A website that’s personal shouldn’t get passed around.

When your name is going on something, you need to trust who you’re working with.

Hi, I’m Heidi. You will work with me from our first conversation to launch.

A person with glasses and a ponytail working on a laptop at a desk, with books and documents nearby, and a bookshelf with books and a small plant in the background.

The person you meet is the person you work with.

A glimpse at the lighter side of me.

  • I have an unnatural obsession with icons. And logos.

  • I can drive in the car for hours in silence. Unless my son sends me a song he wrote or produced. Then I listen on repeat.

  • Some people call me “Gaga.” If you’re under age four and related to me, you can call me that, too.

  • My favorite food is pizza. And peanut butter. And popcorn.

  • I love hockey and the Minnesota Wild. Except when they lose.

  • People think I have it all together. They can’t see the inside.

  • I love Jesus. But I’m not always good at loving people. He knows that, but loves me anyway… he can see the inside.

StoryMatters founder, Heidi Zwart

My career path hasn’t been linear.

But turns out, all those different experiences come in handy.

I studied psychology and graphic design in college before finishing a Master’s Degree in Counseling. Eventually, I added certifications in health coaching, CliftonStrengths, and behavior science.

They may feel random, but stories weave them together. I love collecting and telling them.

I don’t love numbers but I’ve tracked a few. I’ve had over 800 coaching conversations, written over 300 published articles, authored 2 books, and designed over 50 websites.

Words bring meaning, understanding, and connection to the stories we tell. And design translates them into something we can see and respond to.

I’m in my “crystallized intelligence” years (read: over 40). That means I’m good at using my accumulated knowledge, education, and experiences to help you.

If you’re still with me, I’d love to hear your story, too.

Tell me the long or short version. It’s up to you.

I’m here to listen.

Decorative black script text spelling 'Heidi' on a transparent background.

I’m driven by belief.

When I see a problem, I feel compelled to fix it. I see life the way it “should” be. These are a few of the should’s that prompted me to start StoryMatters.

Web design shouldn’t involve so many handoffs.

You shouldn’t have to worry about things getting lost along the way.

Illustration of two hands clapping with motion lines indicating the clapping action.

Web design shouldn’t require any DIY.

You shouldn’t have to write the copy or design the site yourself.

Drawing of a person with a stressed expression, surrounded by zigzag lines indicating stress or headache.

Web design shouldn’t take so long.

You shouldn’t have to wait months to get your website out there.

A simple, stylized brown stopwatch showing the time as 11:55.

I’m not just writing the words and handing them off. Or designing what someone else decided. I’m thinking about how your story, structure, words, and design work together from the beginning.

Nothing gets lost along the way.

Why work with one person?

Because everything stays connected.

People want to know the person behind your business, too.

Who they work with matters as much as what they do.

Let them get to know you. Your story, personality, and your point of view. All of these personal elements make a small business memorable.

That’s why people will choose you.

A video call on a computer screen shows two women talking, one with glasses and gray hair, the other with short blonde hair and glasses, both smiling. A laptop screen below displays a website called OverFlow with the question 'Who are you becoming?'. The desk has a potted plant in a woven basket and a candle.

More things you might want to know.

If your question isn’t answered here, connect with me on a call.

Illustration of a woman using a digital tablet, surrounded by design elements like a large mobile phone, sketches, photos, and a drawing tool, representing digital or graphic design.

Let’s put your name on something you’re proud of.

Your new website starts with one conversation.

Tell me about your small business and what you need. We’ll go from there.

No prep. No pressure. Just a conversation.

Heidi Zwart and a client sitting at a table, smiling and engaging in conversation. One woman is holding a mug, and the other has her arms crossed on the table with a notebook and pen in front of her. The background shows a staircase and windows.