Behind the Screens: 3 Lessons from My First Year in Web & Brand Design
Okay, a small confession: This blog post celebrating Night Owl Notions' first anniversary is a little late to the party. Year one as a small business owner and web and brand designer was definitely more intense than I imagined! It feels like just yesterday I was diving headfirst into setting up all the things, with dreams bigger than my monitor. Despite my business degree, the real-world hustle of launching a startup was a whole different game. I quickly learned there are tons of resources for pre-startups and big-money-milestone folks, but not a whole lot for entrepreneurs just trying to start and thrive.
Lesson #1: Systems are Great, but Getting Seen is Essential.
When I first opened my small business, my brain was all about getting the behind-the-scenes stuff perfectly sorted. Think seamless workflows, automations humming, and all the techy bits working in harmony. And sure, those things are crucial. But what I quickly learned is that nobody's perfect systems matter if you're a best-kept secret.
The real turning point hit me when I realized getting seen was the actual game-changer. I'd spent a lot of time perfecting my web design and brand design offers, thinking that was the main thing. Turns out, it doesn't matter how great your services are if people don't even know your business exists. That's why I learned that showing up, networking (even when it felt a little awkward!), and being transparent about my small business owner journey were absolutely vital, because you can have the best digital party planned, but if you don't actually invite anyone, it's just you and the crickets. And yes, that includes telling everyone – even your closest family and friends!
Lesson #2: Your Network is Your Net Worth
My husband is incredibly supportive – always there for me, and I wouldn't trade that for anything. But running your own small business comes with its own unique puzzles. What I discovered was the irreplaceable value of connecting with other entrepreneurs who truly get it.
This past year, I made a point of connecting with my entrepreneurial community through networking, both locally here in Edmonton and online across Canada and the US. It wasn't just about advice (though I picked up some gems!); it was about sharing those wild wins, the frustrating head-scratchers, and everything in between with people who actually understood.
I met at fantastic group of women at a networking event one of them hosted. We started by meeting up at cute cafes (like Cafe Versailles and Remedy Cafe) around the city, sharing stories and laughs. We even rented a studio together to share the cost and have some fun taking branding photos! That group has been a lifesaver for getting me out of the house and reminding me I wasn't flying solo. We still plan to keep getting together!
Lesson #3: Not All Marketing is Created Equal (and Some is Just Icky)
Before starting Night Owl Notions, I knew I wanted to connect genuinely with potential small business clients, not just sell to them. But this year, I developed a strong dislike for some common marketing tactics. You know the ones… the fake, manipulative strategies that try to play on your feelings (and not in a good way!) to make an offer seem irresistible. It's frustrating, and honestly, it just feels icky. They come in the form of discounts on courses, but only if you spend a large amount of money before the timer counts down, with no time to consider, check with partners etc. They also come in form of cold emails that claim to get you found while getting everything from your name to your business wrong.
Some businesses even used my very own Dream Session consultation form to try and sell me their stuff! It’s a definite no-go in my book, and it reinforced my commitment to doing ethical marketing and sales with kindness and transparency for my own web design and brand design services.
A Little Word to the Wise from My First Year
If I could hop in a time machine and whisper something to Day One Kelly (or to any new entrepreneur reading this!), it would be:
Get out of your own way! Seriously. Stop trying to make everything absolutely perfect before you even show it. Just talk about what you do, why you genuinely love it, and tell anyone who will listen. And yeah, marketing yourself might feel weird, but it's part of the gig for a small business owner. You're going to have to do it, even if 'salesperson' isn't on your dream job list. So, might as well make friends with it!
Looking Forward
This first year has been a wild ride, and I've learned tons! I'm genuinely excited for what's next at Night Owl Notions. It's all about keeping those genuine connections strong, helping more small businesses absolutely shine online, and just generally learning something new every single day. Thanks for flying along with me!
