About Lotus Live Design Creative
“Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.” — Albert Einstein
The Story
I’m Anna Trueman, long time Marin County and San Francisco Bay Area Squarespace expert website and branding designer, marketing pro, business development coach, and graphic artist. Lotus Live Design Creative Studio, evolved from Lotus Live Design & Social Media, which I started in 2010.
I design and developed custom websites with advanced features in Wordpress, Shopify, Webflow, and Wix Studio. But my favorite website platform is currently Squarespace because it offers the best in many aspects of website design: excellent integrated features & SEO, cybersecurity, ease of use for clients, with lower costs.
I’ve built a reputation as a Squarespace expert, designing and developing custom websites that have advanced features beyond those available in the Squarespace platform. I also design websites using Wordpress, Shopify, And Wix Studio.
A graphic and web designer since 1997, after the Dot Com Crash I pivoted into working as an independent mortgage broker for 8 years. I quickly built a successful business as a licensed mortgage broker from start-up until the mortgage industry was decimated during the global financial crisis and recession that began in 2008. Part of the reason I was successful was my ability to build a personal brand and a unique website, plus blog writing for my targeted demographic, strategic marketing, and my passion for helping people. This was not the first business I built from a startup either! In fact, I’ve managed businesses since I was 18 years old.
Lotus Live Design &
Social Media is Born
Lotus Live Design was born in January of 2010, with an initial focus on social media management, content creation, and marketing. As my family of clients grew, they asked for (and needed) custom web design, branding and more. Organic growth of my company happened naturally as in response to client needs for affordable custom websites, branding and marketing that could effectively grow their businesses.
I have paid almost zero in online advertising, growing my businesses entirely organically. My social media presence is intentionally minimal because I get steady client referrals from happy clients and other designers. I work closely with clients and usually do every aspect of their projects myself. If I need additional help, I am a founding member of a large online community of expert designers and am also a Squarespace Gold Circle Member professionally recognized website designer.
Instead of pouring my energy and money into self promotion, I pour it into my clients and their projects. This method of working saves my clients a lot of money, and their results are better. Win-Win!
What is Live Design?
My method of doing design work live, collaborating with clients, is what I’ve call ‘live design’. ‘Live Design’ sessions are optional. During live design sessions I work together with clients in an in-person, or Zoom, meeting during which I collaboratively design portions of their website design live. Sometimes I’m working with a business owner, sometimes with staff, and sometimes both.
While I’m doing this, I’m also tutoring clients about ways to integrate their marketing, easily create email and ad campaigns, manage interactive appointment systems, post blogs to social media with a few clicks, and more. I even record these sessions if my clients like, so they have tutorials ro refer back to later.
Clients love this collaborative method of creating their website designs, the tutoring they gain at the same time, and the synergy that transforms growing their business into an exciting, inspired, and even joyful experience. It also shaves off a lot in costs.
Expanding to Lotus Live Design Creative Agency
Over the years, Lotus Live Design clients needed deeper and more advanced guidance regarding how to develop their brands and online businesses’ success. They needed more sophisticated, advanced website features and integrations, plus custom online systems and operations development. Voila! Lotus Live Design expanded into Lotus Live Design Creative Studio, offering a more expansive array services. You can check out all the design project options that I offer here.
I actively engage in continuous study of the latest design, coding development, marketing, SEO, and branding methods trends… and LOVE working for my clients. And love is a powerful force.
Education
I studied architecture and earned my BA with a focus in graphic design from California College of the Arts in San Francisco, followed by masters education in transpersonal psychology at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, now renamed Sofie University. I am a graduate of the Master of Intuition Medicine® Certification program from the Academy of Intuiton Medicine®. In addition to my design career, I’ve been a counselor, plus a student and practitioner of holistic energy medicine. My studies include Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness practices, psychology, the quantum science of energy medicine, and much more.
Images in this website show the natural beauty of Marin County, in the San Francisco Bay Area, the location of my design studio. I’m known for designing uniquely beautiful websites, branding, marketing, ads and more using mindful, intuitively inspired methods. The natural beauty here inspires me and I bring this inspiration to my work for my clients
I am grateful to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and love Livng in Marin County!
Business Development &
Management Background
Before my education and work as a designer, I worked in business management. Part of my business management training came from being a successful fitness instructor, owning a fitness center with a staff of 20 people plus, teaching large classes in dance aerobics, teaching weight training and nutrition, and serving as an occasional fitness article writer for the Lexington Herald Leader.
Owning and managing, fitness centers from a young age (my own and others before that) gave me experience in project management, organic marketing, brand growth methods, advertising content creation, and business development. It seems I have a knack for growing businesses. The fitness center I opened in 1990 and built from a start up in Lexington KY, is still in business today.
I developed an array of skills that grew these businesses more quickly, and to higher revenue levels, than is typical. By developing display ad campaigns, mail based marketing systems, successful promotions, and ads for newspapers, periodicals, and radio, I grew the fitness center, from a startup, at a steady rate of 20-25% growth per year until I sold.
Mindful Focus
Today, I bring this background to my work in many ways. My clients are like cherished family, whom I support and guide. Background in design, branding, business development, strategic marketing, psychology and energy work combine to inspire uniquely powerful approaches for growing businesses.
Orientation toward Buddhism, a “Do No Harm” ethic, and mindfulness studies form the foundation of my approach to life, people, and doing business. I am grateful to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and in Marin County. And I am especially grateful for all of the wonderful clients I have the privilege of serving.
Live Love : : Do No Harm