Rebrand This September?

September often brings a crisp urge to start over — new projects, new energy, new identity. Before you scrap everything, ask whether a rebrand will actually advance your work or just give you something to tinker with instead of pitching and shipping.

Ask why you want to change

Start by testing your motive. Are you chasing a new direction because your practice has genuinely shifted, or are you fleeing boredom, slow months or the fear of outreach? As Samantha Garner puts it: "The New Pencil Case Energy is always so strong!" If the answer is the latter, a full rebrand is likely a distraction.

Small moves beat dramatic overhauls

If you do have a solid reason to evolve — new skills, a different audience, or rushed early branding — you don’t have to tear everything down. Treat a relaunch like a renovation:

• Rewrite your bio and test it in pitches and profiles.
• Refresh visuals or typography rather than changing your name or core messaging.
• Introduce new work publicly but alongside your existing output until you can assess response.

Experiment before you commit

Try a low-risk route: run a parallel project under a pseudonym or separate label. That lets you test tone, audience and demand without risking current clients or followers. If the new direction gains traction after a set trial period, scale it up; if not, you’ve learned without burning bridges.

Practical checklist

• Identify one concrete problem the rebrand solves (clear audience, legal reason, major pivot).
• Set a three-month trial for new work and track feedback and leads.
• Communicate changes gradually to existing clients so you don’t lose the person who’s about to hire you.

There’s risk either way: staying put can stall momentum; changing can lose familiar fans. The smart option is a deliberate, measured approach — refresh first, rebrand later if the data and your own enthusiasm line up.