My client, Shannon Mulligan joins to break down the foundations for brand messaging to her top 3 tips you can do today to improve your content and copywriting. When visual communications and copy come together, that's where the magic happens. Plus she shares her experience on transforming her website in just one day together. Yep, you heard that right. Leave the heat to the steamy beach days and BBQ’s sizzling this Summer! Want results like Shannon? Book your VIP Design Day now. Visit christineldesigns.com for full show notes.

Summer is in full swing! There’s no denying how tempting it is when that bright light peeks through your window in the morning and you know it’s going to be a good day, versus the lack-luster laptop sitting on your desk calling your name, right? When you’re feeling tempted by shorter work days and longer Summer fun outings, you’re going to want to listen up! Tune in for 5 ways to know if now's the right time for a VIP Design Day (as shared by my former clients). If this sounds like something that might be right for you, here are some more details. Visit christineldesigns.com for full show notes.

When you’re working on a design project, there’s always more to do than you can possibly get done in one day. But if you break up your work into smaller tasks, then you can accomplish more in less time and leave the desk behind feeling like a hero! The reason I can do more in a day than probably any other designer you can find on the internet is because of how I prepare in advance. So here I am spilling all the secrets with you today. Here’s how to check everything off your design wishlist in one day! Visit christineldesigns.com for full show notes.

Summer is here and you’re ready to enjoy the warmer weather. But before you start packing up your summer clothes and pulling out the flip flops, there are some important steps you need to take care of to ensure your business is ready for the upcoming season. It’s easy to get caught up in all the things we need to do before we get away. In this episode, Christine shares the 5 areas you can focus on to help make the transition of seasons of rest and work much easier. Want to get ahead of the season? Learn more about how to check everything off your Summer design wishlist now. Want the recap? Check out the shownotes here.

Creating your brand can be daunting for some, especially when you’re in the early stages of your business. Heather Brassington knew all too well how that felt, but she did it anyway… Heather is the owner and artist behind Naughty Florals, from 6 cards on Etsy it has expanded to over 150 products in stores across North America. Her creations are unique, fun, and unapologetic. In this episode, Heather shares with us how her creativity and the choices she made brought her brand success. From a distinct brand vision, branding tips, stress coping mechanisms, and learning to stand up for her values, Heather has brought her ideas to life and success. Visit christineldesigns.com for full show notes.

At one point in our lives we may have gone through financial problems, but did you know this can be avoided? Today, I have Vanessa Bowen on the show, a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Master Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner (NLP) and the Founder of Mint Worthy, a personal finance coaching platform that helps women shift their relationship with money and take control of their finances. In this episode, Vanessa shares with us how her own personal financial journey taught her how to manage her finances and how it inspired her to help other women who went through the same struggles as her. I want people to realize that you can learn how to manage your money, it's possible to change your financial life, you just have to learn to live in your power. - Vanessa Visit christineldesigns.com for full show notes.

On today’s episode we’re diving into top tips on how to build an impactful community according to fellow experts. Some you may have recognized on a past episode of Brand Party such as Rachel Kelly of Make Lemonade and we’re also saying hello to some new guest features from Christina Tolosa, Eva Bloom, D’ana Joi, Jen Macones, and Tanya Garma. You’re probably asking yourself, how can a community give my business an edge and how can I stand out from the crowd? The fact is, it is more vital than ever! Visit christineldesigns.com for full show notes.

Launch planning is an integral step in determining the success of your brand, product, or service. It can be overwhelming and stressful. Today, I have invited an expert to the show to give us an insight and share her expertise on how to successfully launch your business. Sara Vartanian is a launch copywriter and strategist who helps coaches, consultants and course creators tune into the words that make the people they love to serve feel seen and heard. In this episode, Sara shares with us her expertise in launch planning. From pre-launch to the actual launch, Sara guides us to the how-tos of creating content, market research, building your email list and more! But most importantly, how to create and maintain human connections in your customers journey. When you start with human connection, the leads and sales will follow. - Sara Visit christineldesigns.com for full show notes.

Nowadays, social media has become the platform for launching products, businesses, brands, and even personalities. It has grown over the years and has made a huge impact in marketing. Elena Catherine is a certified digital marketing expert with 10+ years of experience. She helps entrepreneurs, brands, and influencers reach their target audience in an authentic way by using organic content marketing strategies. In this episode, Elena shares with us her expertise on growing and building brands through organic marketing. A powerful and cost-effective marketing strategy that can successfully convert prospects into leads. Another full packed episode that can surely take your branding to a whole new level. It's possible to grow if you have the right strategy in place, and you put in the groundwork for yourself and for your business. - Elena Visit christineldesigns.com for full show notes.

The digital world is more important and evolving than ever. Marketing can be such a buzzword. Let’s debunk it and figure out what you should really be spending your time and effort on this year. On today’s episode we’re diving into top marketing trends according to fellow experts. Some you may have recognized on a past episode of Brand Party such as Jenny Jay and Katy Prince and we’re also saying hello to some new guest features from Anne Claessen and Sarah M Chappell. Visit christineldesigns.com for full show notes.

Building your brand means having the right mindset. When your thoughts and emotions are not aligned, your brand suffers and so does your business. Kira Matthews, a manifestation and mindset coach knows exactly what to do. She specializes in helping creative fashion designers, illustrators and makers crippled with self-doubt and fear grow their small business and connect with customers that excite and delight them. In this episode, Kira shares with us how mindset can be a powerful tool in building a successful brand and business. Through embracing failure and negative emotion, practicing authenticity, and learning to break the only blockage - your thoughts and yourself, success is not too far away. If I can do it, there really is nothing that anyone else can’t do. - Kira Visit christineldesigns.com for full show notes.

What graphic design trends have been on the rise lately? How has it influenced personal branding? In this episode, I’d like to share with you the top graphic design trends of 2022. As we enter a new year, here are some of the creative movements to keep your artistic spirits burning. Take a glimpse into the future of graphic design. The Designest forecasts more inclusive solutions - but was that ever out of style? User experience is really put first in applying accessible practices, such as audio and closed captioning approaches, readability captioning, alt text for images and way more. This is a high priority to stand out and create a kind and accessible experience. My personal prediction is that there will be a rise of personal branding. Humanizing connections, designs, and the overall brand experience has come to the forefront of importance throughout the pandemic. People want to feel like they know and can trust you. Visit christineldesigns.com for full show notes.

In today’s episode, find out the 5 essentials to get the perfect designer for your next project in less than 5 minutes. We all know there’s nothing more frustrating than not knowing what’s going on with your project but that ends today. Whether you found them on Fiverr, Upwork, they are a freelancer, run their own business or are an agency, you need to know the answer to these 5 questions before you sign on the dotted line. Listen in to find out some of Christine’s best ways to set up no-fail communication channels so that your designer can deliver. Good luck on your search for success, my friend. New here? Catch up on everything you missed in Season 1! Christine is the founder of CL Designs and the host of Brand Party Podcast. Christine has traded in climbing the corporate ladder for climbing mountains around the world. She helps lifestyle businesses realize their vision and connect with the people most important to them through branding, web design, and social content creation, with a holistic brand 360 perspective. Saying no to dull and clunky visuals and yes to consistency, creativity and efficiency form the core of her approach. What to Listen For Start here. Your project will crumble before it gets started without this check-in. (1:49) Do they even know what they are doing? Assess a potential designer with ease and confidence by finding out their system and platforms for communication. (2:24) This isn’t just a pay check. How to politely ask if your new designer supports your vision? (3:05) Speed Recap: 5-point checklist to achieve success with your next designer. (3:35) Resources From This Episode: Making Content Just Got Easy with Canva Pro How to Achieve Success with your Graphic Designer Looking for a designer for your next project? Let's chat Like what you've heard? Subscribe to the Podcast (on Apple Podcasts) or Spotify Rate & Review this Podcast Share this Podcast with your Bestie Free Brand Consistency Checklist Check In With Christine Christine on Instagram Brand Party Podcast on Instagram 🎧 Thanks for listening! ----- About this show: As featured in Top 10 New & Noteworthy Canada & Top 10 Art & Design Canada, Brand Party Podcast will energize you to invest in your brand in new ways. Join me for tips, insights, and actions you can take to make your brand a priority in your business. My guests and I deliver honest, to-the-point advice you can implement RIGHT AWAY!

In today’s episode, get your nose out of your spreadsheets and learn what to skip and what to double down on when it comes to having successful marketing like a Fortune 100 company. Gain insights to apply to your own path with key indicators on when you should start paid ads and outsource your marketing. Christine and Erik (@erikhuberman) also go deep and chat about what success means to them and how happiness is the key to life, no matter what you’re doing. Plus, hear about why 3rd party marketing works best. Erik Huberman is the founder and CEO of award-winning Hawke Media, the fastest growing marketing consultancy in the United States. Launched in 2014, Hawke Media has been valued at $75 million and has grown from seven to over 150 employees in Los Angeles, New York, and Boston. The company has serviced over 2000 brands of all sizes, ranging from startups to household names like Red Bull, Verizon Wireless, and Alibaba. As a serial entrepreneur and marketing expert, Huberman is a sought-after thought leader in the world of digital marketing, entrepreneurship, sales, and business as a Forbes “30Under30.” What to Listen For: The age-old debate: Tweaking vs Innovating. Is tweaking better than innovating when it comes to moving the needle forward? (2:46) Deep expertise goes a lot further than mediocrity. At what point should you outsource your marketing? (4:15) Are you using your own time wisely? Ask yourself this FIRE question if you’re debating hiring someone. (5:35) Check this list. Erik’s recommendations for Small Business Marketing Essentials on a limited budget. (10:55) Having trouble getting results from your marketing efforts? Here’s the secret sauce to marketing. (14:08) Resources From This Episode: Lenny & Larry’s Hawke Media Podcast Hawkemedia.com Erik on Twitter Free Brand Consistency Checklist Join Skillshare and Get 2 Months Free Like what you've heard? Subscribe to the Podcast (on Apple Podcasts) or Spotify Rate & Review this Podcast Share this Podcast with your Bestie Free Brand Consistency Checklist Check In With Christine & Erik Christine on Instagram Erik on Instagram Hawke Media on Instagram Brand Party Podcast on Instagram 🎧 Thanks for listening! About this show: As featured in Top 10 New & Noteworthy Canada & Top 10 Art & Design Canada, Brand Party Podcast will energize you to invest in your brand in new ways. Join me for tips, insights, and actions you can take to make your brand a priority in your business. My guests and I deliver honest, to-the-point advice you can implement RIGHT AWAY!

In today’s episode, ditch the overwhelm and learn easy ways to show up as your full self, all the time. It’s not about showing up perfectly, it’s about showing up. Easier said than done. Tune in to try out some tools that will bring you to an even deeper awareness of yourself in any given moment and help you get out of your own way. Do you struggle with performance anxiety or speaking your truth in front of others without word vomiting? Are you a recovering perfectionist or exhausted by overwhelm? Christine and Chantal (@chantalstaffabb) will have the next steps of your self-growth journey mapped out by the end of this episode. Chantal Stafford-Abbott, founder of The Deep Space has worked as an international fashion model for over a decade living in NYC, Paris, London, and other fashion capitals of the world. She moved back to Montreal in 2017 to pursue her studies in Human Relations at Concordia, and founded The Deep Space that year. The Deep Space is a monthly conversation series that helps open-minded people who want to explore common experiences through safe and non-judgmental conversations in a community setting. Her mission is to create safe spaces for human conversations in modern settings. What to Listen For Time to Dive Deep. Why having a safe space to have deep conversations is so transformative to personal growth. (7:23) Flex your Muscles! (10:40) Making your way back to authenticity by checking in with this sense. Do you have performance anxiety? This mantra is a gamechanger. (14:22) Under Pressure? Here are 3 tips to kick overwhelm’s butt to the curb. (16:44) Resources From This Episode: The Next Deep Space Conversation Learn more about the Make Lemonade community Chantal & I met at. Get your 1st month 50% off with code: IMWITHCHRISTINE Find more of what makes you happy. Join Skillshare & Get 2 Months Free Like what you've heard? Subscribe to the Podcast (on Apple Podcasts) or Spotify Rate & Review this Podcast Share this Podcast with your bestie Free Brand Consistency Checklist Check In With Christine & Chantal Christine on Instagram Chantal on Instagram The Deep Space on Instagram Brand Party Podcast on Instagram 🎧 Thanks for listening! About this show: As featured in Top 10 New & Noteworthy Canada & Top 10 Art & Design Canada, Brand Party Podcast will energize you to invest in your brand in new ways. Join me for tips, insights, and actions you can take to make your brand a priority in your business. My guests and I deliver honest, to-the-point advice you can implement RIGHT AWAY!

In today’s episode, discover multiple ways to build a world and business where everyone feels like they have a place. Diversity & Inclusion has become a buzzword now more than ever. This year has taught us a lot of tough lessons. It’s brought to the forefront the importance of inclusive marketing for our brands. You have to convey messages to connect with all audiences and ensure your brand is resonating with your audience beyond the stock photos on your website. Christine and Anita (@anitachauhan) discuss the reasons why inclusive marketing can increase your sales and why we need to take diversity and inclusion seriously to build our best brand. Anita Chauhan is a communications & content leader and senior marketer. She is equal parts strategist, storyteller, and creative media producer. She’s passionate about diversity and inclusion and has been an advocate for women in tech within the Toronto community. Through her marketing and branding work, she helps brands grow and be more aware and inclusive of other people from different walks of life, races, countries and spaces. Anita works to make spaces more equitable and inclusive for others. What to Listen For Overwhelmed by your Marketing Monster? Try these solutions to get laser-focused on your marketing right away. (3:38) Talk the talk. Walk the walk. What inclusive marketing is and what it’s NOT. (5:10) Are you new to inclusive marketing? The 3 most impactful ways to be diverse and inclusive with your brand messaging. (8:19) It’s a Win-Win! How companies are losing money by not becoming more inclusive and diverse in their marketing and branding. (11:57) Happy being stagnant in your biz? This is the true test of your business growth. (14:42) Resources From This Episode: Study from Google Study from Kantar Multicultural Marketing: What It Is, Why You Should Do It, and How to Do It The Right Way Guide to Gender-Inclusive Language 25 Boldly Diverse Campaigns The Easiest Way to Schedule Client Calls is Here Like what you've heard? Rate & Review this Podcast Share this Podcast with your bestie Free Brand Consistency Checklist Check In With Christine & Anita Christine on Instagram Anita on Instagram Anita on Twitter Anita on LinkedIn Brand Party Podcast on Instagram 🎧 Thanks for listening!

In today’s episode, find out how Beyonce and your (next) accountant are basically twins. Having healthy finances in your business isn’t just about balancing the books, although that’s something you shouldn’t be avoiding. Working on your money mindset can help you set the right goals, the right prices, and even help you during tax time. Christine and Lisa (@lisa.zamparo) explore tangible money tips for your mindset, your budgets, and ways you can assess your current financial state as you head into Q2. Lisa Zamparo is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) in Toronto who helps female led-startups and self-employed women grow their profits and create a sustainable income. Lisa combines her Bay Street finance experience with a passion for personal development. She sees entrepreneurship as a vehicle for personal growth, and profit as a powerful tool for making positive change in the world. The Wellth Company is a financial services firm providing tax, bookkeeping and CFO services designed for the way women work and communicate. They value collaboration, communication and empathy. When you work with them, you feel empowered by your finances. What to Listen For: Let me see you 1-2 Step. 2 tangible steps to reduce the overwhelm when it comes to all the Covid-19 financial updates. (4:16) Don’t beat yourself up. We’ve all been there. The 2 most common financial mistakes that will shortchange you. (5:29) Charging hourly? This quote is a gamechanger. (7:30) Wealthy or wellthy? The top 3 things you need to assess your own financial wealth. (9:38) Keep more of your money during tax season! 3 ways to make taxes easy breezy lemon squeezy. (13:16) Handle your finances like a professional. Here are Lisa’s favourite financial tracking tools. (15:58) Resources From This Episode: FreshBooks QuickBooks Like what you've heard? Subscribe to the Podcast (on Apple Podcasts) or Spotify Rate & Review this Podcast Share this Podcast with your Bestie Free Brand Consistency Checklist Check out the shownotes & partial transcriptions Check In With Christine & Lisa Christine on Instagram Lisa on Instagram The Wellth Co on Instagram Brand Party Podcast on Instagram 🎧 Thanks for listening! ----- About this show: As featured in Top 10 New & Noteworthy Canada & Top 10 Art & Design Canada, Brand Party Podcast will energize you to invest in your brand in new ways. Join me for tips, insights, and actions you can take to make your brand a priority in your business. My guests and I deliver honest, to-the-point advice you can implement RIGHT AWAY!

In today’s episode, we’re talking about something that isn’t talked about enough in business: The Bad Apples. When we have a not-so-great experience with a not-so-great client, there can be sadness, feelings of failure, or maybe you want to forget about it and move the heck on. There is learning even in the tough stuff. This #5MinuteMonday is a reminder that you are not alone. Bad apples are everywhere and everyone who runs a business has had a bad client. You can feel assured after listening today that you’ll have what you need to get through those difficult moments, stand your ground, shake it off like T. Swift, and how to only bob for good apples in the future. New here? Catch up on everything you missed in Season 1 & 2! Christine is the founder of CL Designs and the host of Brand Party Podcast. Christine has traded in climbing the corporate ladder for climbing mountains around the world. She helps social impact businesses and nonprofits create your bold legacy through cohesive branding, web design, and social content creation to increase your funding opportunities and sales. Saying no to dull and clunky visuals and yes to consistency, creativity and efficiency form the core of her approach. What to Listen For You’re not alone. Have any of these questionable client situations happened to you? (1:52) What do I do next? 3 steps to deal with a bad client without ripping your hair out. (2:32) Red flags are flying! The question you need to ask yourself to protect yourself in the future. (3:43) Quick Recap: Write these down on a sticky note for later. (4:11) Resources From This Episode: Catch up on Season 1 & 2 of the BPP Learn to Set Healthy Boundaries Don’t Get Caught without a Contract Free Brand Consistency Checklist Book a Clarity Call with Christine Cheer Up with The Happiness Equation Like what you've heard? Subscribe to the Podcast (on Apple Podcasts) or Spotify Rate & Review this Podcast Share this Podcast with your Bestie Check out the shownotes & partial transcriptions Check In With Christine Christine on Instagram Brand Party Podcast on Instagram 🎧 Thanks for listening!

In today’s episode, lean into the conversation of resilience and building a business through obstacles and hardship as Chieff shares his journey of building a business during a global pandemic. It takes great leadership, problem-solving on the fly, and massive amounts of resilience to start and run a business in the best of times, and even more so now. Christine and Chieff (@goaskchieff) also dive deep into the importance of having a community behind you and how supporting your community can come back to you tenfold. Chieff Bosompra is a results-driven person with a creative eye and expansive imagination. He uses 7+ years of creative management and data analytics to help businesses tell engaging stories about their brand identity, services, and products. He's also the founder of Undisposable and Aunty Lucy's Burgers. What to Listen For Learn from Your Mistakes. Honing in on clarity when your brand is close to your heart. (4:30) Follow the Leader. How to lead and empower as your company grows. (5:14) Be real. Why transparency and authenticity will always perform better than Instagram hype. (10:23) This is WILD!!! Listen to this journey of overcoming hardship and building resilience while growing a business from scratch during a global pandemic. (12:01) Not just a hashtag. The top ways we can best support BIPOC businesses. (17:38) Resources From This Episode: Undisposable PUMA collab Aunty Lucys Feature in The Toronto Star Protect & Grow Your Business With Contracts That Work As Hard As You Do Support a BIPOC business and rep some Aunty Lucy's merch Like what you've heard? Subscribe to the Podcast (on Apple Podcasts) or Spotify Rate & Review this Podcast Share this Podcast with your bestie Free Brand Consistency Checklist Check In With Christine & Chieff Christine on Instagram Chieff on Instagram Aunty Lucys on Instagram Undisposable on Instagram Brand Party Podcast on Instagram 🎧 Thanks for listening! ----- About this show: As featured in Top 10 New & Noteworthy Canada & Top 10 Art & Design Canada, Brand Party Podcast will energize you to invest in your brand in new ways. Join me for tips, insights, and actions you can take to make your brand a priority in your business. My guests and I deliver honest, to-the-point advice you can implement RIGHT AWAY!

In today’s episode, find out how a global pandemic became the spotlight we needed on accessibility. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, the world went digital. After years of everyone saying they couldn’t offer services online, businesses quickly pivoted to do what previously said couldn’t be done: offer their services online. The world going digital was a great equalizer in access and still, there are ableist gaps. If there was any time to be more accessible, it is now. Let’s face it, life is harder than usual, we don’t need a single barrier in the way of the desired outcome and success for an employee, a client, or a fellow human. The truth bombs can’t stop, won’t stop as Christine and Clary (@sparkclarity) explore what invisible illnesses and disabilities really look like. Plus, if you’re an employer or business owner, learn how providing accommodations can be totally free and increase productivity 100%. Clary Chambers, who goes by she/her pronouns, works to make the invisible visible. As the founder and CEO of Spark Clarity, Clary works with businesses as a consultant to make their physical, digital and cultural spaces more inclusive for everyone. What to Listen For: They told us it couldn’t be online. But when everyone was inconvenienced, the world went digital. Was it the great equalizer for accessibility? (7:31) We are the most creative people in the world. Are you missing out on all this creative potential? (11:31) Do we need a fire extinguisher? Don’t be the person who has to wait for an infectious global pandemic to make changes. (13:22) When we know better, we do better. 3 tips to create a safe, accessible space that is optimized for your individual needs. (14:50) You can’t tell. What exactly is an invisible illness or invisible disability? (18:14) Don’t miss this truth bomb. Why did you use lime green on that sign? As a business, this is the cost of not being accessible right now. (22:14) Resources From This Episode: Spark Clarity on Facebook Clary on LinkedIn Spark Clarity on YouTube Spark Clarity on Twitter CL Design's Brand Kits Screen Reader Extension Establish your brand’s visual identity with logos, colors, and fonts across multiple Brand Kits with Canva Pro. Like what you've heard? Subscribe to the Podcast (on Apple Podcasts) or Spotify Rate & Review this Podcast Share this Podcast with your Bestie Free Brand Consistency Checklist Check In With Christine & Clary Christine on Instagram Clary on Instagram Brand Party Podcast on Instagram