If you run a small business, you know how tough it can be to manage all the little details when you’re creating or refining your brand.
Sometimes, making your brand unique can feel more like checking items off a list than expressing your passion. You’ve got to build a website, keep up with social media, make marketing materials, and make sure everything looks and feels consistent. And you’ve still got to serve your existing customers and find new ones!
But even though you’re the best person to bring your brand to life, it can be helpful to get guidance from professionals when it comes to strategy, design, and execution.
That’s where Shaina Nacion comes in. She’s the CEO of Shaina Nacion Design Studio. Shaina knows that a brand is more than just a bunch of things to check off a list. She’s spent years helping small businesses create confident, clear, and authentic brands.
We got to chat with Shaina about her studio, what it stands for, and how she uses ClickUp to help business owners create sustainable brand strategies and assets.
Tell us about Shaina Nacion Design!
Shaina Nacion Design is a studio that designs brands and websites for small businesses that offer services.
Our goal is to celebrate passion and purpose by transforming small businesses and empowering other designers. We believe that the more we can help people embrace who they are and make a difference, the more we can serve and inspire those around us. In simple terms, we love helping you share what you’re passionate about.
As an online business run by a female, mixed-race, introverted, demisexual CEO, Shaina Nacion Design is all about encouraging others to be themselves and tell their story in an authentic way.
What’s your favourite ClickUp feature?
I love all the features ClickUp offers, but right now my favourite is the ability to time block my days using the new Home section with the integrated calendar.
I use the new Home section every day to plan my time and stay focused. I’ve tried different methods of time blocking before, but this one works best for me.
Every morning, I check for tasks that are due that day and drag them onto my calendar. Then, I can move things around, delegate tasks, reschedule, or give myself more time if I need it. Now, instead of feeling overwhelmed, I know exactly what I need to do each day.
What tools do you integrate with ClickUp?
I’ve integrated a lot of my Google Workspace tools with ClickUp. The two-way syncing between ClickUp and my Google Calendar is a lifesaver. It helps me organise my day by showing all my ClickUp tasks alongside my client and internal meetings.
The ClickUp Gmail Integration is also really useful! It lets me create workflows and automations that fit my studio’s processes. We’ve saved a lot of time by building our sales pipeline directly in ClickUp.
Now, my assistant can email clients directly from ClickUp depending on what stage of onboarding they’re in! No more switching between proposals, CRM software, project management software, and email.
And being able to embed Google Sheets, Docs, and Drives into ClickUp makes it easier to keep all my work in one place. I spend a lot less time searching for things.
How does ClickUp help your company grow?
Since last winter, we’ve been busier than ever. We’ve tripled our revenue and gone from a team of one to a team of five.
Before, we used Asana to try to stay organised. But when my assistant introduced me to ClickUp last Thanksgiving, I knew it would change everything. I set up our entire system that weekend and haven’t looked back.
Now, we use ClickUp to organise everything in our studio, from client projects to internal operations, team training, and content creation. We use Custom Fields to tailor its functionality, and we design workflows for every part of our business.
How much time do you save each week using ClickUp?
It’s hard to say exactly, but I’d guess my team and I save at least 7 hours a week!
What do you do with that extra time?
We’ve been able to scale more efficiently and collaborate more effectively.
Instead of being booked up with 3 or 4 projects, we can now handle up to 10 projects at a time.
How has ClickUp improved your work and life?
The biggest improvement is my peace of mind as a CEO. I know what our priorities and goals are, what my team is working on, and how close we are to meeting milestones, both for our clients and for growing the business.
Using ClickUp allows me to compartmentalise my work and not spend time worrying about whether I’m forgetting something important.
What advice do you have for others who want to be more productive?
Before you start using ClickUp, make sure you have an outline of all your processes.
When you know what tasks need to happen to keep your business running, setting up ClickUp becomes empowering instead of overwhelming. Platforms like ClickUp are tools; you can either use them to your advantage or let them overwhelm you.
If you’re struggling, talk to someone who’s done what you’re trying to do. Learn from their experience so you don’t have to go through the learning curve alone.
Kodah appreciates ClickUp’s clean and clutter-free interface, promoting focused work without distractions.
Ready to take your ClickUp journey to the next level? Look no further. Kodah offers the expertise you need to get started and make the most out of this powerful productivity tool. Contact us today to learn more and embark on a seamless ClickUp experience!