What It’s Like to Build a Brand & Website That Finally Feels Like You
A clear, honest look at what happens when you decide your brand is ready to match the depth of your work.
Before we begin
Before you ever fill out my contact form, something has usually already happened.
You’ve spent a little bit of time with my virtual presence.
Maybe a friend sent you to my portfolio site with the note, “You need to look at her work. I think you’d love her.”
When you arrived you thought, “Oh. This feels different.” And maybe you couldn’t immediately explain why — just that the color felt alive. Intentional. Like someone finally gave it permission to exist.
Or you downloaded my Free Brand Clarity Guide and actually did the work instead of just skimming it.
And that’s the real beginning.
You start wondering what it would feel like if your brand or website felt like an extension of you instead of something you tolerate. If your visuals finally caught up with who you’ve become. If your online presence felt steady, confident, aligned.
It’s not perfectly clear yet.
But you know you’re ready for something to match the depth of your work.
You’re ready to bring your most beautiful brand to life.
That’s when you reach out.
Step 1: You decide you’re ready and you inquire
This happens the moment you decide you’re done doing this alone.
You head to my contact form and tell me:
What your business is all about
What you think you need
What inspired you to reach out now
This doesn’t need to be beautifully written. Run-on sentences, half-articulated thoughts — all of it is welcome.
The inquiry form isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about giving me a first glimpse of you — your voice, your passion, your way of working.
I’m not reading for perfection. I’m paying attention to where you are, what you’re really asking for, and whether I’m the right guide for this season of your business.
You’ve taken the first step. And you’re not doing this on your own now.
Step 2: You get a real email
You hear from me — and yes, I’m probably a little excited.
I might say something like, “I love the work you’re doing,” because there’s a reason you felt called to reach out. If you’re interested in me, I’m interested in you — that kind of mutual pull usually means something real.
Authenticity recognizes authenticity.
Inside that email is a link to book a discovery call so we can actually talk about your project.
You get to decide if this feels like a yes.
And if it does…
Step 3: You schedule a discovery call
You grab a time on my calendar for a 30-minute call.
If nothing works, you email me and we figure it out. Discovery calls take priority — because when there’s that mutual pull, I don’t like to let it sit too long.
Once you’re booked, you’ll get:
A Zoom link
A short list of discovery questions
These aren’t homework. You don’t need a polished presentation. You can think about them while you’re making dinner, jot notes in your phone, or do a deep dive journaling sesh.
Just be ready to talk about yourself and your work.
Step 4: We have the discovery call
This is a real conversation led by intentional questions.
You tell me what’s feeling off. What’s evolving. What you’re tired of. What you’re ready for.
You can absolutely say, “I don’t know exactly what I want — I just know it’s not this anymore.” I hear that a lot.
You get to ask every question you’ve been holding.
I’m listening. Taking notes. Recording the call so I can go back through your exact words afterward and use your language when I craft your personalized proposal.
I want to understand:
What you’re building
Where you are right now
What kind of support would actually help
I’ll walk you through exactly how this works — what happens, what’s expected of you, what’s expected of me.
And then it happens — that energetic buzz.
You’re describing what you want — a brand that actually feels like you. And I’m sitting there thinking, yes. This is the work I’ve devoted myself to.
You lean forward. Your voice picks up speed. There’s relief in your tone. “Yes — that’s exactly it.”
And I’m lit up because you’re asking for the exact thing I care about most.
If I’m not the right fit, I’ll tell you. I care more about integrity than booking a project.
By the end, you’ll know what services I recommend, why I’m recommending it, and what working together would actually feel like.
No pressure. Just honesty and direction.
Step 5: You receive your custom proposal
After our call, I take everything you shared and turn it into a custom proposal tailored just for you.
Inside, you’ll see:
My understanding of your vision
How I recommend supporting it
Clear package options
Investment details
Next steps
You read it. You sit with it.
You choose what feels right.
Step 6: The official yes
This is where we cross into officially working together
Once you accept your proposal:
I send over a contract with all the official details
You receive an invoice for the 50% deposit
The contract includes:
Project overview
Deliverables & scope
Timeline & process
Investment & payment schedule
Client responsibilities & terms
You sign. You pay.
And yes — there’s a 4% discount for paying by check, because keeping money out of big corporations matters to me.
Only then does the project officially begin.
Step 7: You receive the Your Brand, Your Story questionnaire
Once your contract is signed and your deposit is in, I send you the questionnaire.
This is called Your Brand, Your Story — and yes, it’s full of questions you’d rather avoid. BUT it feels fun, too. Because you get the opportunity to selfishly share everything about you and your work.
You might have many of the answers to these questions written somewhere — in the notes apps, journals, half-finished Google Docs. You’re welcome to answer them anew, copy and paste, brain dump, bullet point… ALL of it works.
The more information I have about you, the better.
And don’t worry about it being messy or chaotic.
Bullet points are good.
Voice notes transcribed are good.
Stream-of-consciousness paragraphs are good.
All of that is good.
This is not about sounding polished.
It’s about being honest.
And when I haven’t heard from you in two weeks, I check-in.
Not to push you to finish up, but to see where you’re stuck and where you need more guidance.
Step 8: You do a Pinterest exercise (yes, really)
Alongside the questionnaire, I’ll ask you to hop on Pinterest and just… Pin EVERYTHING that makes your heart happy.
In addition to branding that feels aligned, I expect to see Florals. Sunsets. The beach. Craft projects. Funky interiors. Textures. Typography. Motivational artwork.
Anything and everything matters.
This isn’t about trends. It’s about energy.
You’re gathering what feels like you — visually, emotionally, intuitively — without overthinking it.
Step 9: I synthesize everything into your Brand Clarity Key
Once you send everything back, I go through all of it.
I notice your heart. Your passion. Your desire to do good work in the world.
And yes — I use my AI thinking partner, Harmonia — custom built specifically for this work. Harmonia helps me synthesize your ideas, surface patterns already in your words, and bring structure to the beautiful mess — never inventing, only reflecting what’s truly there.
Then I create your Brand Clarity Key — a clear, grounded document that reflects back who you are, what you stand for, and how that translates into your brand.
You’ll also receive a mood board based on your Pinterest finds — your vibe, distilled.
When I present it, this is usually the moment where you say:
“I love that you get my style and vibe so much! It’s so cool to feel seen and to see my vision in tangible form in a way I would not be able to identify or express on my own.”
That’s when I know we’re exactly where we need to be because I’ve given you the clarity you knew was missing.
From here, you have options.
For some clients, this is the finish line. You leave with direction, language, and a visual compass you can use on your own — and what carries forward is this: you feel clearer, more confident, and more able to speak about your work without second‑guessing yourself, no matter which path you choose.
For others, we move into logo and brand identity design or we move into website creation.
No matter which path you choose, the shift you feel from this clarity is real.
Step 10: We design your brand identity
With a clear brand foundation, I begin the process of creating a logo that reflects your brilliance.
I’ll show you a couple logo options — different directions rooted in the same strategy.
You get to decide what feels most like you.
Sometimes it’s a little bit from one option and somethin’ somethin’ from another and we combine them together. Sometimes one direction is clearly it.
There’s refinement. There’s collaboration. But there’s no chaos.
And until we’ve got your logo locked in, we’re talking about everything in black and white. Because if it doesn’t work in black, no amount of color will fix an unaligned logo.
The moment we add color, you start to step into your new brand identity. The one that finally feels like you.
You’ll tell me:
“I LOVE my new logos! I’m so excited to start using them!”
The Hand Off:
Your logo suite, brand colors, and typography are finalized and then you receive a full Brand Standards Guide along with all the files you need to use on future branding assets.
This tells you how to use your logo, all versions of it, your color codes, your fonts, and photography guidance — so that when our work is complete, you have a clear guide to take and do whatever you want with it.
You’re not left guessing.
For some clients, this completes our work — you’re fully equipped and ready to proudly share your new logo with the world.
If you’ve signed on for a Full Branding Package, we’re ready to bring your brand to life online.
Step 11: We write your website copy
Whether you started with a Brand Clarity Key, logo design, or both — we’re ready for the final piece.
But before we design anything, we start with your words.
Design doesn’t begin until your copy is finalized — because I can’t build something visually aligned if I don’t know exactly what it needs to say.
But don’t worry! You’ll receive a website copy template from me, (I probably sent it to you while we were finalizing your logo).
This template has plenty of guidance and fill-in-the-blank formats. Using your Brand Clarity Key as your compass, you’ll write your website copy in a collaborative google doc.
(And if writing isn’t your thing, I can support you there too.)
Once you’ve written your copy, I’ll review it to ensure your copy is thoughtful, intentional, strategic and most importantly in your brand voice.
You’ll review my changes and only when you’re 100% happy with the copy will I begin to design your site.
Step 12: I design your website
With your Brand Clarity Key as the foundation, your custom Squarespace website starts to come to life — built intentionally with your brand colors, fonts, and voice leading the way.
I start with the homepage.
If it’s a multi-page site, I’ll design the homepage first and get your feedback before moving on to the remaining pages.
You’ll tell me:
“Eeekkk!! I love it at first glance!”
Then you offer a few minor tweaks — not because that’s all I’ll allow, but because that’s genuinely all that’s needed. The heavy lifting already happened in the Brand Clarity Key.
By the time we get here, the design feels intuitive. I know your voice. I understand your vibe. I’m not guessing — I’m building from a foundation we created together.
The Hand Off:
This part matters.
We meet on Zoom — or in person if you’re local — and I walk you through the backend of your website step-by-step.
We go over
How to update your copy
How to swap photos
How to add a blog post
How to make sure your site looks good on mobile
How to make simple edits without breaking anything
And more
I share my screen and guide you in real time.
By the end, you’re not just handed a beautiful site — you’re confident managing it.
You leave knowing how it works, where things live, and how to keep it aligned as your business evolves. You’ll also have my custom reference guide to return to when you think you’ve forgotten any of this.
You’ll also receive 30 days of light post-launch support for minor questions or adjustments.
Now you’re empowered.
Step 13: After the project
This is the part people don’t always talk about.
You show up differently.
You send people to your website without hesitation. You stop second‑guessing your visuals. You trust what you’re building because it finally reflects who you are.
It becomes easier to talk about your business. Easier to write about what you do. Easier to explain your work without overthinking every word.
Your brand feels like an extension of you — not something you manage or perform. It supports your work instead of distracting from it.
And because we built it from clarity first, it grows with you.
The work keeps working.
Long after our calls are done. Long after launch day. You’re not just left with a logo or a website. You’re left with alignment.
And that changes how you show up in your business. Every single day.
Ready to make this your reality?
If you’ve been quietly thinking, this is what I’ve been looking for, then trust that.
This is how we build something that feels like you.
When you’re ready, you know what to do — reach out here.
Hiya! I’m Lexis, the author of this blog.
If you’re here to build a brand that feels beautiful, meaningful, and true to you, I’m so glad you found your way.
At Most Beautiful Design, I blend intuition, creativity + strategy to help purpose-driven entrepreneurs craft brands that truly reflect who they are.
Curious about what lights me up and how I work?
Start here to get a feel for my vibe, or peek at my portfolio if you're dreaming up a brand or website that finally feels like you.
