There was a moment this year where quitting felt not just tempting, but responsible. Not dramatic quitting.Not the kind you announce.The quiet kind… where your body is tired before your mind can catch up, and you start wondering if stepping away might actually be the most faithful choice you can make. I’ve been building Studio […]

Every winter, while the rest of the world sprints to the finish line, we do something that makes other business owners look at me like I’ve lost it. We close. Fully. The whole agency. For two weeks. No inbox.No Slack.No quick requests. I used to think that kind of pause was irresponsible as a small […]

Let me be the one to say it:If you don’t have email automations running in the background of your business, you’re working way too hard for way too little return. Email is still one of the highest-converting sales channels—higher than IG, TikTok, and paid ads combined. But here’s the secret most small business owners miss: […]

Every December, business owners sprint to the finish line.Final invoices. Holiday promos. Wrapping client projects with a bow.And then—finally—you log off, pour the nog, and promise yourself you won’t open your laptop again until January. But before you shut down for the year, there’s one thing you have to do. And no, it’s not revenue […]

This year stretched me, grounded me, and grew me in ways I didn’t see coming. Some decisions felt like jumping off a cliff and hoping a parachute would appear. Others felt like the quiet, steady kind of brave—choosing the long game over the quick win. But all of them, in their own ways, made SWDC […]

Every December, our feeds explode with Spotify Wrapped: the stats, the surprises, the questionable-but-relatable top artists. And somewhere along the way, business owners started doing their own version — revenue Wrapped, client Wrapped, “look how far we’ve come” Wrapped. So this year, we decided to join in…but in the most Studio West way possible. No […]

The end of the year always sneaks up on business owners — and suddenly we’re all staring down Q4 wondering: “Is my business actually set up for the growth I want next year?” Here’s the truth:You don’t need a full rebrand, a new website, or a complete overhaul to prepare for 2026.You just need a […]

We love a fall vibe as much as anyone.The cozy sweaters. The “just one more latte” energy. The burnt-orange everything. But here’s the truth: If your business isn’t converting right now, swapping your brand colors to cinnamon tones and adding “cozy girl” to your bio isn’t going to fix it. That’s just pouring pumpkin spice […]

Let’s set the scene: it’s Thanksgiving weekend. Everyone’s inbox is screaming “FINAL HOURS!” and “BIGGEST SALE EVER!” while brands you forgot existed are suddenly begging for your attention (and your cart). Meanwhile, at Studio West?We (and our clients) are powering down our ads, sipping leftover cider, and not participating in the madness. Here’s why this […]

You’ve made it through launches, deadlines, algorithms, and the caffeine-fueled chaos of another year in business. Congrats, partner… you did it. But before you ride off into the holiday sunset, let’s talk about something that also deserves a little end-of-year love: your website. Because while you’re thinking about gifts for your clients, your family, your […]