Seriously in Business: Brand + Design, Marketing and Business

Hosted by White Deer, Jacqui Naunton

Business Entrepreneurship Management

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280

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Aug 2026

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About the show

(Previously: "Design Hacks for DIYers") The podcast for all things branding, design, marketing and business strategy for your small biz. Hosted by Jacqui Naunton, pro graphic designer and coach at White Deer Graphic Design. This is the podcast for small biz owners (aka, entrepreneurs) who love to have fun AND take their biz seriously. We'll be diving into DIY graphic design and the crucial role it plays in building a successful business... a business that is not only your passion but is taken seriously by the world. You'll also get to learn key branding insights from yours truly, as well as glean marketing, strategy and business advice from epic industry experts. I’ve supported HUNDREDS, if not thousands of women over the last 10 years to transform their brand & design, and in doing so helping them to build successful and sustainable businesses while living the life they love. And in this podcast, I get to do the same for you. Join us every week for a new episode ready to fuel you with inspiration, equip you to thrive, and get you looking "seriously in business".

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August 17, 202620 min

279: Should you use ChatGPT to make your business graphics? (An alternate solution)

Are you using ChatGPT to create graphics for your business? I get it, it feels like the dream. You tip in your details, out pops a flyer, and you get to move on with your day. But in this podcast, I'm sharing something that might make you rethink that workflow... because what AI is spitting out for you might actually be quietly pushing your clients away. I've been doing some anecdotal research on this: running Reels, reading comments, talking to people... and what came back genuinely surprised me. Everyday people, not just designers, can spot an AI graphic. And when they can? They're less likely to trust the business, engage with the content, or even show up to the event being promoted. That's a big deal. This isn't about going anti-AI. I use AI too (mostly for writing, because that's not my strongest suit). But I do want to share why using it for your graphics specifically comes with some real costs, and what I'd actually love for you to do instead. Free Canva Masterclass: Design Tools to $100k 👉 https://www.whitedeer.com.au/designmasterclass Reel on AI: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZtwYV8IuCG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==&igsi=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== P.S. This video was recorded before the Instagram update that flags content as “AI” even if only Canva’s AI features like background remover was used. What’s covered: Why people can spot AI graphics more than you'd think, and what they do after The "same same" problem: why AI content is blending into the scroll What ChatGPT gets wrong about good graphic design The 3-step Bot-to-Brand Method for graphic design How to use AI for brainstorming designs Timestamps: Intro 0:00 The hidden cost of AI graphics 3:36 The research I did for this podcast 3:52 How people are reacting to AI graphics 5:00 Telltale signs of an AI flyer 7:34 Bot 2 Brand Method 9:08 Wrapping up 18:00 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/keXApew9yeQ Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep279/ WORK WITH JACQUI: // DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb // The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub // Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

August 10, 202646 min

278: How to Build an Audience of Superfans that Actually Buy

If you've ever grown your email list and thought... why isn't anyone buying? I sat down with Sophie Griffiths, ads strategist and creator of the Superfans approach, for one of those conversations that makes you rethink everything you're doing to grow your business online. Sophie works with coaches and service providers who want to scale using ads and group programs, and she has a very specific (and very refreshing) take on what it actually means to build an audience that converts. In this episode, we cover: What a superfan actually is Why most of us are accidentally building an audience of lurkers instead of buyers Three things Sophie does to consistently turn cold leads into people who put her on their vision board Timestamps Intro 0:00 Interview 1:31 Wrapping up 44:42 ABOUT GUEST: Sophie Griffiths is a scaling strategist and Meta™ Ads expert. She's known for helping impatiently ambitious women scale their businesses by growing an audience of superfans, creating stackable recurring revenue, and building the team and systems that mean they stop being the bottleneck to their own growth. Her background spans the corporate world, including managing a team of 350+ at British Airways, and eight years working with small businesses, and it's that combination that shapes her approach: empowering clients to take bold action while feeling genuinely safe and supported in how they do it. CONNECT WITH GUEST: Insta www.instagram.com/sophiegriffithsco Website www.sophiegriffiths.co Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ddJKlzAWHH4 Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep278/ WORK WITH JACQUI: // DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb // The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub // Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

August 3, 202612 min

277: The 5-minute Test for a Polished DIY Brand

You've built a DIY brand that looks professional, so what next? In this final part of Building a Brand Without a Big Budget series, I wrap up with two things that are often skipped entirely. It’s a 5-minute quality check you can run on any graphic you create, and an honest conversation about the one thing that actually determines whether your brand works - your own confidence. Watch Part One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EPi38Iluns Watch Part Two: https://youtu.be/Ll3VNXzqX1s?si=33USX18rnN4tiBnq Free Canva Masterclass: Design Tools to $100k 👉 https://www.whitedeer.com.au/designmasterclass What’s covered: The 5-minute polish pass that make a massive difference to your Canva graphics Why font size contrast is non-negotiable How to use alignment as a trust signal Why you need to stop tweaking fonts and colours What makes a well-executed DIY brand indistinguishable from a professional one Timestamps: Intro 0:00 Polish pass 1:25 Confidence Piece 6:10 Too much tweaking 7:30 PSA 8:45 Wrapping up 10:55 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fam8gSxyYoU Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep277/ WORK WITH JACQUI: // DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb // The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub // Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

July 27, 202612 min

276: The Budget Brand Audit (Are You Building Trust or Losing It?)

You don't have to spend thousands on a brand to look like you did. But there are some things that can quietly signal "DIY" to your audience without you even realising it. In Part 2 of the Building a Brand Without a Big Budget series, I share the visual cues that build instant credibility, the three places most budget brands fall down, and a practical self-audit you can do right now on whatever graphics you've already created. The last question in the audit? It might be the most important one. Watch Part One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EPi38Iluns Free Canva Masterclass: Design Tools to $100k 👉 https://www.whitedeer.com.au/designmasterclass What’s covered: The real reason a consistent brand builds trust faster than a big budget one Why white space is one of the best design hacks you're probably not using The three brand mistakes business owners make when DIYing their graphics The 4-question brand audit Why your own photography (even on your phone) signals more trust than AI imagery Timestamps: Intro 0:00 How to look established 3:25 Where businesses can fail for branding 6:35 PSA 11:48 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ll3VNXzqX1s Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep276/ WORK WITH JACQUI: // DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb // The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub // Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

July 20, 202616 min

275: The Hidden Cost of an Inconsistent Brand

For anyone who's been putting off their branding because they've told themselves they need more money first, I get why you'd think that. But it's genuinely one of the more expensive beliefs you can hold in business. This podcast kicks off a three part series on building a brand on a budget, and today I'm tackling the myth head on. Because a strong brand isn't actually about how much you spend, it's about knowing what to prioritise and what can wait a while. I'm walking through the four things your brand genuinely needs (spoiler, your logo is only one of them), the two things you can happily skip for now, and the hidden cost of not sorting your branding out at all. Free Canva Masterclass: Design Tools to $100k 👉 https://www.whitedeer.com.au/designmasterclass Free trial of CANVA PRO! https://partner.canva.com/prodeer What’s covered: The belief that a professional brand requires a professional price tag isn't true Four things every brand needs: a logo, a colour palette, your fonts, and an overall visual style What you can skip for now Why an inconsistent brand doesn't save you money Design being the thing standing between someone scrolling past you OR stopping to actually read what you have to say Timestamps: Intro 0:00 Preview of topics 1:19 Things to consider 2:00 Things to create 4:15 Things that can wait 7:50 Canva breakdown 12:45 PSA 14:00 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1EPi38Iluns Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep275/ WORK WITH JACQUI: // DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb // The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub // Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

July 13, 202631 min

274: Raw maternity leave update. Cash flow problems, paying team & time off

I'm sitting in my trackies with a bump that's getting pretty big, and I wanted to give you the unpolished version of how I’m preparing for maternity leave. Because every mat leave I've taken has looked completely different, and this one's got more moving parts than the last two combined. A team on retainer. A course. A coaching program. A design studio. And a funnel I switched from live to evergreen a month ago that, if I'm honest with you, hasn't made a sale yet. I'm walking you through what's actually happening behind the scenes. How I'm paying my team while I take two months off. Why I've pre-recorded content through to October. What I'm handing over to my team. And the bit nobody really talks about, which is what happens when the passive income you built your whole business around... isn't being very passive right now. If you want to look at the exact funnel I’ve built, watch my Free Canva Masterclass: Design Tools to $100k 👉 https://www.whitedeer.com.au/designmasterclass What’s covered: Why two months off doesn't mean what people think it means when you're already not working full days The difference between a live webinar and an evergreen funnel, and why one converts so much better than the other What it actually costs to keep a small content team retained while sales slow down How I'm training my team to run client calls without me My honest advice if you're a business owner heading into your own leave for the first time Timestamps: Intro 0:00 Content plan and ads 3:28 Budgeting and team 11:59 Hand over 18:00 Saying no (and yes) 20:35 Baby plans 22:20 Advice 25:40 Wrapping up 28:45 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5IPUBL16aX8 Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep274/ WORK WITH JACQUI: // DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb // The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub // Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

July 6, 202614 min

273: 3 Canva Shortcuts That Will Save You Hours

If you haven't caught the first two podcasts of this series yet (workflow and brand foundations), go back and listen to those first... they're honestly going to move the needle more than today's episode will. Today we get into the nitty gritty of time-saving shortcuts in Canva. The exact clicks, the exact keys, the exact little habits that shave minutes off every single Canva session.I'm not expecting you to implement everything in this episode at once. Pick one or two, use them until they're second nature, then come back for more. That's how this stuff actually sticks. Free Canva Masterclass: Design Tools to $100k 👉 https://www.whitedeer.com.au/designmasterclass What’s covered: The three Canva keyboard shortcuts I use constantly (grouping, duplicating, undo/redo) What Canva Components actually are and how they save you from rebuilding the same thing over and over My 5 Minute Canva Session Reset to check before you close out of any design Why naming your files properly is the most underrated time saver in your whole Canva workflow Timestamps: Intro 0:00 Shortcuts 2:11 Components 6:15 Session Reset 8:18 Wrapping up 11:50 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dApz-t78BDU Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep273/ WORK WITH JACQUI: // DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb // The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub // Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

June 29, 202612 min

272: How I Use One Canva Design for an Entire Quarter

If you listened to part one of this series, you already know the foundations. Today's a bit more fun, I promise. I'm walking you through the exact system I use to cut my Canva workflow in half, and it's the same system that blows my students' minds every single time I share it. It's called the Page Stack System, and the short version is this: stop pressing "new" every time you need a design. Stack your effort instead, building every new post from the last one you made, so you're never starting from a blank screen again. Free Canva Masterclass: Design Tools to $100k 👉 https://www.whitedeer.com.au/designmasterclass Discover my AI/Claude + Canva workflow 👉 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYRJ4CVInsF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== What’s covered: Why pressing "new" in Canva is quietly costing you hours The Page Stack System, and how I run an entire quarter from one Canva file How to copy pages between designs in seconds (even on Canva free) The AI step I add on top once my templates are built, and why I still do the editing myself Why this only works once you've got the system sorted first Timestamps: Intro 0:00 Mistake you're making 1:20 Page stack system 2:20 Design duplication 4:08 Copying pages 6:30 Using Claude 8:25 Wrapping up 9:59 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/H6Jc_W-6jso Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep272/ WORK WITH JACQUI: // DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb // The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub // Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

June 22, 202618 min

271: This Canva Brand System Setup Saves Me Hours Every Week

Free Canva Masterclass: Design Tools to $100k 👉 https://www.whitedeer.com.au/designmasterclass Free trial of CANVA PRO! https://partner.canva.com/prodeer If your Canva session regularly turns into a 45-minute spiral that ends in frustration... this week’s podcast is for you. In part one of this brand new three-part series, I'm breaking down why so many business owners are losing hours inside Canva, and what to do instead. Spoiler: it's not a creativity problem. It's a systems problem. And the fix is simpler than you think. I'm introducing you to my Set and Forget Brand System, which is built around three layers that work together to take the mental load out of designing. Once these are in place, you stop remaking the same decisions over and over, and you start actually getting things done. What’s covered: The two types of Canva struggles most business owners fall into (and why both are costing you) Why starting from a blank canvas every time is the root of the problem Layer 1: Your Brand Kit: what it is, why it matters, and how to set it up Layer 2: Your Element Library: what brand elements are and how to build yours over time Layer 3: Your Template Library: the smartest thing you can do if you're posting more than once a week Timestamps: Intro 0:00 Setting up 2:41 Tip 1 7:07 Tip 2 11:05 Tip 3 13:48 Wrapping up 16:33 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9arYaBpOOoY Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep271/ WORK WITH JACQUI: // DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb // The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub // Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

June 15, 202637 min

Episode 270: Emily Built a DIY Brand So Good, People Ask Who the Designer Is

Want to join Emily and I inside DIY Design My Biz? Join today: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb (DM me “secret squirrel” on Instagram (@whitedeergd) for $200 off 🤫) What does it look like when a student actually follows a design process? Today I chat with Emily Richardson, founder of Holistic Dermal Clinic, who joined DIY Design My Biz with zero brand and a very clear idea of how she wanted things to feel. She's since built a brand so polished that her suppliers and clients regularly ask who her professional designer is... and she gets to say, "actually, that was me." Emily is a skin therapist and university student who runs her clinic half-days so she can give every client her full attention. She's creative, detail-oriented, and unapologetically a control freak when it comes to her brand, which is exactly why she wanted to learn the skills herself rather than hand it all over to someone else. This conversation is a really honest look at what it's like to build a brand from scratch when you're also running a business, studying, and trying to make everything feel cohesive. In this episode, we cover: Why Emily built her brand before she had clients (and why that decision paid off) How the online modules gave her the knowledge... and how the calls gave her the edge The moment she realised Canva had become a time-saver Emily's take on when to DIY vs. when to outsource, and how to think about investment when you're starting out Three skin care non-negotiables you actually haven't heard a million times Timestamps Intro 0:00 Interview 1:49 Wrapping up 35:51 ABOUT GUEST: Emily Richardson is a Dermal Therapist and owner of skin clinic, Holistic Dermal Clinic located in Townsville QLD. She helps women love their skin with non-invasive, gentle methods that embrace both modern advancements as well as holistic wisdom. This involves treating the skin through getting to understand the person as a "whole" to truly create custom, personalised treatments for the individual. Outside of all things skin related, Emily’s a wife, a dog mum and a former professional dancer. Plus she juggles all things business alongside uni, because life long learning is crucial to stay ahead of the curve! CONNECT WITH GUEST: Holistic Dermal Clinic: Insta: https://www.instagram.com/holisticdermalclinic Website: https://www.holisticdermalclinic.com.au Emily’s Insta: https://www.instagram.com/thedermalskintherapist Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Uq8TLVFVC08 Read on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep270/ WORK WITH JACQUI: // DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb // The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub // Design Studio: If you’re after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio