Are you building your business from alignment or from pressure?

In this episode, I share 7 things I'm not doing in my business; even though the internet says I should. From posting daily and niching down further, to scaling faster and launching constantly, we're unpacking the online "rules" that often lead to burnout instead of sustainability.

If you're an entrepreneur, creative, or small business owner feeling overwhelmed by business advice, today's episode will help you rethink growth, visibility, and success on your own terms.

I talk about:

• Why posting every day isn't the only growth strategy
• The truth about niching down
• Depth vs scale in business
• Why constant launching can create pressure
• The danger of building from fear

If you've ever felt behind, not strategic enough, or like you're not doing "enough" then this episode is your permission to pause and choose alignment over algorithms.

Key Takeaways

• Not all "shoulds" are aligned with your vision: Just because something works for someone else doesn't mean it's right for you. Strategy without alignment leads to burnout.
• Depth can be more powerful than scale: Bigger isn't always better. Building for impact, connection and sustainability may serve you more than chasing numbers.
• Consistency doesn't have to mean constant: You don't have to post daily, launch quarterly, or pivot with every trend. Intentional visibility can be more powerful than relentless output.
• Fear shouldn't be your business strategy: Many online "rules" are rooted in fear; fear of irrelevance, slow growth, or being left behind. Building from alignment creates longevity.

Episode Highlights

• 00:00 – Why I'm questioning business "shoulds"
• 01:35 – Not posting every day
• 03:10 – Not niching down into something microscopic
• 05:00 – Choosing depth over scale
• 06:45 – Stepping off the launch treadmill
• 08:10 – Not chasing trends
• 09:30 – Not outsourcing everything (yet)
• 10:45 – Why I refuse to build from fear
• 12:00 – Final thoughts: Choosing alignment over noise

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!

If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

Has the fear of being trolled ever impacted how you show up online? It definitely has for me, and sometimes I feel like I can't share all the things that I want to in case I attract hate.

Today on the podcast I'm chatting to Rhiannon Louden, who is a brand and wedding photographer, all about an incident where she got trolled and exactly how she handled it.

A big facet of this conversation is about values, and I love that it comes back to something that has been chatted about on this podcast so many times before: the importance of your brand values. Rhiannon shares a candid story about a reel featuring a trans wedding that attracted significant hate, and how she navigated that storm while protecting her clients and standing by her beliefs.

We touch on personal branding, attracting the right clients, running your business with integrity, and why "going viral" isn't always the dream we think it is.

Key Takeaways:

• Viral isn't always a victory: Rhiannon shares how a reel hitting 5 million views brought a wave of hate rather than just "success". It serves as a reminder that visibility without the right audience can be damaging.
• Values act as a filter: Being vocal about your values (e.g., trans rights) effectively repels people who don't align with you. While the trolling was difficult, it ultimately solidified her niche and signaled safety to her ideal clients.
• Client care comes first: When the post blew up with negative comments, Rhiannon's first priority was her couple. She communicated openly with them and gave them the option to delete the post, prioritizing their mental health over the "viral" reach.
• Have a crisis plan: It is helpful to think about how you would handle trolling before it happens. Having a process—like warning clients or knowing when to turn off comments—can help you stay calm in the moment.
• Separating your brands: We also discuss Rhiannon's decision to run two separate brands (Rhiannon Neale for weddings/families and Rhiannon Louden for branding) to ensure her messaging stays clear and relevant to each specific audience.

Episode Highlights:

• 02:00 – Rhiannon's journey from journalism to photography and moving to Scotland.
• 04:00 – The decision to split her business into two distinct brands to clarify her messaging.
• 06:00 – The story of the viral reel: How a post celebrating a trans wedding attracted millions of views and a storm of hate.
• 13:00 – Handling the fallout: How Rhiannon communicated with her clients and gave them the power to decide the post's fate.
• 15:00 – The aftermath: Why repelling bigots is actually a business positive, and how it has led to more aligned inquiries from the LGBTQ+ community.
• 19:00 – The reality of viral fame: Why we need to stop romanticising the idea of "blowing up" online.

About The Guest:

Rhiannon Louden is a photographer and brand mentor based in Scotland. She runs two businesses: Rhiannon Neale, focusing on alternative, documentary-style wedding and family photography, and Rhiannon Louden, where she offers personal brand photography and mentorship for female entrepreneurs. She is passionate about diversity, inclusivity, and helping business owners show up authentically.

You can find her wedding work at https://rhiannoneale.com/ and her branding work at https://www.rhiannonlouden.co.uk/

Mentioned in this episode:

• Rhiannon's Viral Post: The reel discussed regarding the trans wedding (though comments are turned off!).

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!

This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode, I'm sharing four brands I genuinely love and feel deeply loyal to — not just because of their products, but because of the missions they're built on. Each one shows how having a clear purpose, strong values, and a quality product can create lasting trust, emotional connection, and long-term brand loyalty.

Come tell me which brands you're loyal to and why; I'd love to know!

Key Takeaways:

• Building your brand around a clear mission will attract loyal customers
  When your brand stands for something meaningful and consistently lives it out, people don't just buy once; they recommend you, return to you, and feel emotionally invested in your success.
• Pairing purpose with quality creates trust and longevity
  A powerful mission alone isn't enough; delivering a genuinely great product builds credibility, repeat business, and long-term sustainability for your brand.
• Telling human stories gives your brand depth and meaning
  When your brand highlights real people, real impact, and real change, it builds empathy, trust, and a deeper connection that goes far beyond features or pricing.

Episode Highlights:

• 00:24 – Why mission-led brands create strong loyalty and trust
• 02:38 – Madlug: how dignity and storytelling build brand loyalty
• 05:26 – Who Gives A Crap: sustainability, humour, and ethical business
• 08:29 – Manumit Coffee: employment, dignity, and social impact
• 10:33 – Tony's Chocolonely: ethical supply chains and purpose-driven design
• 13:31 – What mission-led brands can teach you about your own business

Mentioned in the episode:

• Madlug
• Who Gives a Crap
• Manumit Coffee
• Tony's Chocolonely

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!

If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In today's episode, I'm doing something a little different and sharing a few of the tools I've been loving recently. These are paid subscriptions I use to save time, streamline my content creation, and make video feel more sustainable and enjoyable. They're not "must-have" tools to run a business, but they are thoughtful investments that help me work smarter, stay creative, and focus my energy where it matters most.

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!

If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

• Choosing tools that save time will protect your creative energy
  Investing in content creation tools that reduce friction allows you to show up more consistently, avoid burnout, and spend more time actually creating instead of wrestling with tech.
• Using automation with intention builds trust, not distance
  When you use automations in a personal, generous way; like voice notes or encouragement rather than constant selling; you deepen connection and make your marketing feel more human and aligned.
• Building a sustainable workflow makes growth possible
  Designing systems that make video and content creation faster and easier creates momentum, supports long-term growth, and helps you stay consistent without exhausting yourself.

• 00:00 – Why I'm sharing the paid tools that help with content creation and save time
• 00:54 – How I use Superprofile for Instagram automations and voice note DMs
• 03:46 – Why Epidemic Sound is my go-to for music for YouTube, podcasts, and reels
• 05:48 – How I use Jitter to create quick animations for Instagram and video content
• 07:55 – How Frame.io helps with video feedback, collaboration, and client work
• 10:08 – Why investing in tools matters for sustainable video and content creation

Mentioned in the episode

• Superprofile (aff link)
• Epidemic Sound
• Frame.io
• Jitter

A topic I haven't covered on the podcast for a while is photography so when Olivia Bossert got in touch about coming on to chat about her 'IT Girl' philosophy, I knew it would be SUCH an interesting and different perspective on personal brand photography.

I am a big believer in brand photography and how much it can do to enhance your brand. It really can impact the visual look and feel of your branding and give you heaps of confidence in how you show up in your business and online.

In this episode, Olivia shares her fascinating journey from shooting for Vogue to pivoting into the personal branding space. We chat about why having a full team on set can transform your confidence, why you definitely don't need to know how to pose, and how she is reclaiming the term "IT Girl" to help business owners show up as their most authentic selves.

Key Takeaways:

• Pivoting after achieving the "dream": Olivia shares the honest reality of achieving her life-long goal of shooting for Vogue, only to realise it didn't bring the fulfilment she expected, leading to her pivot into personal branding.
• The "IT Girl" Philosophy: We discuss reclaiming the term "IT Girl" – it isn't about being a celebrity like Paris Hilton; it's about fully owning who you are, what you love, and showing up unapologetically as yourself.
• You don't need to know how to pose: One of the biggest fears people have is not knowing what to do in front of the camera. Olivia explains that on a high-end shoot, posing is the photographer's job, not yours.
• Treating your brand like a fashion editorial: Olivia applies her background in fashion to personal branding, using a full team (stylists, assistants, lighting experts) to create high-end, magazine-quality images for business owners.
• Confidence is a result, not a prerequisite: You don't need to feel confident before the shoot. The process of being looked after by a professional team and seeing the final results is what actually creates that lasting confidence boost.

Episode Highlights:

• 02:00 – The "Vogue moment" and why achieving a big goal led to an identity crisis and a business pivot.
• 05:00 – How Olivia applies a fashion editorial mindset to personal branding to create a unique USP.
• 06:00 – A breakdown of what a full production team looks like (and why you might want a stylist and lighting assistant).
• 09:00 – Overcoming camera confidence: Why you don't need to be an influencer or model to look amazing.
• 16:00 – Redefining the "IT Girl" and why the term might feel jarring at first but is actually incredibly empowering.
• 28:00 – The debate on AI in photography: Why images hold energy and why AI headshots often miss the "spark" in the eyes

About The Guest:

Olivia Bossert is a personal brand photographer, artist, and online business owner based in London. After a decade working as a fashion photographer for international publications and brands (including Vogue!), she pivoted to bringing that high-end editorial experience to female founders and business owners.

You can find Olivia on Instagram @oliviabossert or visit her website oliviabossert.com.

The It Girl Experience: https://www.oliviabossert.com/shoot
It Girl Studio: https://www.oliviabossert.com/studio

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!

This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

I am beyond excited to be hosting my first ever Live Podcast Event this year! A goal I've had since 2024 and now is becoming a reality! If you're local to Cardiff/South Wales and want to be there in person you can grab one of the final tickets and come along (if there are any left!)

Today on the podcast I am giving you a behind the scenes look into all that has gone on in the lead up to the event. I talk openly and honestly about the highs and lows and doubts and excitements! I'm always interested in behind the scenes of anything I've not done before so I do hope you enjoy this sneak peak behind the curtain!!

Have you ever put on your own event? I'd love to know the bits you loved and the bits you hated!

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

• Big ideas take time; and that's not a failure. Meaningful creative projects often require patience, alignment, and trusting the timing rather than rushing the process.
• Valuing your work invites others to value it too. Charging for events matters; not just financially, but as a way of creating commitment, respect, and space to deliver a higher-quality, more intentional experience for everyone involved.
• Real connection happens when we step into the room together. Live podcasts transform a solitary listening experience into real community, showing the power of bringing people together in person in an increasingly digital world.

• 00:00: Why I'm hosting a live podcast event (behind the scenes of podcast event planning)
• 02:30: How I planned a live podcast: mindset, logistics, and challenges
• 03:55: Ticket pricing strategy for events: early bird tickets, paid vs free events
• 07:30: Building community through live podcasts + future in-person event plans

I loved today's podcast chat and something I've been thinking about a lot recently is how so many of us creatives and business owners have these similar human experiences that we all have to go through. I think it is so powerful when we share those experiences openly and vulnerably.

Today on the podcast, I am chatting to Emmi Salonen, who is a designer, artist, speaker and author of the amazing new book, The Creative Wellbeing Handbook. Emmi founded Studio EMMI in 2005 and has over 20 years of experience in the industry.

In this episode, we talk all about the lessons she has learned as a creative, including her personal journey through burnout and taking a year-long sabbatical. Emmi has chatted to hundreds of other creatives about their struggles, and she shares those insights alongside practical exercises to help nurture your creativity. It was a gorgeous conversation full of little gems that I am definitely going to implement in my own practice!

Key Takeaways:

• Creativity needs a pause: Emmi discusses the concept of the "Creative Ecosystem" and how vital it is to nurture different areas of your life—like connection, wonder, and rest—to sustain your creativity.
• You are not alone in self-doubt: Emmi's research found that 87% of creatives struggle with feeling "not good enough". We discuss how important it is to vocalise these feelings rather than internalise them.
• The power of a 'Solo Day': One of my favourite exercises from the book is the 'Solo Day' (or Emmi Day)—taking guilt-free time alone to do exactly what you want, whether that's visiting a gallery or just pottering around the house, to let ideas percolate.
• Financial stability protects creativity: We talk about the tension between passion and finance, and why having a financial buffer (if possible) is crucial for weathering dry spells or allowing for creative breaks.
• Slow design vs. industry speed: Emmi highlights the pressure to deliver ideas instantly and why she now factors in a "percolation period" at the start of projects to allow ideas to properly form.

Episode Highlights:

• 02:00 – Emmi shares her background working in studios in Italy, New York and London before setting up Studio EMMI 20 years ago.
• 06:30 – The story behind her book: How a severe burnout led to a year off and a deep dive into creative wellbeing.
• 12:00 – The three biggest challenges creatives face today, including balancing finances and the pressure of instant idea generation.
• 21:00 – How Emmi practically managed to take a year-long sabbatical (and how Stefan Sagmeister does it every seven years).
• 23:00 – Practical exercises from The Creative Wellbeing Handbook, including the 'Solo Day' and 'Craft Club'.
• 32:00 – Emmi's perspective on AI: Using it as a tool while protecting human creativity and kindness.

About The Guest:

Emmi Salonen is a Finnish graphic designer and the founder of Studio EMMI, a London-based design practice established in 2005. She is the author of The Creative Wellbeing Handbook, a guide designed to help creatives navigate the ups and downs of their practice.

You can find more about Emmi's work at emmi.co.uk and explore resources for the book at creativeecosystem.org

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!

This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!