Yesterday, I had a blitz session with my designer to finalize the brand guidelines for this blog.
Some entrepreneurial types might say, Who cares what it looks like? Just focus on the work. I get where that mindset comes from, but I completely disagree.
A project needs to look at least decent from day one.
This has paid off for me time and time again:
- Good UI = higher conversion rate
- Good UX = repeat customers
- A well-designed deck = better chances of securing investment
- A polished resume = standing out from hundreds of applicants
- etc.
It’s not about perfection or wasting time tweaking fonts for weeks—it’s about instant credibility. If something looks good and feels professional, people will trust it more.
The Case for Quick, Effective Branding
Now, does that mean you should spend a month designing a brand before launching? Absolutely not.
But if you work with a talented designer, you can get everything done in 1-3 days. A simple, coherent, professional brand. Done.
- No endless revisions.
- No second-guessing colors.
- No wasting time tweaking things that don’t matter.
And here’s the other reason I always hire a designer:
If I do it myself, I’ll overthink everything.
I’ve been down that road before. You tweak, you change, you rework—next thing you know, you’re three weeks in and still not happy with it.
Hiring a pro cuts useless decision fatigue. I give them a clear brief, they execute, and we move on.
Setting Up a Mailing List
Today, during lunch and after work, I integrated an email opt-in for this site.
It’s a privately hosted solution—similar to MailChimp or Klaviyo—but at a fraction of the price. All emails are sent via Amazon SES, which means delivery rates are basically on par with the big platforms.
I didn’t just set this up for the blog—I’ll be able to use it across all my eCommerce projects. One install, multiple uses.
The Power of Email (And Why You Need a List)
I’ve been in eCommerce and marketing for over a decade, and if there’s one thing I’ve seen consistently deliver results, it’s email.
Why?
- Social media reach is unreliable – Algorithms change, platforms die, ads get more expensive.
- SEO is slow – Organic traffic takes time to build and is never guaranteed.
- Ads cost money every time – Email? You pay once for the lead and can reach them forever.
When you have an email list, you have a direct line to your audience. No middleman, no gatekeepers.
That’s why I always set up email early in any project. Even if traffic is low now, it builds over time, and when the moment comes to push something big, having a list makes all the difference.
What’s Next?
- Final opt-in module styling tomorrow
- Brand guidelines for the SAAS project on Friday
- Aiming at deploying the SAAS MVP on Monday.
BTW, hopefully, you’ll sign up. I wouldn’t want you to miss a beat.
Talk tomorrow.
