Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast

Latest Episodes:

157. Freelance Pricing Strategies with Creative Business Kitchen Apr 09, 2024

Show notes

Ready to serve up prices that you actually feel good about? Tune in to hear your pricing queen, Jaz, dish out the recipe to valuing your genius. Whether you chronically undercharge or have no idea where to begin pricing your services, this episode will give you the tools you need to meet your business goals (like, actually. Go down to the resources section to snag your free pricing calculator). From navigating imposter syndrome to why you need to know your numbers, this episode is a must-list for all freelancers. For the last 15 years, Jaz has been serving Michelin-star designs on a gold platter, solving her clients' problems and helping them grow their businesses. She's the graphic designer, muralist, lettering-artist, website genius, and all-round business guru who's helped hundreds of clients achieve their business goals. While she's still a design superwoman to her clients, Jaz is now sharing her wisdom with her fellow freelancers with another title: The Pricing Queen. As the Creative Business Kitchen owner, Jaz mentors her freelance students in all things pricing, giving them the tools they need to confidently calculate and charge what they're worth, create a never-ending list of clients who happily pay up, and, ultimately, never go hungry again. From free downloads to affordable resources, masterclasses, and one-on-one help, Jaz has a solution to every freelance problem. ------------------------ In today's episode, we cover the following:

Get to know Jaz and how she got onto her pricing journey
Why your education matters
Leaving the graphic design world to the musical theatre world
Why you need to know your numbers
How to gain confidence if you don't know how to price
Underpricing attracts the wrong clients, meaning your prices should reflect your values
Expensive lessons in business
Reminder: your clients are not family
Walking through Jaz's custom pricing calculator
Transparent conversations when prospective clients can't afford you

----------------------- RESOURCES:

Access Jasmine's free Pricing Calculator
Join the Freelancer's Pantry Membership

----------------------- Guest info: To learn more about Jaz and her pricing expertise and bite into a good food pun, follow her on Instagram and TikTok@YourPricingQueen. Visit her website, creativebusinesskitchen.com. ----------------------- WORK WITH MKW CREATIVE CO. Connect on social with Michelle at:

----------------------- Did you know that the fuel of the POD and the KMA Team runs on coffee? ;) If you love the content shared in the KMA podcast, you're welcome to invite us to a cup of coffee any time - Buy Me a Coffee! ----------------------- This episode of the Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast is brought to you by Audible. Get your first month free at www.audible.com/kma. This episode was edited by Berta Wired Theme music by: Eliza Rosevera and Nathan Menard

156. Creating a Brag-worthy Brand Strategy Apr 02, 2024

Show notes

Get ready to unlock the secrets of a brag-worthy brand strategy with Michelle. Listen and learn as she spills what happens during a brand strategy session with MKW Creative Co. and how they implement it. Dive into the recipe for creating a memorable brand, from the must-haves of a mission statement to brand identity. You'll learn how to measure the ROI of your strategy and the common pitfalls to watch out for. If you're planning a rebrand or want to start on the right foot, press play and save this episode! ------------------------- In today's episode, we cover the following:

What brand strategy is, and why it's crucial for your business
What happens in a brand strategy session with MKW Creative Co.
Brand vs. marketing strategy
Why your target audience is NOT everyone
Finding your value proposition
Getting clear on your brand personality
Brand consistency
Common brand strategy pitfalls

----------------------- RESOURCES:

----------------------- WORK WITH MKW CREATIVE CO. Connect on social with Michelle at:

155. Beyond the TikTok Ban with Amber and Ashli Mar 26, 2024

Show notes

Has the recent TikTok ban sent you into a panic? Head into the virtual emergency room with marketing experts Michelle, Amber Figlow, and Ashli Pollard. You'll hear their content strategies, adaptability, and community-building insights. From what a TikTok ban could mean for small business owners to perspectives on how important TikTok has been for women and predictions of the future of social media, this episode serves real-time insights. Amber Figlow is a Content Strategist, Creator, and Speaker, and she serves and educates women business owners in the creative industry. She has helped hundreds of small business owners through her 1:1 services, her membership, her products, and as a content ecosystems expert. Ashli Pollard brings her 10 years working for major product brands like Prada, Rebecca Minkoff, and Sam Edelman in New York City to her entrepreneurship membership The Do-ers, and her marketing agency Dial Zero Marketing. ------------------------- In today's episode, we cover the following:

Why the TikTok data corruption is a weak argument
Suggestions to small business owners who are feeling nervous about the potential ban
How Ashli's helping clients through this
What is content repurposing, and how to do it for each platform
Why you need to stop being precious about your content
Why you don't want to go viral
How losing TikTok is terrible for Facebook
The bike-face phenomenon and how women are coming together on TikTok
Predictions: will TikTok actually go away?
Social media predictions

----------------------- RESOURCES:

Episode 145. How to Repurpose Content with Amber Figlow
Episode 121. Let's Thread with Ashlie Pollard
Episode 108. Social Content 'icks' with Amber Figlow A Creative Co.
Episode 085. Life According to Business According to Business Consultant Ashli Pollard

----------------------- Guest info: To learn more about Amber and her fantastic insights, follow her on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok @AmberFiglow, or visit her website AmberFiglow.com. Don't miss out on her FREE Airtable Content Planner! Download it here ;) To learn more about Ashli's fantastic marketing insights, you can follow her on TikTok @ashli_p, visit her website ashlipollard.com, her consulting team on Instagram @teamapconsulting and their website, teamap.consulting, and visit Dial Zero on Instagram @DialZeroMarketing and their website at dialzeromarketing.com. ----------------------- WORK WITH MKW CREATIVE CO. Connect on social with Michelle at:

154. Streamline Your Design Process with Canva with Juls Christie-Clark Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

Ditch the design drama of navigating Adobe and embrace the simplicity of Canva and AI. Michelle and Juls dive deep into the efficient and convenient world of Canva. You'll discover why you need to use Canva as a designer, effective brand strategies, prompt engineering for AI, and the kind of collaboration that sparks joy and genius. Juls, a seasoned graphic designer from Glasgow, Scotland, boasts over two decades of creative expertise. As the founder of Designer in Your Pocket and Branding by Juls, she isn't just in the business of design; she's a storyteller with a mission to demystify design for non-designers. Juls has cultivated a reputation for making the seemingly complex world of branding and graphic design accessible to entrepreneurs and creatives, even those without a design background. In the ever-evolving world of design, Juls envisions a future where creativity knows no bounds. She champions Canva as more than just a tool; it's a game-changer that levels the playing field for aspiring designers and business owners alike. Through her work, Juls not only transforms brands visually but also fosters a design community that believes everyone has the power to tell their unique story beautifully. ------------------------- In today's episode, we cover the following:

How Juls started Canva and sharing her tips on TikTok
The accessibility and luxury of Canva vs. Adobe
Her favorite Canva features
Finding your optimal times to work as a freelancer
Using Canva's whiteboard for collaboration
How Juls uses Canva to help her clients
AI predictions on logo design
Michelle's AI workflow
Using the most articulate prompts for AI
The importance of continuous learning

----------------------- RESOURCES:

Episode 095: Honest Review of Adobe Max

----------------------- Guest info: To learn more about Juls and her Canva and design tips, follow her on Instagram @DesignerInYourPocket_Juls, TikTok, and YouTube @DesignerInYourPocket, join her Facebook group Be Canva Confident, or visit her website, designerinyourpocket. co. ----------------------- WORK WITH MKW CREATIVE CO. Connect on social with Michelle at:

153. How to Manage Design Revisions Like a Pro Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

Have you ever poured your heart and soul into a client's brand design only for them to say, "This isn't really what we had in mind?" Yes, you're entitled to a one-minute pity part, but you need to know how to bounce back productively. Drawing on her nearly 10 years of experience in the industry, Michelle shares personal anecdotes and practical strategies for navigating these challenging situations. She emphasizes the importance of separating brand strategy from design, setting clear client expectations, and knowing when to reassess a project's direction. You'll gain valuable insights on effectively communicating with clients, managing expectations, and ultimately delivering high-quality, successful branding solutions. ------------------------- In today's episode, we cover the following:

Things to remind yourself when a client doesn't like your designs
Identifying miscommunication to match the client's needs
Deciding if you need to start from scratch or go through a round of revisions
What to do when nothing you're creating is working for the client
The responsibility that a designer has to dig out the vision from the client
Striving for excellence, serving clients with quality

----------------------- RESOURCES:

----------------------- WORK WITH MKW CREATIVE CO. Connect on social with Michelle at:

152. Small Wonders: Exploring Miniaturist Art with ChelseaMakes Mar 05, 2024

Show notes

Ever wondered how to generate buzz with a budget, keep it real with your brand, or maybe shrink down the world to pocket-size perfection? Michelle is joined by Chelsea of ChelseaMakes, a miniaturist crafting big stories on tiny scales. They dive into the ups and downs of the creative grind, the excitement and fear surrounding AI-generated art, and why keeping it real beats polished perfection. Get ready for a 'small talk' that's anything but trivial. Chelsea Andersson is a maker, miniaturist, and prop designer based in Connecticut. She spent nearly a decade as a licensed landscape architect until her love for creating models and miniatures led to a career in building scale replicas. Through her studio, ChelseaMakes, she offers custom-made miniature replicas as well as a line of DIY modern dollhouse kits. She made her TV debut on season three of NBC's Making It, a reality competition show hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. Chelsea has also been featured in various magazines, has a course about miniatures on the Domestika platform, and recently published a DIY book titled "50 Makes for Modern Miniatures." ------------------------- In today's episode, we cover the following:

How she went from being a landscape architect to miniaturist
Her experience on NBC's Making It
How she approached her thumb-sized project for Warby Parker
How valuable brand guidelines are for creating content
Keeping creative during slower seasons
Following your passions—no matter how silly!
Overcoming perfection and getting your project in front of the camera
Thoughts on AI trends and art

----------------------- RESOURCES:

Read Chelsea's book 50 Makes for Modern Miniatures
Learn to build a 12-scale furniture and miniature decor set from scratch using accessible tools and materials with Chelsea's course.

----------------------- Guest info: To learn more about ChelseaMakes and her miniature creations, follow her on Instagram, Facebook @ChelseaMakes, and TikTok @ChelseaMakesCA, or visit her website, ChelseaMakes.com. ----------------------- WORK WITH MKW CREATIVE CO. Connect on social with Michelle at:

151. Use This Playbook for Your Next Product Launch Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

Generate buzz, hype your audience, and plant the seeds of your new product so people are ready to buy as soon as the cart drops. Today, Michelle shares her ideal campaign SOP stocked with real-life examples and case studies to note. She breaks down each launch phase into how long they should last and what content you need to post. Take out all of the guesswork for how to plan your next launch and save this episode to use as your product launch blueprint. ------------------------- In today's episode, we cover the following:

Creating launch timelines
The kinds of posts you want on your feed for shipping week
Planting the seeds of your launch through teasers
Revealing your launch and building up hype
Maximizing eyeballs during launch week
How to be strategic with your UGC for successful marketing

----------------------- RESOURCES: Brands that are experts at teasing content:

----------------------- WORK WITH MKW CREATIVE CO. Connect on social with Michelle at:

150. Celebrating 150 episodes with Berta Wired Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

To celebrate the 150th episode, Berta is back on the podcast! Michelle and Berta reminisce on their podcasting journey, from the conception of the Kiss My Aesthetic podcast to collaborating to launch other people's podcasts. You'll hear about their partnership, how you can work with them to launch your podcast, and their experiences launching Whiskey & Lace and Unpacked with the Blinks podcasts together. Berta Garrote is a podcast manager passionate about working with female entrepreneurs to increase their brand visibility. As the founder of the podcast production company Berta Wired, Berta combines podcast management, production, syndication, and strategy expertise to ensure your podcast stands out. Berta is multilingual in Spanish, French, and English and loves working with people from all over the world. ------------------------- In today's episode, we cover the following:

How Michelle and Berta met and how they started a podcast
How the Kiss My Aesthetic podcast has transformed over the years
MKW Creative Co. & Berta Wired's podcast launch partnership
Launching the Whiskey & Lace podcast
Unpacked with the Blinks podcast project
What makes Berta excited about podcasting
How you can work with Berta Wired

----------------------- RESOURCES:

Episode 100: Season 2 Wrap-Up with Berta Wired
Episode 145: How to Repurpose Content with Amber Figlow
Listen to Whiskey & Lace
Listen to Unpacked with the Blinks

----------------------- Guest info: To learn more about BertaWired and her podcasting tips, follow her on Instagram and TikTok @BertaWired, or visit her website bertawired.com. ----------------------- WORK WITH MKW CREATIVE CO. Connect on social with Michelle at:

149. Creating Authentic Content with Donavan Barrett Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

It's 2024. Can we stop glorifying viral content? Today, Michelle is joined by social media strategist Donavan Barrett, who shares his journey from creating videos as a kid to becoming a sought-after digital marketing expert with a loyal audience. He cuts through the fluff and highlights the keys to creating authentic content on TikTok. You'll learn why giving away free content helps you in the long run and build a sustainable mindset to connect with your audience on a natural and relatable level. Donavan Barrett is a social media strategist and content creator whose love for making videos started when he'd film and edit short skits with his sister in an attempt to have a cooler web show than iCarly. At 17, he began using his Instagram to show his progress in martial arts. After a few viral videos found a love for the art and science of content creation. Coming from an extremely low-income upbringing, the idea that anyone with a smartphone could make something of themselves inspired him. He knew that would be his way to a happy life. He grew his martial arts audience to over 100k people, but realized his true love was content creation. After years of studying and eventually becoming the Social Media Director of a digital marketing agency, Donavan has now quickly cultivated a new audience of over 20k people excited to learn the ins and outs of content creation. His audience values him for his kind but honest nature and his rejection of surface-level advice that misguides aspiring content creators. ------------------------- In today's episode, we cover the following:

Prioritizing good content over hashtags and SEO
How he approaches talking about content creation with his clients
Content creation isn't about trends
The downsides of going viral
Common pitfalls Donavan finds in his social audits
Creating a safe space through consistency
Auditing your own content and finding your unique perspective
Connecting your content to a purpose
Getting clear on your audience and their problem
Curating captivating videos: show, not tell
The power of defining what you're not

----------------------- RESOURCES:

Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller

----------------------- Guest info: To learn more about Donavan's fantastic insights on marketing and content creation, you can follow him on Instagramand TikTok @DonavanBarrett, or visit his website stan.store/donavanbarrett. ----------------------- WORK WITH MKW CREATIVE CO. Connect on social with Michelle at:

148. How to Explain Your Designs to Clients Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

Ready to present designs that your client loves and immediately sends their approval on? Today, Michelle shares her best tips on setting up your brand presentation for success through communication styles and positioning yourself as the creative mastermind that you are. From building confidence, listening to your client thoroughly and doing everything with energy, you'll learn how to elevate your client's experience and nail your next design presentation. ------------------------- In today's episode, we cover the following:

How to set up your brand presentation
Using your client's language and backstory
Do a practice run before creating your presentation
Summarizing your client's presentation to show value and vision
Getting quality feedback from clients
Why you'll want to present your designs via video and with energy

----------------------- RESOURCES:

Episode 109: One Concept Method with Hayley Fedders Studio Seaside
Episode 023: Everything in My Brand Questionnaire

----------------------- WORK WITH MKW CREATIVE CO. Connect on social with Michelle at:

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