13 Creative Ways To Use Social Media Templates Plus 80 Christmas Post Ideas
13 creative ways to use social media templates plus 80 Christmas Post ideas! As a busy entrepreneur I understand the need to be able to get to grips and find new ways to use social media posts quickly and easily, especially when you have a genius idea and it leaps you...
Journaling for business success – 11 Reasons to Start Journaling TODAY
In the last 4 years I have come to understand the power behind journaling for business success. How might you ask? Well let me explain... In 2017 I had so many ideas in my head for my business. I had ideas for ways that I wanted to grow my business. I talked a lot...
Visual Brand and Brand Words – the biggest power couple since Barack and Michelle
Your visual brand and brand words are the biggest power couple in your business - but do you know why? You know the importance of your visual brand; it helps you stand out, it makes your business recognisable, it helps you create a theme through everything in...
8 top content marketing tools to make you more creative
8 top content marketing tools to make you more creative Staying creative and keeping your social media fresh and captivating, can be difficult, especially if you don't know what content marketing tools exist or how to make the most of your existing content. You do not...
8 Top Growth Mindset Books for Children
In the blog this week I’m doing something slightly different - 8 Top Growth Mindset Books for Children. Now if you’ve been following me a while over on my social then you’ll know that I’m a massive book worm - and if you’re new here - hey I’m Vicki and I’m...
3 Different Types of Logo Design Ideas
There are so many logo ideas but do you know which logo design type works for your business or which one to choose? According to Google research, users spend most of their time focusing on your logo before moving on within your website - it's 6.48 seconds - yup that's...
Image file formats and when to use them
I get asked along about what all the different image file formats are. “I am stuck Vicki, what are all the different image file formats and when do I use them?” "What's a PNG, what's a JPG - and what am I supposed to use where? I'm so confused." Be confused no more as...
Startup branding package? Rebrand? Levelling up? Which Branding Package should you choose?
Choosing a startup branding package? Or a rebrand package or maybe you have a logo and need a branding package to help you stand out from the competition? It can be so confusing. I offer three comprehensive branding packages that will be just right for...
How to Support Your Launch Mindset
Just how exactly can you Support Your Launch Mindset? Launching isn’t easy ~ it ain’t for the lazy of bones and faint of heart. Launching is a period of promotion/sales activity which you use in order to gain traction and momentum on your offering. Now, whilst a...
How to Use a Virtual Assistant to Organise Your Small Business
Juggling all the things we have to get done in our business seems hard enough sometimes but when you throw into the mix a major life event such as moving house things can very quickly feel like they are spiralling out of control. So, how can you use a Virtual...
How to Build Self-Confidence: It’s a Skill NOT a Gift
Did you know that building your self-confidence is a skill not a gift? But here's the thing... Your branding is gorgeous. (Of course, it is, if Vicki Nicolson has had anything to do with it!) You have captured your personality perfectly in your colours, images, font...
Top 4 daily habits to help you tap into your creativity
As a creative business entrepreneur, over-time, you’ll develop habits that you will use throughout your business to generate your ideas. Woooow – wait – but you’re not creative I hear you say! I guarantee you are and can't wait to share my daily habits to help you tap...
How my premade logos are just like a business planner
If you’ve been following me for a while then you’ll know my passion and excitement for The Happy Planner, which is an epic business planner that has helped me massively in terms of exploring how creatively I can run my business. The Happy Planner for me is a game...
How to order your premade logo
“How do I order a premade logo from your small business logo shop Vicki?” It’s something I’ve been asked a few times. Today I am going to show you how easy it is to order your logo from my small business logo shop. The Idea Behind the Logo Shop It suddenly dawned on...
9 Ways to Build Your Brand Beyond Your Visuals & Logo
As an innovative brand creator, and I describe myself as that, because I am more than just a graphic designer. Primarily I work one to one with clients on their visual branding – the face of their business if you like. I come from a very deep seated marketing, PR and...
7 Easy Ways to Brand Your Business on a Budget
Branding your business can be difficult if you just don’t have the funds – and you know what? That’s OK – it really is. There are so many other things to invest in when you’re a small business start-up. I also know what it’s like, because you’re itching to get...
Personal Branding Photography – The Basics & Benefits
Thanks to uber-talented designers like our lovely Vicki here, we all know the importance of making our businesses look gorgeous through our branding and how much value it brings to our business. But did you know that by introducing personal branding photography into...
5 Ways to Boost Your Body Confidence to Boost Your Brand
Would you like to boost your body confidence to help you boost your brand? Sounds great right? Let's dig into Rachel Swann's Guest Blog.... If you’re a female entrepreneur who worries about popping your photo in your branding or getting out there on video, then you’re...
Work life balance tips for entrepreneurs
Finding a work life balance as an entrepreneur can be hard. Today I am sharing with you a few work life balance tips for entrepreneurs. I sent out an email newsletter over the summer highlighting how I had better balance in my business this year - organised a child...
Introducing your new Canva Certified Creative!
It's Official! I AM SO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THIS! I am now a Canva Certified Creative! Look... I've got a logo an everything! I was approached by Canva last week and it's now official - I am one of their ambassadors - when that email landed in my inbox a couple of...
A simple guide to Canva 2.0
Everybody get excited, Canva 2.0 launched last week and I've created a simple guide to Canva 2.0 for you. I'm going to show you all the new features and how to use them in the FREE version of Canva 2.0. You can also watch the Simple Guide to Canva 2.0 here over on my...
14 Pretty Instagram Feed Ideas For Female Entrepreneurs: to captivate your customers
There are so many ways to make your Instagram feed look, pretty, beautiful and engaging. Today I am covering 14 Pretty Instagram Feed Ideas for Female Entrepreneurs to captivate your customers. Let me take you back. I was ploughing away at Instagram – posting...
The Secret to Surviving Social Media
Social media changes on an almost daily basis. From new features to algorithm changes, not to mention new platforms popping up all the time, it can feel like you’re always having to play catch up. But, with change comes opportunity; if you can learn to embrace the...
Top Tips for choosing colours for your branding
Don't choose branding colours just because you like them... bold statement right?! You need to think about the messages you want to convey and how you want to be perceived and then look at the psychology of colour. Colours are associated with different moods and...
Where does branding sit at the business table?
Where does branding sit at the business table? I've asked myself this several times especially around my own branding. I bloomin love my brand! Yup, this article is sitting here on Vicki Nicolson’s website and it’s totally her magic that has supported the visual...
Why Canva is an essential tool for savvy, social Virtual Assistants
I work with lots of lovely ladies in my business, women with all sorts of fantastic talent and creativity. But if there’s one group of ladies that I’ve seen grow hugely in both capability and reputation over the last few years it’s Virtual Assistants. It’s official;...
My top 10 female entrepreneur business books of 2017
It’s coming up for Christmas and it all feels a little manic on the run up to the big day. So I thought I would do a review of my top 10 female entrepreneur business books that I've read this year. The best part is you still have time to order them in time for the...
Why I decided to offer Premade Branding & Logo Kits
My premade branding and logo kits have been designed with you in mind – it’s literally like a brand in a box and you’ll feel like you’ve been Magically Branded. You’ll be able to download, brand yourself, launch and go! YAY! But why did I decide to offer Premade...
You can’t do it all… why I put my health before my business
My goodness we are in December – can you believe it!?! Where has the year gone? I have almost – almost – not quite – but almost finished my Christmas shopping! As we have a few parcels to send overseas, I have to be organised – although wrapping – THIS - I am not a...
Autumnal branding inspiration
At this time of the year we all need a little hot chocolate as the temperature begins to drop here in the UK, it's a time for change in the season, and it's a time of transformation. We can all do with a little autumnal branding inspiration. Autumn vibes conjure up...
The insider secrets to building your own epic brand (in just 7 easy steps)
Branding your business can be an epic journey, full of creativity, transformation and excitement! But it can also be scary… confusing, even overwhelming. Creating something that represents the very core of who you are is a BIG DEAL. But it doesn’t have to be a scary...
5 tips for impactful imagery and how to make your images stand out
I’m pretty sure whenever you pick an image to use on social media, you want it to be one that will stop people scrolling, scrolling, scrolling and just stand out? You want to wow people so they notice you and your business? You want to stand out and you want to create...
18 Places to Get FREE Styled Stock Photos for Female Entrepreneurs – UPDATED
The updated list January 2019 Do you have website and social media photo envy? Always wondering where everyone gets those gorgeous styled stock from? You know the ones that look feminine, soft, delicate and elegant? You could literally spend hours of your valuable...
Logo Design: How much does a logo cost?
It has to be the most common question I get asked, "How much does a logo cost?". I am really transparent about my Logo Design packages and publish my prices on my website. The benefits of having a good logo are tenfold: It makes you look established, bigger, committed...
16 months, 1 female entrepreneur, 50 lessons learned from my first year in business
Can you believe it? 16 months ago I packed in my desk job and decided to go it my own way and set up my own biz - that'll be easy right?! Little did I know that there would be many, trials, tribulations, jubilations, and lessons learned from my first year in business....
Questions to ask before you rebrand for the new year
Are you looking to give your business a fresh new look this year? Here are questions to ask before you rebrand. So, it's THAT time of year, the beginning, where everyone starts planning, reorganising, refocusing and looking to the new year, setting goals and aiming...
The Practical Planner – Review of Vicky Stanton’s Practical Planner
If you're anything like me then you love all things stationery. I could spend hours and hours lost on the internet swooning over notebooks, pens and planners. I've become a bit of a planner addict to be honest! And boy oh boy have I bought a few! It's all trial and...
Are you building a brand for here and now or a legacy brand?
Are you building a brand for here and now or a legacy brand? Getting really clear about what your brand legacy will be is so important, especially if your goal is to build a long-lasting, outstanding business. Over the last few weeks the 1980s boy band BROS made a...
Branding Your Small business: Your top 9 questions answered
Are you branding your small business? As a branding designer I work with women in business who are all at different stages in their businesses. One thing they all have in common is the need to look unique, look open for business and look professional so that it makes...
5 content creation tools to improve your visual content
I recently posted about a cool app I had found - Lumyer - and it got an amazing response. I want to show you some others that'll quickly help you pull your visual content and marketing together. Lumyer App - Android and iPhone As you know moving images and video get...
How much does it cost to enter a small business award?
So, How much DOES it cost to enter a small business award? You've thought about entering a local business award to get your brand out there and get some brill PR - but have you thought about the cost? You may or may not know that I recently entered myself for an award...
Captivate your customers with epic visual branding
Is your visual branding inspiring your audience? Get it right and you can truly captivate customers with epic visual branding! WHAT PEOPLE SEE MATTERS MORE THAN WHAT YOU TELL THEM DID YOU KNOW? VIEWS INCREASE BY 94% IF YOU USE VISUAL CONTENT AND GRAPHICS. THE BRAIN...
Disney your brand out and add that extra magic
Do you think of your brand as a big or small brand? One like Disney? You can easily Disney your brand out and add that extra magic. I spent last week at Disneyland Paris and boy it was fab! My husband and I visited Florida years ago, before we had our son AJ, and...
What questions I should ask my graphic designer?
I'm listing the top 4 things I get asked often as a graphic designer. Stuff that people have no idea about - the process, how many concepts... if you are contemplating working with a designer right now and about to invest in your business to design your brand be sure...
Even Fishermen are doing it – Corporate Branding that is!
I'm a massive fan of The Deadliest Catch. I've been watching it since it started way back in 2005. I can remember the first series vividly. This series, in 2016, is slightly different though. Things are changing. Of course there are new boats and Captains but what I...
53 sites to grab FREE stock images
I have pulled together 53 sites to grab FREE stock images. PLUS 97 tools and resources to help you manage, share, save and schedule your business. And I'm giving you all of this information for FREE. This document could save you hundreds in royalty fees and stock...
Get to know your brand better
Get to know your brand better by breaking it down... Reputation: What you say and do combine to contribute to your brand reputation, it’s largely intangible. Your reputation is based on what customers think or have an opinion about your services, you and your...
How to create unique business cards that leave a lasting impression
I've been gathering a few prime examples of unique business card design from across the internet. If you want to leave a lasting impression with someone you just met at a networking event then I have 4 simple design ideas for you to add flair, uniqueness...
9 easy ways to increase customer loyalty
9 easy ways to increase customer loyalty How do you keep your customers engaged via email marketing so they don't unsubscribe? It's a great question and all comes down to how you increase customer loyalty. 1. Listen to what they are asking you. Write down the question...
How to stand out, magnetise your brand and supercharge your sales – My guest blog post
When you first started out in business I bet you thought, right, I’ll press my publish button on my Facebook page, launch my site, set up all my different social media accounts and then BOOM I’ll get loads of clients. And as soon as you did all this you got a few...