200: Evolve Your Business Without Losing Your Brand Identity with Sarah Erickson

The Laylee Emadi Podcast — For Speakers, Coaches, and Course Creators

If you’ve ever felt torn between keeping your brand consistent and evolving it to reflect your growth, you’re not alone—and you’re definitely in good company.

I’ve been there. After six years of podcasting under the name So Here’s the Thing, I realized the show—and honestly, I—had evolved. The audience had changed. The conversations had changed. And while I had grown in a big way, the branding hadn’t caught up yet.

So I brought in someone who has helped me grow every visual part of my business since the very beginning—Sarah Erickson of Sarah Ann Design. In the first guest episode of The Laylee Emadi Podcast, Sarah and I had a raw, honest conversation about how to rebrand without reinventing the wheel.

Here’s what I learned from that process, and what you might want to consider if your brand no longer feels like “you.”

When a Rebrand Is Worth It

As a creative entrepreneur, it’s easy to get swept up in new ideas—and let’s be real, sometimes we want to completely burn things down and start fresh. But Sarah reminded me that consistency is powerful. People recognize a consistent brand.

Still, if what you’re doing and who you’re serving no longer align with the look and feel of your brand, it’s worth exploring a refresh. For me, that meant finally embracing a podcast name that reflects the person behind the mic: me. The Laylee Emadi Podcast felt scary at first, but it also felt right.

You Don’t Have to Start From Scratch with a Brand Refresh

One of the best things Sarah helped me realize is that a rebrand doesn’t have to mean throwing out everything you’ve built. We kept my core fonts and simply updated how we used them. My brand photography evolved (shout out to Angelica Marie Photography!), and we adjusted my color palette just enough to feel fresh without losing the identity I’ve built over time.

The goal wasn’t to create something totally new. It was to bring my podcast brand into alignment with the rest of my business.

Consistency Isn’t Boring—It’s a Brand Strategy

If you’ve got multiple offers under your business—maybe a podcast, a course, a conference—keeping things visually aligned can feel like a full-time job. Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Stick to your brand fonts and colors, even in Canva templates.
• You don’t need to reuse the same logo or layout everywhere, but find one or two elements that tie it all together.
• Think of your sub-brands like siblings—not twins, but definitely related.

You’re Allowed to Love Your Brand

Here’s something I didn’t expect from this process: joy. Yes, rebranding can be strategic, but it can also be personal. This rebrand helped me feel connected to my work again. And Sarah reminded me—sometimes, that’s reason enough.

So if you’re wondering whether it’s time to evolve your brand, ask yourself:

• Does it still reflect who I am and who I serve?
• Am I proud to share it?
• Does it bring me energy—or make me want to avoid marketing altogether?

If your business has evolved and your brand hasn’t caught up yet, know that you’re not alone. And know that you don’t have to go through it blind.

Bring in people you trust. Ask for professional input. Don’t be afraid to take up space. Rebranding doesn’t mean starting over—it means stepping into alignment.

Mentioned in this Episode:

sarahanndesign.co

Instagram: @sarahann_design

Pinterest: @sarahanndesign

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