Strategy First, Creativity Second: A Lesson in Branding from Brittany Dewberry
Working in marketing has shown me that every business owner knows they need marketing, but few understand what it actually requires.
This week on The Chaotic Middle, I sat down with Brittany Dewberry, co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Brite Brand Studio. Brittany and her business partner, also named Brittany, help small businesses build cohesive brand and marketing foundations rooted in strategy first, creativity second.
I absolutely loved this conversation and think it’s a must-listen (or must-read!) for any small business owner.
A Story That Started With a Layoff
Brittany and her co-founder met working together at a financial firm about ten years ago. One handled marketing and operations. The other focused on design and creative work. Together, they made an incredible team and had a great time building ideas together.
Brittany G., a serial entrepreneur, kept pitching Brittany on starting a business together. Brittany hesitated. Did she really want to give up the structure and security of a traditional job?
After working at the company for 11 years, she was unexpectedly laid off – the day after her IVF implantation.
"I called up Brittany G. and she was like, 'Well, let's do our business.' And I was like, 'All right, let's do it. It's time.'"
It ended up working out perfectly. Brittany was able to take time off as needed during her fertility journey, while the business grew from a part-time venture into a full-time one in just a few years.
Why Strategy Has to Come First
Brite Brand Studio works primarily with women-led small businesses. Most of them have relied on networking and referrals, but are not ready to generate clients through intentional marketing.
The problem they have, though, is that they know they need to show up online, but they don’t know how. Brittany and Brittany G. jump in to explain the sequences and strategies that make marketing work.
"There is a priorities list there of what needs to be done first, what's most important, what drives more immediate revenue, what drives long-term growth."
Brittany built her signature framework from what she learned during her certification program at Northwestern University and from her experience. She starts by building client personas and value propositions, while also doing competitor research to find gaps her clients can fill.
Armed with her expert foundation, the Brite Brand team moves into other pieces of the marketing strategy, like brand story, client journey, and marketing funnels.
"You don't know what you don't know."
That phrase came up more than once – and for good reason. Brittany has seen time and time again that a lot of business owners reach out for a new website without realizing they're missing messaging, brand guidelines, or a color palette.
After a little time with Brittany and Brittany G. and a Shine BRITE Strategy Session, those business owners are set up for success with a clear path forward.
The Real Cost of Skipping the Foundation
Just like a house, a website needs to be build on a strong foundation. That’s why the Brite Brand process runs through three phases.
Branding comes first.
Building the website comes second.
Visibility, which covers marketing strategy and email systems, comes third.
Every client starts at phase one, with four ninety-minute sessions when Brite Brand works collaboratively with their clients to establish that strong branding foundation every sustainable business needs.
AI, Templates, and Standing Out From Everyone Else
Brittany uses AI regularly but doesn't fully trust it. She estimates that ninety-five percent of the time, AI-generated content needs significant editing before it's usable.
"It's come to a point where I go to a website and I'm like, they wrote this on GPT. It's such a turnoff now."
The copy isn’t the only thing that makes a difference. There are other things to consider, like which website builder you choose. I always love to hear designers’ opinions on this particular question, so I loved that Brittany is quick to say every platform has tradeoffs. Though Brite Brand has moved away from WordPress and onto Show It, Brittany is strong in her decision that the website builder doesn’t make or break a website.
If you want to make your business memorable instead of forgettable, the heaviest lift falls on the photography, the brand story, and the details. A great brand story will stand out, regardless of whether it was built on WordPress or Squarespace.
"There's a lot of ways to differentiate yourself. You just don't want to look like everyone else."
Redefining What a Mom-Owned Business Looks Like
Brittany is also happy to push back on the outdated image many people still have of mom-owned businesses. When you thought of mom-owned businesses, the idea of Mary Kay or an Etsy shop typically come to mind.
While those are still viable options for some people, it’s no longer the only option for moms who are looking for something different.
"There's a whole new bunch of us that are out here that have been in the workforce for a decade. We've honed our skills, and we want to continue doing that."
She sees this as a shift toward professional, ambitious moms building service-based businesses that fit their lives instead of building businesses that consume them or working in offices that don’t quite fit.
Answering the Chaotic Questions
At the end of every episode, I ask each guest the same three questions. Here's how Brittany answered.
If you could go back and talk to your 2005 self, what would you tell her?
I recently heard of a quote that I really liked and it was life doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. I think everybody's life is just like full of unexpected challenges and hard times, especially as we get older. I would say all that hard stuff, it's gonna happen. It's gonna come. But just just keep pushing through and the perseverance is what makes life beautiful and deeper.
A new mom comes to you for advice. What's the first thing you tell her?
First of all, you are amazing. No matter what you're doing. Also, parenting is really hard. There's no doubt about it. And then I would tell her to just spill it out. Tell me everything. Let it out. I think we all need to just talk and be real with each other. It helps so much to do that and to know that other people are feeling that stuff, too. People used to really keep things locked up and just put on a smile and it's just not good for anyone.
What do you hope your daughter remembers from this time period?
I really want her to just remember all the time that we got to spend together. I feel so so lucky that I've been able to work part-time this far. I can spend more time with her and just find joy in every moment of life.
Where to Find Brittany
You can connect with Brittany by reaching out to her via her website, or following along with BRITEBrand on Instagram and Threads.
More Business Stories Like This
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