Brand Your Light

02/23/2026

As a team member in a company with just a few staff, Sam was responsible for managing their two websites. But websites and design weren't his primary area of expertise.

They booked me for a couple of DesignDays to:

• troubleshoot and clean up back-end, plugins, etc.
• make small design refinements for > a more polished looked
• create an easy-to-maintain events calendar
• streamline the integration between the two related sites

✔️ Visitor experience improved.
✔️ Internal headaches eliminated.

02/16/2026

From a quiet practice to a soul-led brand

Amanda has been a massage therapist for decades. Her DIY site was “good enough” for word-of-mouth clients—but she’s stepping into something bigger.

Now she’s leading grief retreats and workshops, both locally and abroad.

And she needed an online presence that could carry that vision into the world.

She’s nurturing. Present. Intuitive.
And tech was never her happy place.

So here’s what we did:

🌱 Visual identity rooted in nature
We brought the soul of her brand to life through: calming forest tones, golden light, and natural imagery that reflects the inner healing she creates.

✨ A new website designed to guide and hold
→ A homepage that leads visitors to 3 types of services
→ Individual sales pages for each offer
→ A richly detailed retreat landing page (complete with stunning photography)
→ A calendar + booking system that saves time and energy for both Amanda and her clients

PLUS: I provided patient training and guidance in the underlying tech. So she can make basic edits on her own – and become more confident in her ability to navigate digital tools!

✍️ Amanda wrote the content herself—with the help of my guided prompts—so every word feels grounded in her voice and values.

In less than 3 weeks, we transformed her site from “local service provider” to a quietly magnetic online home that gracefully welcomes in a new international audience.

Because the most soulful work deserves a container that feels sacred and also works hard to support the business owner.

02/10/2026

The traditional design agency process was built for corporations or larger organizations with lots of stake holder and decision makers.

It involves:
- mountains of emails
- way to much waiting around for drafts, edits, feedback...
- so deadlines slip
- excitement fizzles

This isn’t anyone’s fault—it’s the system. But it’s just not good enough in today’s fast-paced, entrepreneurial world.

Solopreneurs need – and deserve – a more nimble relationship-based approach. The kind of high-touch, 1:1 service that they offer to their own clients.

Over the years, I've noticed that the most productive, energizing moments in any project happened when I was working directly with my clients—sharing ideas, getting real-time feedback, and making decisions together.

So, I designed my entire process to be faster, more collaborative, and more fun. With 100% of focus and attention on one client at a time.

Boutique meets efficient. 🥂

01/08/2026

After working as a massage therapist for many years, Amanda (owner of Grassroots Wellness in Portland) is expanding into grief-related services ...and is stepping into big new ventures like international retreats!!!

The website I created for her is a whole vibe. (see comments)

After launching it, she was able to confidently show up for a speaking opportunity, knowing that she would be PROUD to share her website with a new audience.

12/17/2025

I didn't plan it this way....

As a starry-eyed, college-bound teenager, I had this weird idea that life would progress in a logical, straight line: A > B > C > D.

(anybody else? 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Of course, that’s NOT at all how it turned out.

20 years later, at a high school reunion with my former Waldorf school classmates, we sat down to talk about what had happened since we last met. And it was a huge epiphany moment:

We all shared a common experience: life was full of unexpected twists and turns.

It hadn’t been a straight line for anybody.

For me, it included…

- Changing majors and careers several times
- Starting a business just few years after college
- And moving across the country to Portland, Oregon, where I knew nobody

But twists and turns aren’t a bad thing.

Many people start businesses precisely *because* life throws a curve ball.

(Mine involved quitting an uninspiring job where my enthusiasm had turned to apathy, putting me at risk of being fired.)

And if you’ve been in business more than 5 minutes… you *know* the curve balls keep right on coming! My own business, founded in 2003, has shape-shifted several times.

What’s your story?
- What twists and turns led you to start your business?

07/08/2025

Is that your first thought whenever I talk about "your magic"?

(...AKA "secret sauce" AKA "competitive advantage")

Well, you are NOT alone!

This self-doubt comes up for a lot of people in business ( me included) when we try to name what makes us special. And it's a particularly common struggle for those humble, hardworking women who are more focused on serving than bragging.

Let me give you an example.

One day last winter, I was on a Zoom call with Sue, sharing what I had discovered about her. I described her role in the world as a sage, an understated (but deeply wise) woman who brings the fruits of knowledge to others. Sue’s pretty humble, so even though she nodded and agreed with me, she also looked a bit stunned as she heard me describe her true power, magic – and felt the responsibility to fully step into that role. Dang! (Sometimes I adore my job.)

I see it over and over again when I work with clients in my Brand Strategy Intensives – or guide them in writing copy for their websites.

Sometimes, it’s just hard to recognize your own brilliance. Your magic is often something that comes so naturally to you that you don’t really consider it a big deal.

(But guess what? – the REST OF US see that quality or skill as pretty amazing!)

Here are a few ways to enlist others to help shift your perspective:

👉 Talk to a few trusted friends and colleagues. While you might not see what’s amazing about you, it’s usually beyond obvious to people who know you well!

👉 Ask some of your favorite clients to describe why they chose you, or what they loved about working with you.

👉 Work with a coach or brand strategist

Want some 1:1 help with this?
Drop a comment, or DM me and let's explore what would help you most right now!

04/12/2025

“I'd been saying "I need a new website" for oh, about 6 years now.” — Said my lovely client Kim Ravida. — “And guess what? Thanks to the amazing Angelica Hesse of Brand Your Light, I've got one.

Angelica is knowledgeable, fun and easy to work with. All things I value when I look to work with someone for my business needs.

The best part is she delivers exceptional work in such a short time. In less than a week my website was ready! She also helped me set up my brand new lead magnet, 3 Keys to Effectively Pricing Your Services (I'll put a link in the comments) and worked with me on the backend pieces I didn't know how to do.

I have some pretty amazing new logos, colors, fonts and a beautiful feel. Come check it out (www.kimravida.com)!”

04/10/2025

I frequently hear business owners say that their website “needs some work” … They know how important their website is, but, many are unsure exactly what to focus on to transform it into a truly effective business tool.

If this sounds like you…

My 1:1 Website Audit is the perfect solution. During a 60-minute Zoom session, we’ll review your site to make sure it’s doing everything it should be. And/or make a plan for improvement!

You’ll get:

• review of branding, design, and content flow
• recommendations for better conversion
• check links on up to 3 pages
• test any integrations

Available this month for ✨ONLY $77✨ (Normally $197)

Comment “AUDIT” and I’ll send you more info.
… or drop your questions.

04/01/2025

People often ask me: "Where do you get our logo ideas?"

Honestly, it depends. Sometimes the client has an idea. Sometimes it’s a tedious process of experimentation.

And sometimes it appears like a ⚡️ bolt of lightening. ⚡️

When I was working on Heather's logo, the goal was to capturing her belief in the transformative power of education.

During our strategy session, she kept saying "education opens doors." And that phrase really stuck with me.

In a flash of insight, I knew what we needed to do for her logo. I quickly sketched a few ideas on paper, snapped a photo with my phone, and texted it over to get her reaction.

Heather immediately lit up: "I love it! 😍"

Here’s the whole story ⤵

Have you ever felt like your business’s online presence just doesn’t reflect the quality of your work? (Maybe your site is cluttered with outdated fonts, inconsistent colors, or too much text that overwhelms visitors instead of inviting them in?) You’re proud of the results you deliver, but yo...

03/29/2025

Is your website a powerful attraction tool for your business? Or is it LOSING you leads 😬 due to broken links, ineffective visuals/structure, or uninspiring content?

30-Minute 1:1 Website Audit
with Angelica / Brand Your Light.

Usually $97, now ONLY $35.

Comment AUDIT and I’ll send you the link.