Coaching & creative services in one place

You can build a great business and stay sane doing it. Get the design, words, and strategy your small business needs in one seamless experience.

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Web Designer | Copywriter | Strategist | Author

Part coach.
Part creative.

Hi, I’m Heidi Zwart, founder of StoryMatters.

A decades-long entrepreneur, I spent hundreds of hours figuring out marketing on my own.

With StoryMatters, I created a way for you to get the design, words, and strategy your small business needs in one seamless experience — so can say goodbye to the stress and second-guessing of DIY like I did.

With a master’s in counseling, decades of coaching experience, and hundreds of published articles (and two books), I know how to write and design for people. You can expect a fast, fun, and highly relational experience.

And you preserve your time and sanity, because running a business alone is hard.

Make a great impression with a website you’re proud to share — without the stress and second-guessing of doing it yourself. 

start your project →
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Why Small Business Owners Choose StoryMatters

Make a great impression with a website you’re proud to share — without the stress and second-guessing of doing it yourself. 

“From start to finish Heidi put me at ease working through what can be a bit overwhelming when just starting a business. It really encompassed who I am at my core.  She not only created a beautiful, functional, and personal logo and website for me but inspired and encouraged me along the way.”

— Lindsey Book | Lindsey Book Real Estate, Keller Williams Select

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Why work with a person instead of relying on AI?

Your small business is personal and your brand should be, too. Why look or sound like everyone else?

An experienced coach and creative uncovers your:

  • Story and strengths — and makes it feel like you

  • Authentic voice — and infuses it with your personality

  • Client’s struggles — and brings years of professional insight

  • Expertise – and blends it with empathy

  • Custom look – and makes it feel fresh

Your work and reputation is too important to leave in the hands of AI.

Say goodbye to generic copy and design with a website that looks and sounds exactly like you.

start your project →
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Still wondering if we’re a good fit?

StoryMatters partners with small business owners who are launching a new business or are ready to infuse new life into their existing brand.

The StoryMatters Approach to Branding & Website Design

  • Built on strategy. The StoryBrand framework positions your customer as the hero and your business as their trusted guide.

  • Built on personalized copy. Your message looks and sounds like you, not everyone else.

  • Built on connection. Every interaction is relational, warm, and personal.

  • Built on values. We’re here to serve your mission and purpose-driven venture.

  • Built on small businesses. Expect professional results without the complexity or cost of most agencies.

  • Built on simplicity. Design and structure that’s easy for visitors to understand you and easy for you to manage.

  • Built to grow. Modular site structure makes adding new features seamless and cost-effective.

Think we’re a good fit?

If you don’t have a brand or your current one feels disjointed, let’s talk!

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We’re BIG fans of small businesses

  • Christa Foss Real Estate Homepage Design & Copy

    Christa Foss Real Estate

  • Affinity Tax Website Design Package

    Affinity Tax

  • Covey Events

  • Lindsey Book Real Estate

  • Overflow Enneagram Coaching's homepage featuring custom design and copy

    Overflow Enneagram

  • Foss Media

  • Laurie Healy

  • Track, a financial advisors, website design and Storybranded copy

    Track

  • Citizens Against Sex Trafficking (C.A.S.T) a mission oriented nonprofit's website design and copy editing

    Citizens Against Sex Trafficking (C.A.S.T)

  • Covered with Christ, a Christian nonprofit, website design and Storybranded copy

    Covered with Christ

  • Landing page for Kristen Blake Wellness Heal from Within program

    Kristen Blake Wellness

  • The Reteat Space, a mission-driven retreat space, website design and Storybrand copy

    The Retreat Space

  • Cashability

  • Intero Tax

  • Wendy Woodbury Homes

  • Kyle Zwart Media

FAQ’s about working with StoryMatters

  • We work with small business service providers — not e-commerce or large-scale businesses.

    Some of our best fit clients are:

    • Realtors

    • Financial professionals

    • Creatives

    • Home service providers

    • Coaches & consultants

    If you’re a relationship-driven small business owner that who loves to serve people, let’s talk!

  • 1 - 4 page websites are perfect if you are primarily a word of mouth or referral business. These kind of sites are a good fit for:

    • Realtors

    • Photographers & Videographers

    • Musicians

    • Financial professionals

    • Home service pros

    If you need or want advanced SEO, we may not be the right fit.

  • Absolutely! We’ve designed dozens of sites for happy clients in a single day.

    Here’s how it works:

    Useour simple Prep Guide to provide info and gather text, photos, and preferences about your design.

    Then, we meet for a 60-90 minute Review + Copy Session to capture your website copy.

    Your Design Day includes 3 meetings about 45 minutes each, with live edits.

    Typical Schedule (shorter for 1-page sites):

    • 9am: Review your homepage and set the direction of interior pages

    • 12pm: Review progress and edits

    • 3pm: Final edits and site handoff

    Your site is ready to launch when you are!

  • With 30 years of coaching experience, I quickly capture the essence of your brand and turn your words into clear, concise copy. Discover our website copywriting packages and how we craft compelling content that resonates with your audience.

    If you’re not familiar with StoryBrand, that’s okay. We guide you through it in our call!

  • The visual design is beautiful and it’s easy for you to make edits once your build is complete.

    If you have a site on another platform or on an older version of Squarespace, we’d be happy to upgrade, refresh, or redesign your site from scratch.

    See which of our perfectly-sized website packages is a fit for your business.

  • StoryBrand is proven marketing framework developed by Donald Miller that helps businesses clarify their message by using principles of storytelling to connect with their audience.

    The core idea is to position the customer as the hero of a story and the business as their guide. StoryBrand aims to simplify and clarify a company’s messaging, so people immediately understand how the business can solve their problems and improve their lives.

    Here are the seven key steps in the StoryBrand framework:

    1. A Character – The story begins with a hero, who is the customer, not the brand. This step defines the target customer and clarifies what they want or need.

    2. Has a Problem – Every hero faces a challenge or problem. StoryBrand categorizes these into external (practical), internal (emotional), and philosophical (value-driven) problems that the brand’s product or service addresses.

    3. Meets a Guide – In this narrative, the business becomes the guide who understands the customer’s problem and can help them succeed. The guide demonstrates empathy and authority to build trust with the hero.

    4. Who Gives Them a Plan – The guide offers a clear, simple plan to help the hero achieve their goal or overcome the problem. This could be a step-by-step process, a checklist, or a road map.

    5. Calls Them to Action – This involves motivating the hero to take the next step, which could be purchasing a product, scheduling a call, or signing up for a newsletter. A strong call to action is critical for guiding customers forward.

    6. Helps Them Avoid Failure – StoryBrand emphasizes the stakes by clarifying what negative outcomes the customer can avoid by using the product or service, underscoring the consequences of inaction.

    7. Ends in Success – Finally, the story concludes with a clear picture of the success the customer will experience if they choose to engage with the brand. This helps customers envision how the product or service will improve their lives.

  • Yes! Don’t let budget concerns stop you from reaching out—we’re here to help. Contact us to discuss how we can create a stunning website for your nonprofit or ministry.

  • StoryMatters is based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, but we work with clients across the country. Get started with a free consultation to see how we can help your business thrive online, no matter where you’re located. Skol! 🏈

Don’t leave your reputation to AI.

If you’re struggling to deliver more than generic messaging, StoryMatters will help you build an authentic brand you (and your clients) will love.

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