients, just in case you were wondering.

In case you’re curious about Dubsado, you can check out this post where I go into detail about how I use it in my business. Dubsado was one of the first investments I made in my business and I haven’t looked back since!

For Invoicing and Accounting: Wave 

This is one program I actually haven’t used personally, but I know several of my business friends use Wave for their accounting software and they rave about it! People always say how it’s a lot easier to use than Quickbooks and it’s free to use! They do take a small fee for processing payments, but it’s standard for credit card processors to charge a small fee. If you’re really concerned about the fee, just be sure to build it into your pricing. 

For Project Management: Clickup

I’ve tried a couple of different project management systems and I love the power and flexibility of Clickup. I used the free version for almost two years to help me manage content ideas, project timelines, and a myriad of other things related to my business. It’s basically a mashup of Trello, Asana, and Google Calendar all in one, so you can use it how your brain works best!

For Email Marketing: Mailchimp 

When I was just starting to build my email list, I didn’t want to spend a ton of money on an email marketing system. I used Mailchimp because I had been familiar with it during my corporate days. The templates are easy to use and customize to your brand, and it’s free up to 2,000 subscribers!

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I’ve tried a lot of different tools in the last few years of being in business. And a lot of them enabled me to run my business as a successful side hustle while my husband and I worked to pay off debt. The good news? I’m sharing all my tested-and-proven tools that I use day in and day out in my business so you can offload some of that work and work smarter.

Want to see the steps I took to take my business from side-hustle to full-time business owner? Check out this post!

These are the tools I use in different aspects of my business.

*Full disclosure, some of the links below are affiliate links, but I truly use each of these tools!*

For Client Management: Dubsado

One of the biggest tools that I use day-in and day-out in my business is Dubsado. It takes care of everything relating to my clients throughout our time together. I’m talking contracts, questionnaires, invoicing, scheduling, reminder emails, proposals, etc. It’s the one tool that I literally will never get rid of because it makes running a business a breeze. 

If you’re wanting to hear about a deep dive into how exactly I use Dubsado, you can check out the post here.

For everything that Dubsado does, it’s only $350 for a year. And if you use my code “amandascott” then you can get 20% off your first year.

For Project Management: Clickup

Clickup has become the HQ of everything in my business. I keep a running list of ideas in there, project timelines, content ideas, testimonials, and I even have my clients in there when we are working on their branding or website so they understand what I need from them, and we treat it as a hub for their project.

It also houses everything related to admin in my business. I have a running list of content ideas, testimonials, affiliate info, and other stuff in there. I heard someone call Clickup a mashup between Google Calendar, Trello, and Asana and I think that’s completely accurate. 

It’s so flexible so you can use it as much or as little as you need to. I also love that it integrates with things like Slack, Gmail, and various other apps that I use in my business!

Clickup has a free plan and I was actually on that for a long time until I started to use it in more ways in my business. They also have paid plans starting at $5 a month depending on what you need! 

For Tracking Finances: Quickbooks

Quickbooks is how I keep track of everything financial in my business. I know a lot of people who started out using Wave, but I didn’t want to deal with moving all my financial info between two companies in the future, so I went with Quickbooks. I actually started with their self-employed plan at first because my finances were so simple. My finances are still relatively simple, but I’ve since upgraded to a version where my accountant can see what’s happening in my business and easily advise me.

Right now I’m on the Simple Start version of Quickbooks and I don’t foresee me needing anything bigger in the future!

For Email Marketing: Flodesk

If you’re looking for an email marketing system to share your latest podcasts, blogs, or any other valuable info, Flodesk is for you. They’ve made email marketing so much simpler than others (like Mailchimp). It also has a flat fee so you don’t have to worry about the subscription price going up as you grow to more subscribers. 

But here’s the real kicker with Flodesk, it’s so easy to create beautiful emails that won’t just get read, but will get your customers excited to get your emails. 

The best part, when you sign up through my link (or use the code “amandascott”) at checkout then you can get Flodesk for 50% off for life! Whhhhaaaa??

For Building Websites: Showit

It’s no surprise that as a design partner for Showit, that’s my top recommendation for a website builder. It’s literally a drag and drop builder that is so easy to use and makes it simple to create unique, custom designs.  Plus, it integrates with WordPress for blogging and other plugins that you may need for your site. It’s the best of both worlds!

You can head over to their website to get alllll of the information. Plans start at $19/month

For Scheduling Pinterest Pins: Tailwind

Posting pins to Pinterest is one way I drive traffic to my site organically. But hopping on every day to add a few pins isn’t the best use of my time. So I batch content and add it to Tailwind so that it can auto-magically schedule my pins for the best time to go out. That saves me a bunch of time and headache, all while driving traffic to my site!

Tailwind starts at 9.99 per month. You can try out their free trial here.

For Scheduling Instagram Stories and Feed: Planoly

Just like Pinterest, I like to schedule my Instagram posts in advance. I love using Planoly because I can layout my grid and see how things are going to end up. I can also write all the captions in advance instead of trying to think of them on the spot every morning. Planoly also allows me to save hashtags that are working well so I don’t have to type them out every time I have a new post or topic. They have both a desktop and a mobile app so you can write out your captions however it makes sense to you!

I actually use the free version of Planoly but there is a paid version in case you need some more advanced features. You can check it out here.

For Everything Else Admin-Related: Google Workspace + Domains

Google is my go-to for everything admin and backend systems for my business. I love that I get to have a personalized email address and a dedicated Google Drive folder for everything in my business instead of intermingling with my personal email. Not only does it save me headaches, but it also allows me to set up boundaries because I’ve set them up separately from my personal account. 

Looking for an in-depth take on Google Workspace? I’ve got you, boo. Check out this post.

I use Google Workspace for email, drive, meetings, docs, spreadsheets, and calendars every day. There are more apps too depending on your needs!

In addition to Workspace, I also use Google Domains to manage my domains. It’s way easier to make changes than GoDaddy or even Bluehost in my opinion! It’s also what I advise my clients to use when we tackle their website.

Plans start at only $6 a month, and you can check it out here!

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I was in the same boat. I was working as an in-house website designer for a corporation and I was feeling creatively drained by all the restrictions we needed to adhere to. So I started doing some freelance work on the side. Eventually, it grew enough where I thought that I could maybe make a business out of it. So I did all of the legal things, got an EIN, set up a separate bank account, and then I felt more official. I ran my business as a side hustle for about 3 years before I decided to take it full time. 3 years may seem like a long time, but I want you to know that it doesn’t have to take that long for you to do the same thing. I chose to run my business on the side because we wanted to pay off some debts that we had before I went full-time in my business. Here are some of the things I did throughout those 3 years to make the step into full-time business owner a reality.

Paid Off Debt

Coming out of college, my husband and I both had student loan debt. Then we bought a house and a reliable car to get around, so we had a decent amount of debt. For the first couple of years that I ran my business on the side, I put everything I took home towards paying off our student loans and our car. I knew that for us, I wanted to be able to step into fulltime entrepreneurship without a lot of pressure to make ends meet month after month. I also just wanted to be free of our student loan debt because the interest rates are so high! So about a year before I went full-time in my business, I had paid off both my husband’s and I’s student loans, and 1 of our cars.  

Built Savings

I’m someone who needs a sense of security, especially when it comes to money. We are really good about doing a budget, and for us it works out that we do budget twice a month to line up with how my husband gets paid. Before I went full time, my husband and I knew that if something went wrong and I couldn’t bring home a paycheck, we would still be able to pay the bills (thanks to paying off so much debt beforehand!) But I still wanted to have a little bit of a runway in case something went awry. Soo, we built up our savings! We didn’t have an actual goal or a set number of months of expenses, we just knew we wanted to have an extra chunk available!

Established a Presence on Social Media and Built a Website

Throughout the time that I was running my side hustle, I was building a social media presence and working on building out my own website. It was slow, and I definitely wasn’t consistent, but it was something that I continuously worked on. That helped me book clients throughout the time, and I was able to build other things like my email list. I also spent a lot of time in various Facebook groups answering questions and offering my design services to anyone that was looking for them! I was actually able to book a lot of my clients from Facebook groups because I was so active.

Created Systems to Help Me Run My Business Better

One of the best things I did for my business was getting set up with my CRM, Dubsado. I can’t tell you how much it helped to have systems set up to take care of my clients, even when I was working full time. If you’re not familiar with Dubsado, I definitely recommend checking out this post that goes into detail about how I use it in my business. I use it for forms, canned emails, contracts, scheduling, invoicing, proposals, etc. 

For example, when I had a potential client reach out via the contact form on my site, a workflow would be enabled letting them know that I had got their message, and give me a to-do item to look over their form and send them a link to my calendar in order to book a discovery call with me. All while I was working!

Seriously, if you’re not using a CRM like Dubsado, definitely check it out. It’s been a game-changer for my business.

Incrementally Raised My Prices

As I started to work with more clients and book out farther in advance, I incrementally raised my prices. About a year before I went full time I had a realization though that what I was charging wasn’t really going to make me any money if I wanted to do this full time. That’s when I had my engineer husband help me figure out how to create a calculator to figure out how to price my services. By putting in a couple of numbers, it was evident that I needed to raise my prices so I could make a decent income and not have to take on a ton of clients at one time. 

If you want access to this same calculator to help you price your own services, you can access that here! I know how hard it is to price your services!

Built Up a Steady Stream of Client Work

In the last 3-4 months of me working in corporate, I scheduled all of my clients ahead of time so that I had a few months of work for me already set up. That way I knew I had money coming in and I had a little bit of a runway to find clients for the following months as well.

With that in mind, I did leave a little bit of white space in my calendar to be able to work on things in the business like improving my processes and making time for courses I was taking at the time.

Set Expectations With my Clients

When I was working full-time in corporate, I made sure to manage expectations with my current clients. They all knew that I was running my business as a side hustle so they would likely hear from me in the evenings and sometimes on the weekends. I made apparent what my office hours were by putting them in my email signature and on my website. I also gave them timelines for each section of their project so that they would know when to expect things from me, and when I needed their feedback so that we could keep the ball rolling.

Most of these things are things I still do today, but because I had a weird schedule before, I wanted to make sure that they knew that!

Booked Out Designer Course

One of the biggest things that helped in the transition to full-time entrepreneurship was Elizabeth McCravy’s Booked Out Designer Course. If you’re a fellow designer like me, I HIGHLY recommend you check it out. In fact, I wrote a whole blog post over here!

I took the course shortly after I went full time and it was so helpful to learn from another designer about the business side of running a design business. If you’re not a designer but still want to learn more about the business side of running a business, I highly recommend you do a little research and see if there is a course out there for your industry! I know for me it was a huge help in making the transition easier.

I know there are a lot of late nights and work that happens when you are running your business as a side hustle. And if you’re currently in that season, just know that I know how you’re feeling. It’s exciting and exhausting all at the same time. But I also want you to know that this is a season and I know that if you keep working toward taking your business full-time, you can do it just like I did.

The post How I Transitioned From Side Hustle to Full-Time Business Owner appeared first on Amanda Scott Design Co..