

Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast
Michelle Wintersteen
The Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast is hosted by Michelle Wintersteen, the Brand Designer and Creative Director behind MKW Creative Co. a freelance brand design firm helping to define, design, build and grow vibrant brands for social-media-minded entrepreneurs.
The KMA Podcast is an extension of the Kiss My Aesthetic Facebook Group and covers topics like creating brand awareness, mastering social media marketing, cementing your brand's online presence, and being your own damn boss.
Michelle lives in sunny San Diego, California designing for brands & creating content with an undeniable west coast energy, punchy color palette & her yellow lab pup.
The KMA Podcast is an extension of the Kiss My Aesthetic Facebook Group and covers topics like creating brand awareness, mastering social media marketing, cementing your brand's online presence, and being your own damn boss.
Michelle lives in sunny San Diego, California designing for brands & creating content with an undeniable west coast energy, punchy color palette & her yellow lab pup.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 9, 2024 • 53min
157. Freelance Pricing Strategies with Creative Business Kitchen
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: Kiss My Aesthetic Facebook Group Instagram Tik Tok ----------------------- 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

Apr 2, 2024 • 33min
156. Creating a Brag-worthy Brand Strategy
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: Episode 023: Everything in My Brand Questionnaire Episode 121: Let's Thread with Ashli Pollard ----------------------- WORK WITH MKW CREATIVE CO. Connect on social with Michelle at: Kiss My Aesthetic Facebook Group Instagram Tik Tok ----------------------- 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

Mar 26, 2024 • 47min
155. Beyond the TikTok Ban with Amber and Ashli
Marketing experts Amber Figlow and Ashli Pollard share insights on the potential TikTok ban, content strategies, data corruption arguments, and predictions for social media's future. They discuss the importance of community-building, adaptability, content repurposing, and the impact on small business owners. The episode highlights the significance of women on TikTok, the uncertain future of the platform, and the need for better algorithms on social media platforms.

Mar 19, 2024 • 42min
154. Streamline Your Design Process with Canva with Juls Christie-Clark
Explore the benefits of using Canva over Adobe, tips on TikTok for Canva, the luxury of Canva's user-friendly features, optimal work times for freelancers, and the importance of continuous learning in design.

Mar 7, 2024 • 27min
153. How to Manage Design Revisions Like a Pro
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: Episode 148: How to Explain Your Designs to Clients Episode 146: My Brand Design Process, Step by Step Episode 023: Everything in My Brand Questionnaire ----------------------- WORK WITH MKW CREATIVE CO. Connect on social with Michelle at: Kiss My Aesthetic Facebook Group Instagram Tik Tok ----------------------- 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

Mar 5, 2024 • 40min
152. Small Wonders: Exploring Miniaturist Art with ChelseaMakes
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: Kiss My Aesthetic Facebook Group Instagram Tik Tok ----------------------- 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

Feb 27, 2024 • 25min
151. Use This Playbook for Your Next Product Launch
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: Summer Fridays Skinny Confidential Stoney Clover Lane ----------------------- WORK WITH MKW CREATIVE CO. Connect on social with Michelle at: Kiss My Aesthetic Facebook Group Instagram Tik Tok ----------------------- 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

Feb 20, 2024 • 38min
150. Celebrating 150 episodes with Berta Wired
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: Kiss My Aesthetic Facebook Group Instagram Tik Tok ----------------------- 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

Feb 13, 2024 • 48min
149. Creating Authentic Content with Donavan Barrett
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: Kiss My Aesthetic Facebook Group Instagram Tik Tok ----------------------- 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

Feb 6, 2024 • 21min
148. How to Explain Your Designs to Clients
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: Kiss My Aesthetic Facebook Group Instagram Tik Tok ----------------------- 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


