Coaching & creative services in one place.
Get a perfectly-sized website with a relationship-focused approach. When your business is about people, your website should be, too.
Web Designer | Copywriter | Coach | Author
Part coach, part creative.
As the founder of StoryMatters Creative, Heidi Zwart brings a unique blend of relational and design skills to every project.
With a master’s degree in counseling and decades of coaching experience, she understands people and knows how to connect with them online and in person. Her warmth, communication skills, and humor make the web design experience fast and fun.
Heidi is known for her ability to quickly capture the one-of-a-kind voice and tone of small businesses. With her eye for design and attention to detail, she delivers eye-catching websites with relationship-driven copy in as little as one day.
An avid writer, Heidi has written two books, a six-month daily email devotional, and over 300 hundred articles and blogs. She loves home improvement projects, travel planning, and every moment she spends with her growing family.
We love these small business owners who are part of the extended StoryMatters team.
We are small business champions.
Every small business needs a website — but most don’t need a big one.
StoryMatters is committed to designing small business websites that are the right combination of strategy, copywriting, and design at a fair price. No more. No less.
Most small businesses only need a 1-4 page website. And with our simple, stress-free design experience you can be up and running in as little as one day. We’re fast and we’re perfectionists (yep, it’s a thing).
Built exclusively on Squarespace, your site can be easily self-managed. Or you can come back to us when it’s time to add a page or two.
Ready to get your perfectly-sized site?
Here’s what one of our clients had to say.
“From start to finish Heidi put me at ease working through what can be a bit overwhelming when just starting a business. I really appreciated the method she used which felt personal. 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
Wondering if we’re a good fit?
StoryMatters partners with small business owners who want just the right sized website. Some are launching a new business while others are ready to refresh their existing site.
The StoryMatter Approach to Web 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 will look and sound like you, not everyone else.
Built on connection. Every interaction will be relational, warm, and personal — including your website.
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. Clean design and structure makes it easy for visitors and simple for you to manage.
Built to grow. Modular site structure makes adding new features seamless and cost-effective.
Think we’re a fit?
Take the first step with a FREE 30-minute call.
We’re BIG fans of small businesses
FAQ’s about working with StoryMatters
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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! 🏈
Ready to see your perfectly-sized website come to life?
Get started with a free 30-minute call.