Kenzie is an incredibly talented designer. She offers website + brand design, and she has two courses (one that’s just about to launch) and they are called the Inner Creative Masterclass and Design Worth.
Her mission is to: building social entrepreneurs through design, business, and sustainable living
And you guys, she does it WELL.
Since Kenzie was a little girl, she was hooked on anything artsy. She had a talent for art, and a deep rooted passion for entrepreneurship. She grew up hosting lemonade stands, selling painted rocks door-to-door, and eventually upgraded to her first semi-legit business as a graphic designer in the blog world.
She honed her skills through her degree and had a great graphic design job after graduating from college.
While on a trip to Bali, she read Jen Sincero’s “You Are A Badass” and realized the time is NOW to chase your dreams and make things happen. So, she came home, quit her job, and made Kenzie Amick Co. a full-time endeavor.
Check out the show notes below to see how our conversation went as we discussed branding, websites, and finding your passion.
Branding Advice From a Brand Designer:
What is a brand and what are the benefits of building a strong brand?
Your brand is what sets you apart. What is your style like? How do you interact with customers, etc?
A brand is made up of the visual components that people see (which can be huge because all of our businesses are, or should, show up online)
Website
Font
Colors
Logo
Another big art of your brand is how you show up, what you’re promoting, and your mission.
Having a strong brand allows you to stand apart in the marketplace and make more money ultimately because you come to mind more quickly when people remember your brand, who you are, and what you stand for.
Having a strong brand makes it EASIER for those that need your product/business and will resonate find you! Then you’re not always on the hunt for new customers and trying to figure out where your community is...instead they just come to you more organically.
It also frees you from feeling yucky or spammy about selling. Instead you have a much more natural exchange.
How do you build a strong brand? What are some of the first steps you can take when you’re starting a business?
Remember that your brand is YOU. It should feel authentic and it should all go back to what you stand for personally.
What lights you up? What do you like to share and promote? Because there are people out there that like that too!
Draw inspiration from things offline! Whether it be books you’re reading, etc. Just take in the world around you as a whole and use that as your inspiration rather than content that other people are putting out.
How do you share so many different topics and passions while keeping your brand tight?
Questions to ask to hone in on your business and combine passions:
What I’m currently doing? (what skills you have, what you do for work, etc.)
What things do I know?
What am I good at?
What resources do I have access to?
What am I passionate about?
THERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO FULFILL MY PASSION (remind yourself to keep your mind open to possibilities)
Don’t be such a perfectionist as you’re working on these exercises and other such as your business plan, your mission statement, your why, etc. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you have to have direction and understand how all of the moving parts within yourself, your brand, and your business will work together.
Come back through the questions periodically to make sure you’re staying tight with your brand and mission. How will your mission manifest itself on your feed?
Websites Tips From A Brand Designer
One of the first things people do when starting a new business is getting a website. It’s so fun to have that official corner of the internet to sell their product, or whatever else they’re doing. Your website becomes the online face for your brand, so it's crucial to provide a positive experience for visitors.
Advice for someone starting a business, and creating their website:
JUST START. Just make your website. We can always be working on it and improving it but you just need to get it out there!
Make sure it’s CLEAR what you do, what you give your clients, who you are, and what you’re all about. Do this through your branding through colors, photos, etc. SHOW your personality!
Have a CLEAR “I help” statement “I do____for____”
Include your call to action below that. What is your main goal for them to accomplish on your site? For them to book you, download something, etc.
(keep these all above the fold - before anyone has to scroll to see anything)
Invest in quality photography! It will help you look more professional!
Don’t be afraid to wait on your logo! Your brand will change and pivot and if you want to hire a brand designer, make sure the direction and feel of your brand is solidified before you invest. YOu can even just start with a wordmark (your business name in a specific/unique font) and have that be consistent across your platforms
Be aware of your navigation + how you’re directing people through the website. We read left-> right so have the navigation follow the progression of what they’ll want to see next. Keep the navigation bar simple + easy to use but have it flow with what they’ll want to see next.
What are some of the biggest mistakes people usually make on their website and how could they be avoided?
Make sure your blog posts are relevant to the things you’re actually selling
Keep it clear
Place unimportant info in the footer to keep your navigation bar clean
Kenzie's Top Book Recommendations:
- You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero
- You Are A Badass At Making Money by Jen Sincero
- The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
- The Power Of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Kenzie's Morning Routine:
Meditation
Gratitude practice
Get Moving
Make a Wholesome Breakfast
The advice she wishes she could go back and give herself:
Early College: No-one can tell you what success will be for you. Be happy NOW and don’t think that you’ll only be happy once you’ve reached X, especially if that milestone is one that someone else decided for you.
Early Business: It’s going to work out + everything will be okay! Worry less. what should happen, will happen and every failure is really a learning experience that propels you forward.
Connect with Kenzie
@kenzieamickco
www.Kenzieamick.co