What It Actually Looks Like to Work With a Brand and Website Designer: A Behind-the-Scenes Look
The full process, from first inquiry to launch day gifts, so you know exactly what to expect when you invest in your brand and website.
If you have been thinking about investing in a brand and website but aren't quite sure what you're actually signing up for…this post is for you.
One of the most common things I hear from women before they reach out is some version of: I don't really know what the process looks like, and that unknown feeling is overwhelming on top of everything else I'm already managing.
That makes complete sense. A brand and website project is a significant investment of both money and energy. You deserve to know exactly what you're walking into before you say yes.
So here is what it actually looks like to work with Green Juice & Marketing: start to finish, nothing left out.
Before the Project Begins: What Happens After You Inquire
When you reach out through our inquiry form, the first thing that happens is a real conversation…not a sales pitch. We schedule a business vision call to talk about what you're building, where you are right now, and what kind of support would actually feel helpful.
If it feels like a fit on both sides, we put together a custom proposal outlining the scope, investment, and timeline. Once you review it, ask any questions, and decide to move forward, we get you officially onboarded.
You will never be pushed into a timeline or a package that doesn't fit where you are. That is not how we work.
Onboarding: Getting You Set Up and Feeling Held
Good onboarding sets the tone for everything that follows. Ours is designed to make you feel completely taken care of from the very first moment, because a project that starts with clarity and warmth tends to finish that way too.
1. Your Contract and Invoice
Before anything else, our team sets up your client contract and invoice through HoneyBook, our project management system. Everything is digital, clear, and easy to sign and pay from wherever you are.
2. Your Client Hub
We set up a dedicated client hub in Google Drive which is your home base for the entire project. Inside you will find everything you need in one organized place:
→ Your new client questionnaire – the most important thing to complete first
→ Screenshots of your Pinterest board for gathering visual inspiration
→ Your copy guide – a workbook that walks you through writing your website content
→ A clear checklist of your tasks so nothing falls through the cracks
→ Links to our video tutorial library so you always have guidance on hand
3. Your Welcome Email
You receive a personal welcome email from me – not a generic automated message. It walks you through exactly what to expect, what you need to do, and what we are handling so you don't have to think about it.
4. A Handwritten Note in the Mail
Yes, an actual handwritten note. In an age of automated everything, this small gesture matters to us. You are not a transaction. You are a human being who just made a meaningful investment in your business, and we want you to feel that.
5. Your Kick-Off Call
Within two weeks of receiving your welcome email, we schedule your kick-off call. This is where we go deeper by answering questions, making sure you are completely clear on next steps, and confirming the two most important things that need to be in place before design can begin: your website copy and your photography.
→ Website copy: We provide a copy guide to support you, and professional copywriting is available as an add-on
→ Photography: We recommend hiring a brand photographer and provide photo styling guidance so every image feels cohesive and on-brand
PHASE TWO
The Strategy Phase: Research Before Anything Is Created
Once your questionnaire and Pinterest board are complete, our team gets to work…often before the kick-off call even happens. This is where the thinking happens, quietly and behind the scenes, so that when we sit down to design, every decision is informed and intentional.
Market Research
We dig into your industry, your ideal client, your competitors, and the current landscape of your space. We are looking for what makes you different, what your clients are actually searching for, and where the opportunity lies to position you clearly and distinctly.
Brand Strategy Development
From the research, we develop a strategy that fits you: your goals, your industry, your values, and the season of life and business you are in. This strategy becomes the foundation that every design decision is built on.
→ Brand positioning and core message
→ Target audience profiling
→ Unique differentiator
→ Voice and tone direction
→ Visual direction
You will see your strategy reflected in everything that follows: the mood board, the brand concept, the website structure. Nothing is random. Every choice traces back to something we learned about you and your people in this phase.
PHASE THREE
The Brand Design Phase: Building Your Visual Identity
This is where your brand comes to life visually, and it is one of the most exciting parts of the process for most clients. It is also where the collaborative nature of our work becomes most visible.
Mood Board and Creative Direction
I begin with a mood board – a curated visual collage that captures the feeling, energy, and aesthetic direction of your brand before a single logo element is created. This ensures we are aligned on the vision before we invest time in execution.
Brand Concept Creation
From the approved mood board direction, our designer creates your full brand concept. This is a complete, cohesive presentation of your new visual identity:
→ Primary and alternative logo designs
→ Color palette
→ Typography pairings
→ Mini website mockup showing how the brand could translate to digital
→ Mockups showing how the brand looks in real-world marketing contexts
Client Review and Revisions
You receive the full brand concept presentation and have the opportunity to review, respond, and request revisions. We go back and forth until it feels completely right and you give your full approval.
Final Brand Guide and Logo Files
Once the brand is approved, we create your comprehensive brand guide. This is a document that shows you and anyone who ever works with your brand exactly how to use it correctly. All logo files in every format you will ever need are delivered to your shared Google Drive folder.
PHASE FOUR
The Website Design Phase: Building Your Online Home
Website design begins only after two things are confirmed: your brand is approved and your copy and photography are received. This sequencing is intentional and important — it is what allows us to build something cohesive rather than piecing things together after the fact.
Website Progress Call
Before design begins, we schedule a call to check in on your copy and photo progress, answer any remaining questions, and confirm any updates to the website mockup from the brand concept phase. We want to start building with complete clarity.
Homepage Design and Approval
We design your homepage first — the most important page on your site and the one that sets the visual and strategic tone for everything that follows. You review and approve the homepage before we move to any other pages.
Full Website Design
With the homepage approved, we design every remaining page of your website — each one built to guide your visitors clearly toward the action you most want them to take. Every page goes through a client review process.
Development
Once designs are approved and all copy and photography are received, the approved designs are sent to our developer. Your website is built to the approved specifications with careful attention to functionality, mobile responsiveness, and performance.
Internal Testing
Before you ever see the live site, we test it thoroughly — across desktop, tablet, and mobile screens, checking every link, form, and function to make sure everything works exactly as it should.
Client Final Review
You receive access to the full website for your final review. We go through any remaining refinements together until you are completely satisfied and ready to launch.
Launch Call
Before we go live, we schedule a launch call to walk through the website together — reviewing every page, covering any tech questions, and making sure you feel completely confident about what you are putting out into the world.
Website Launch
Your website goes live. We support the launch with social media content, portfolio updates, and integration into our next email newsletter — because a launch is not just a technical event. It deserves to be celebrated and shared.
PHASE FIVE
Offboarding: How We Say Goodbye (For Now)
The end of a project is not just a handoff. It is a moment worth marking — and we take it seriously.
A Gift in the Mail
Every client receives a physical gift when their project wraps. Not a generic thank-you — something thoughtful and branded like business cards, postcards, or something else useful to your ongoing marketing efforts!
Your Wrap-Up Email
You receive a comprehensive wrap-up email that covers everything you need to know going forward — how to maintain your website, where to find your files, how to reach us if you need ongoing support, and what comes next if you want to keep working together.
The Door Stays Open
Many of our clients become long-term partners. Whether through our Monthly Marketing Retainer or project-based support down the road, we love running alongside the businesses we help build. The end of a project is rarely a goodbye — it is usually the beginning of something longer.
How Long Does a Brand and Website Project Take?
The full Brand + Website experience typically takes 10 to 12 weeks from kick-off to launch. Here is how that time breaks down in general terms:
Onboarding + Questionnaire: Weeks 1–2
Strategy Research: Weeks 2–3
Brand Design + Revisions: Weeks 3–6
Website Design + Revisions: Weeks 6–9
Development + Testing: Weeks 9–11
Final Review + Launch: Weeks 11–12
The biggest variable in timeline is always copy and photography. Clients who come to the project with both ready to go tend to move through the process faster and with less stress. We do everything we can to support you in getting there — including providing a detailed copy guide and photo styling direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to prepare before the project starts?
The two most important things are your website copy and your brand photography. We provide a copy guide workbook to support you through the writing process, and we offer professional copywriting as an add-on if you'd prefer to have it done for you. For photography, we recommend hiring a brand photographer and we provide photo styling guidance to make sure every image feels cohesive and intentional.
Can I write my own website copy?
Yes — and many clients do. Our copy guide walks you through every page with prompts and examples so you know exactly what to write and where it goes. If writing isn't your strength or you simply don't have the bandwidth, professional website copywriting is available as an add-on service.
What if I don't love the brand concept?
The brand concept goes through a review and revision process before it is ever finalized. We build time into every project for your feedback and refinements — so nothing moves forward until you genuinely love it. In eight-plus years of doing this work, we have always found our way to something the client is truly proud of.
How involved do I need to be during the project?
Meaningfully involved but not overwhelmed. Your biggest contributions are the questionnaire, the Pinterest board, your copy, and your photos — plus showing up for calls and reviews with your honest feedback. Everything else is handled by our team. That is the whole point.
What happens after the website launches?
You receive a wrap-up email with everything you need to manage your site going forward, plus custom video tutorials so you always feel in control of your own website. Many clients also continue working with us through our Monthly Marketing Retainer — an ongoing partnership where we handle content direction, email marketing, social media, and more so you can stay focused on your actual work.
How much does a brand and website project cost?
Our Brand + Website experience starts at $8,500 as of January 2026. The investment varies based on scope, add-ons, and the specific needs of your project. We put together a custom proposal for every client so the scope reflects exactly what you need — nothing more, nothing less.
Is This the Right Investment for You?
This experience is designed for women who are ready to stop overthinking their online presence and step into something that finally feels clear, grounded, and worthy of the work they're doing.
You do not need to have it all figured out before you reach out. That is literally what we are here for.
You don't have to carry the online side of your business alone. That's exactly what we're here for — and we will be with you from the first conversation through launch day and beyond.
Ready to see what's possible?
If something here resonated, if you've been putting off your brand and website because the process felt too unknown or too overwhelming, I hope this helped. And if you're ready to take the next step, I'd love to hear about what you're building.
→ Inquire about working together at greenjuiceandmarketing.com
RELATED READING
Continue exploring:
→ The Complete Guide to Building a Brand and Website for Your Wellness Practice
→ How Much Does a Website Cost for a Therapist or Wellness Practice?
→ How Long Does It Take to Build a Brand and Website for a Health Practice?
→ Case Study: How Evergreen Health & Wellness Brought a Nutrition Practice Online
→ Case Study: How Portland Women Investors Built a Community Brand From Scratch
