March 10, 2023 • 23 mins
Looking to take your business up a notch? Join Izzy White, the energetic branding and website designer who's sure to get you motivated! She'll show how her passion for design has taken her on an incredible journey from start-up inspiration all the way through creating websites with amazing tools. Tune in now - you're guaranteed not only some fascinating insights but also plenty of fun along the way.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
welcome to the seven FigureBuilder Show.
(00:01):
My name is Julie Barick, founderof Seven Figure Builder, where
we help high achieving CEOs freeup time with gorgeous
automations to scale theirbusiness to seven figures and
beyond.
And I'm here today with myfriend Izzy White.
Hey Izzy.
Hello.
Thank you so much for having me.
I'm excited to be here.
Absolutely.
So for anyone who's not had thepleasure to meet you yet, can
you tell us just a little bitabout what you do with your
(00:23):
business?
Yeah, absolutely.
Like a lot of us, I tried thecorporate, the cohort thing
right after I graduated college.
And I was in the tech worldworking on app design and I just
quickly realized that my valuesdidn't really align with that
industry and I needed to make achange.
And I transitioned from workingin the corporate world and I was
in this period of transition tofigure out what I should do
(00:46):
next.
And I had a really greatexperience where I was able to.
Work as while I was freelancing,I was able to work with some
really amazing heart centerentrepreneurs and they just
opened my eyes to a new side ofthe business world.
And I leaned into it a littlebit and now I am a branding and
website designer for heartcenter entrepreneurs, and I help
them have a platform to getnoticed by clients that could
(01:06):
benefit from their services.
I love it and it's, I would sayso much more fulfilling, I think
when you're able to like, getbehind a purpose and help
somebody and see that valueimpact their business versus
maybe a corporate world is maybenot quite so fulfilling.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think some people find it theyfind their passion in the
(01:26):
corporate world, but for me Ilike to have more hands-on
effects with the clients I wasworking with and being in app
design.
It just seemed so many stepsbetween seeing a real impact in
the people that I was workingwith.
And so now I get to choose who Iwork with and I get to be really
hands on in their business andhonestly become really good
friends with my clients.
And for me, that, that was muchmore meaningful.
(01:47):
That's awesome.
So do you help them with theinitial concept to the full
design to then building it outor where do you help them in
that process?
Yeah.
So I do everything from, we,with all my clients, I always
start with an hour long, justget to know them session because
I am a values-based branddesigner.
And so I think that startingwith understanding their values
(02:08):
and their passion and theirmission is also important to
establishing the branding.
And so we start on that.
So we go everywhere.
Were from initial concepting tobrand strategy to brand design.
And then if they're ready for awebsite, then I also help them
design a website with their newbranding.
All aspects of it I like to behands on with.
That's awesome.
And do you find that you helpmore like beginning business
(02:29):
owners or people that are maybea couple years in and they're
rebranding and taking it to thenext level?
Yeah, that's a fun question.
I was actually just talking tosomeone about it recently.
I feel like there's two types ofpeople that start a business.
There's like the people whostart a business and they know
their direction right away.
They have the funds to starttheir business and that.
But then there's also this sideof the business world where they
(02:50):
start their business.
Because they wanna do somethingdifferent.
They're not totally clear rightaway.
They don't have funds to start abusiness, so they're scraping
by.
So sometimes I start with peoplebranding right away when they're
like, yep, I know what I wannado.
I have the funds to invest inbranding.
And so sometimes I get to workwith those people like from the
very beginning of theirbusiness.
(03:10):
But then also there's a lot ofpeople who.
Don't quite invest in brandinguntil they, they're a little bit
further along, so maybe two tofive years they're like, okay,
idea why my branding now I'mready to like actually invest in
branding and make everythinglook good.
And so I kinda get a combo ofthose two types of business
owners.
That's awesome.
And it's a lot of the similarskills, but definitely a
different perspective.
(03:31):
And I know I've worked withclients on those ends of the
spectrum as well.
It's a lot of fun to dig deeperinto their business and figure
out, okay, what are your driversbehind it?
Where do you wanna go with this?
And then really help them soarfrom there.
Yeah.
Yeah.
A lot of it is, I'm not a coach,but I always say especially when
I work with those people who arestarting their business and I'm
like one of their firstinvestments there's a lot of
(03:51):
handholding and cheering on thatgoes with it.
Even though I'm just doing theirbranding.
It becomes like a reallyhands-on process where I get to
help those business ownersreally take the first steps in
their business and it's reallyexciting to see that.
That's awesome.
Do you have favorite tools andplatforms that you'd like to use
or what's your go-to?
Yeah, so I I went to college forgraphic design and in college
(04:13):
there was no alternatives.
We learned Adobe I dunno, it'sthe academic side of design.
They like only trust Adobe.
So that is where I'm likeofficially trained in Adobe.
But Now, I'll dabble in a lot ofdifferent areas.
I'll occasionally use Canva.
I know that a lot of likeacademically trained designers
like to say a lot of mean thingsabout Canva, it's a great tool.
(04:36):
So I'll dabble back and forth.
And then as far as websitedesign, I lean towards show it
for most of my website design.
If people don't have a platformthat they're super in love with,
I always recommend them to go toshow it.
But I will occasionally work inother.
Website platforms if my clientsare really stuck in staying in
wherever they're at.
(04:56):
But I like show with the best.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's funny, I've used creativeCloud or before Creative Cloud
pretty much my entire career,which was, God, I started almost
18 years ago, so it was likedream weaver and tables when I
first started voting things out.
And, that's.
Come way far since then.
Yeah, I'd love Adobe, but I,since I've found Canva, I love
(05:18):
it and I have nothing bad to sayabout it.
Like I use it for pretty mucheverything, even though I have
the full creative cloud on mycomputer.
I know, and they make it soeasy.
Like I, I know how to like editvideos in Adobe Premiere and I
know how to do all that, but,and it is really professional
grade and like really great, butsometimes I just feel like
there's 12 extra steps in AdobePremiere where I could do it in
(05:41):
two steps in Canvas.
So it's and I go back and forth,I'm just like, oh, I should just
do it quick on Canva and get itdone.
And then sometimes I'm like, no,I should be professional and do
it in Adobe, but.
Both platforms are honestlygreat nowadays yeah.
That's funny.
So actually to videos, what doyou use for videos?
Cuz I use Premiere all the timeand it's I'm looking for
(06:01):
something simpler because I cando everything I want in
Premiere, but I need to getfaster.
Yeah.
I go back and forth honestlybecause I know Premier, so I
know how to set the timelinesand do those things where if I
really wanna add text at acertain point, not that I do a
lot in video nowadays.
So nowadays really I do most ofit in Canva because a lot of the
(06:22):
video that I do is just likeediting short snips of a video
to go on a website or somethingto be a banner.
And so it's not like a ton of, Idon't do as much of the long.
I don't know, edited videos.
And nowadays it's a little bitmore of making snippets of
things to go, certain pieces.
And in those things they'll justdo Canva cuz they have such a
(06:42):
great process to creating gifs.
Which I use a lot of on websitedesign now and.
Making gifs in Adobe Premier forsome reason is just so
complicated and I dunno, I, alot of times I know now I just
go with Camba and I think youcan actually like fully edit and
clip together different videosin Camba now too.
So I don't think you can do textyet.
So if I had to do texts, I wouldprobably go back to Premiere.
(07:04):
There you go.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's definitely more limited,but it's a lot easier, if you're
using smaller files and you canimport them in.
Yeah.
Yeah, absolutely.
So what do you find as yourdesign inspiration when you're
working with clients andfiguring out their branding?
Do you dig into their colors andwhere do you get your
inspiration from?
Honestly, I get it from them.
(07:25):
I am such a people person.
I love people.
I love getting to know peopleand just figuring out what they
care about, what they'repassionate about, and like truly
just what makes'em different andunique.
I'm such a people person andlike I said, that's always the
first step when I work withpeople is just really getting to
know them.
And so then after I get to knowtheir personality and what they
care about, it's I shouldn't,it's not like easy, but it's so
(07:46):
inspiring a lot of times whatthey're doing, these passionate
business owners that I lovepulling inspiration straight
from the people.
I've worked with clients whosevalues are really down to earth
and it's easier to pull outcolors and ideas and fonts and
branding inspiration from theperson.
So that's a lot of what I do.
And I know that doesn't always Ithink people that when I talk to
(08:10):
a person, it's really easy forme to see their colors, which
sounds really weird.
And so I know a lot of peoplelike struggle with that concept.
But yeah, it's just really easyfor me to pull branding
inspiration straight from theperson.
That's a lot of what I do.
But I also like Pinterestgetting different ideas from
other designers and photographyand things like that yeah.
Very cool.
(08:30):
Yeah.
And I, you're pulling it fromthe person and the personality
as your source of inspiration,then it's truly more authentic
to them.
So yeah, I think that's reallycool if that's, the source that
you're pulling from.
Yeah.
And that's big of what I'mtrying to do is I think that for
a while branding was a lot of,trying to make yourself look a
certain way and trying to fitinto the Boss Babe aesthetic and
(08:52):
and everyone started to kindalook the same.
All of these online businessowners just looked like.
So and so the influencer insteadof themselves.
And nowadays there's such a bigtrend where people are trying to
show more of their personalitybecause consumers and potential
clients care so much more aboutbeing personally connected to
the business owner.
And so now there's this reallycool trend where people are
actually trying to be likereally authentic and they're
(09:13):
branding and showing theirpersonality more.
And so that's.
That's a big reason why I dothat now, because it's so much
more effective in marketing andit's also so much more personal,
which people really love, which,and I think it's a lot easier if
you're just truly trying to beyourself rather than trying to
be somebody else and Totally.
Yeah, it's easier, but I thinksometimes it's scarier too, like
(09:34):
I think when we were able tohide behind, just looking like
all the other.
Yeah, business owners and wedidn't have to like, be ourself
and it wasn't so much pressure.
Whereas now it's okay, beauthentic, be personal, show
your flaws.
So I don't know.
I think that's why we fell intoit just cuz it was like a little
bit easier to hide behind.
Whereas now it's no, be real, behonest be authentic.
(09:57):
And it takes a little bit moreguts, but I think it's, I think
it's worth it.
Definitely.
And what have you found is yourfavorite lead generation
strategy with your business?
For me it's really just I thinkoriginally when I started my
business, I fell into I call ita trap, but I think it works for
some people.
But the idea of attractionmarketing where basically you
(10:19):
just show up and you act.
I'm cool and people find you andlike just fall in love with you
and wanna work with you.
And so I did it for a long timeand I was like, this is not
really working for me.
I don't know if I'm just likenot cool enough or what.
So I really had to like, takesome time to, to readjust and
figure out like what was morealigned with my personality.
And for me it's just talking topeople.
I love doing coffee chats andbuilding connections and
(10:41):
building a network because Itruly feel like when you go on a
coffee, on a virtual coffee chatwith a person with like open
intentions, not necessarilybeing like, oh, I wanna sell
this person my website, but justbeing like, oh, this is what I
do.
What do you do?
How can we help each other?
That person might know fivepeople on the future that need a
website, and so it's just.
This idea of just buildingauthentic connections and a
(11:03):
network with people in theonline business world and just
seeing where those connectionsgo.
And just talking to people ishonestly my biggest lead
generation right now.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
I guess we used to do it inperson and now we do it also
virtual.
I know.
It's so weird.
Since I've been since I've owneda business, I haven't been to
like a single in-personnetworking event.
(11:24):
Because my business is almosttwo years old now.
And so basically the whole time,or like the first year was
really during the pandemic andso there wasn't a lot of these
in-person networking events.
And so I don't even know how tonetwork in person anymore cause
we're so used to it virtuallyand doing these like online
coffee chats with women from allover the world.
So yeah it's funny how thatnetworking has shifted what it
(11:46):
looks like now.
Totally.
Yeah.
And what would you saythroughout your journey has been
the hardest part of being anentrepreneur?
Ooh.
I think just figuring out whatit means to own a business.
Cause like I, I had professionaltraining and in the design.
(12:09):
In the design aspect of it.
And so I knew how to make a logofor a client.
I knew how to talk to a client.
I knew how to do these practicalskills.
But there's so much more thatgoes into it when you're on your
own when you don't have anagency behind you or you don't
have a.
A company behind you to bring inclients to do taxes, to pay you.
(12:29):
There's so much more of theselike little tasks that you don't
really think about when you'relike, okay, I'm gonna do it
myself.
It's like the bookkeeping orKeeping up with lead gen and
being a salesperson and justthings like that, that you don't
think right away.
When I started on my own, I waslike, okay, I'm just gonna be a
designer.
And now that I'm here, I'm like,okay, I'm also gonna be a social
media manager.
I'm also gonna be an accountant.
I'm also gonna be, this and thisand this.
(12:51):
And so I think it was reallyjust figuring out all the other
task and how to manage them allreally.
Yeah.
Do you use automation in yourbusiness, like with your
business in general and thenwith your marketing?
Yeah, to an extent.
I'm a huge system person.
I geek out when I have a goodsystem and it works good.
And so I, with my clients I havea very.
(13:13):
Built out automation with how Igo through the process with
them.
And so like when a new clientsigns with me especially when
they're doing website, there'sso many little things that I
need from them.
Like I need their login info.
I need this link and all thisstuff.
And I have a really, I use asauna as my client.
Not management software becauseI also have a client management
(13:34):
software, but it's more like myplace to gather information from
them.
I use Asana and I have a reallygreat automation set up in Honey
Books where once they sign withme, then there's all these steps
that they go through to do theircontract, do their invoice, get
their Asana boards, start to dothe task, remind them about the
tasks, and Approve the designseventually.
And yeah, I've tried to make itso that it's easy for me and I
(13:56):
don't have to think about itevery single time I'm working
with a new client.
Yeah that's probably my biggestautomation right now.
I think I might have a fewsmaller ones, but that's really
my biggest one that I rely on alot.
No, and that's huge, especiallyfor client onboarding.
There is definitely that processthat you walk through every
single time.
And to be able to get that andmake it easy to work with you, I
think is like priceless.
(14:18):
Yeah.
Yeah.
And also it's just easier forthem too, cuz then they like all
these steps.
Come to them.
And that's that's something thatclients have said to me a lot is
that they like the systems I'vebuilt.
Especially I have this oneoffer, it's called branding and
website in a week.
And because it's in a week,everything pretty much has to be
automated and has to be likebuilt in a system.
So that way I can.
Still be creative without havingto deal with all these little
(14:40):
things.
And so clients have said that tome.
They're like, I love theprocess.
I felt like I knew what I wasdoing every single day.
I knew what was expected.
I knew all the next steps.
And yeah, it's easy for me, butalso clients love it too.
So it's easy for everybody.
Absolutely.
So for any business owners thatare out there listening that are
ready to take that next step orat the beginning of the process,
like what is your advice forthem?
(15:02):
For branding or for website orboth?
For both.
If they're just getting startedand they need help.
Yeah.
I would say figure out.
I think the first step is reallyfiguring out if you're ready for
it.
Because branding is aninvestment and it's not.
It's not a cheap investmentalways, especially if you're
working with a designer that'sgonna do a really good job.
(15:23):
And so you really want, thefirst step is truly just
figuring out if you're ready forit.
If you have a business thatyou're like, okay, yep, this is
what I wanna do.
This is the industry I wannastay in.
Because, especially Peoplechange a lot.
Like a lot of times, like peoplewill start as a VA and then they
wanna do their branding and geteverything established as their
va, but then a year or two intotheir business, they're like I
(15:44):
kinda like website design more.
Or I bookkeeping more, thingslike that.
And there can be a shift.
And so before you invest inbranding, make sure you are set.
You don't have to be likewritten and stoned by any means,
but make sure you have a clearvision of what your business is
gonna look like.
And then make sure you're readyfor the investment.
Because like I said, it's.
It's not always a cheapinvestment, it's something that
you are gonna want to invest inappropriately.
(16:06):
Because if you just, I don'tknow, don't take it seriously,
then you're only gonna get somuch outta your branding.
You wanna work with a branddesigner that's really gonna sit
down, listen to you care aboutyour business and create a brand
that's authentic to you.
And Take that seriously and makesure you find a brand designer
that's aligned with you.
And so really you gotta just mapout first am I ready for this?
(16:27):
And if the answer is yes, thenam I financially ready for this
as well?
So that's kinda the first step.
But then once you do that andyou're like, okay, nope, I'm
ready for this.
Like I said, find a branddesigner that's aligned with
you.
There's so many different typesof designers with different
styles, with different ways oftalking to clients.
Some designers like to just stayin their style and Not
(16:48):
necessarily create the samelooks, but the same kind of
vibe.
And so if that's what you'relooking for, find someone with
that vibe.
Or if you want someone that'svalues-based, there's designers
like that.
And just go through, there'smillions of designers out there,
so you wanna make sure that youfind someone that's really
aligned with you and someonethat you connect with.
That's a really important parttoo.
Totally, because you'll beworking very closely with them
(17:10):
and getting to know each otherthat you wanna make sure you
click with their personality andhaving those conversations,
looking at, their work andmaking sure you like their style
and you like their vibe and whatthey do for clients.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And then as a website designer,that's.
You're really handing over a lotof trust.
You're letting them, step intoyour business and get to know
all the ins and outs of yourbusiness.
And when you work with a websitedesigner, you wanna make sure
(17:32):
it's someone that you can trusttoo, and someone that you feel
comfortable reaching out to ifyou have questions or if you.
If you don't exactly know whatyou need on your website, make
sure it's a web site designerthat's knowledgeable, that's
gonna be able to talk youthrough best practices of
website design.
And yeah, there's a lot of trustin letting anyone into your
business really.
Key is just making sure you havethat connection, definitely.
(17:54):
So looking over your businessand looking ahead to what you
have in the future, how wouldyou define success?
That's a good question.
I dunno.
I think very recently I likeposted this thing on Instagram
and I decided that I wasredefining wealth last year.
That was a huge step for mebecause I think that it can be
(18:18):
really easy to fall into thistrap where it's wealth is making
a hundred k, making 200 k,whatever that is.
But really I think your wealthshould be defined by what's most
important to you and how much ofthat you have.
And for me, something that Ivalue above all else is spending
quality time with my friends andfamily.
(18:38):
And I have friends and familyall over the country, and so
spending quality time with themisn't necessarily the easiest
task.
But last year I just felt, Ifelt really wealthy in the sense
that I was able to spend so muchtime with.
Friends and family and, I wasable to pick up my work and go
spend two weeks with my sisterin Colorado while I was working
in her apartment, but then Iwould get to spend time with
(18:58):
her.
And same with my parents.
And so it's just for me, I thinksuccess is being able to grow
and expand my business, but alsonot losing that freedom and
flexibility.
That is the main reason Istarted my business.
And I want my business to grow.
I want to have clients that loveme and I want to have a
consistent client list that'scraving to work with me and is
(19:22):
okay waiting, six months if I'mbooked out.
But I also don't wanna let ittake over my life in a sense
where I can't go spend time withmy friend if she needs me for a
week or something like that.
And yeah, kind of success for meis n.
Growing but staying balanced.
I love it.
Yeah.
That flexibility is huge.
(19:43):
I totally agree with you.
Yeah.
It's just so nice to be able tojust.
Go spend time with your lovedones when it's needed and be
able to take work with you.
I remember in my corporate job Iasked for a Friday off once cuz
my best friend was gettingmarried and she was having a
bachelorette party and I askedfor one Friday off.
And I got like an eye roll andlike a okay.
(20:05):
Oh my goodness.
They said yes because theylegally had to, but they like
were saying no internally,right?
Saying don't ever ask again.
Yeah.
It's just oh my goodness.
Like it's my best friend.
This is something that'simportant to her.
So it's important to me and Ijust never wanna feel like that
again.
I never wanna feel like I can'tshow up for my friends and
family because of work.
(20:25):
That's not.
How my brain is wired.
And so yeah, having theflexibility to be able to
prioritize things like that is,is so amazing.
Awesome.
Yeah, I totally agree.
So what can people expect fromyou next?
So I recently, not evenrecently, it was a few months
ago launched an offer, which ismy signature offer now.
(20:49):
It's called branding a websitein a week.
And it's one week where we sitdown, I get to know them, I
create their brand, and I launchthem a four page website by
Friday.
And I think in the future, mygoal is to really just have
that.
Offer booked out.
I would love to get to the pointwhere, I'm able to connect with
as many entrepreneurs aspossible and help them build a
(21:13):
brand and publish a website thatthey're really excited about,
that really brings in clientsthat really is something that is
helpful for their business, andthey can tangibly see that it,
it helped their business grow.
And I truly believe that a goodbrand and a website is one of
the best ways that you caninvest in your business and help
your business grow.
And Yeah, in the future, I thinkI just really want to use that
(21:36):
offer to connect with as manyentrepreneurs as they can and
help their businesses grow.
Awesome.
I love it.
And how can listeners supportyou in your work?
Where can they find you online?
I.
Yeah, you can find me on socialmedia.
I have Instagram, it's at Izzywait Design.
That is the number one placethat I really show up and I love
(21:58):
being social on there.
Shocker, I know social mediaapp, but I feel like sometimes
we lose that aspect of it.
But I truly love just havingconversations over there.
So if you're interested inwebsite, send me a DM if you're
interested in having a coffeechat.
Send me a message it doesn'tnecessarily have to be website
related, I just love talking toother passionate heart semi
entrepreneurs.
(22:18):
So that's, you come chat with meon Instagram or my website is
izzy way.com.
Perfect.
And we'll have all the linksbelow.
Yeah.
Very cool.
Thank you so much Izzy.
I appreciate you being on.
Yeah, thank you so much forhaving me.
This was really great.
Yeah, you can findme@sevenfigurebuilder.com and
we'll see you in the nextepisode.
welcome to the seven FigureBuilder Show.
(00:01):
My name is Julie Barick, founderof Seven Figure Builder, where
we help high achieving CEOs freeup time with gorgeous
automations to scale theirbusiness to seven figures and
beyond.
And I'm here today with myfriend Izzy White.
Hey Izzy.
Hello.
Thank you so much for having me.
I'm excited to be here.
Absolutely.
So for anyone who's not had thepleasure to meet you yet, can
you tell us just a little bitabout what you do with your
(00:23):
business?
Yeah, absolutely.
Like a lot of us, I tried thecorporate, the cohort thing
right after I graduated college.
And I was in the tech worldworking on app design and I just
quickly realized that my valuesdidn't really align with that
industry and I needed to make achange.
And I transitioned from workingin the corporate world and I was
in this period of transition tofigure out what I should do
(00:46):
next.
And I had a really greatexperience where I was able to.
Work as while I was freelancing,I was able to work with some
really amazing heart centerentrepreneurs and they just
opened my eyes to a new side ofthe business world.
And I leaned into it a littlebit and now I am a branding and
website designer for heartcenter entrepreneurs, and I help
them have a platform to getnoticed by clients that could
(01:06):
benefit from their services.
I love it and it's, I would sayso much more fulfilling, I think
when you're able to like, getbehind a purpose and help
somebody and see that valueimpact their business versus
maybe a corporate world is maybenot quite so fulfilling.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think some people find it theyfind their passion in the
(01:26):
corporate world, but for me Ilike to have more hands-on
effects with the clients I wasworking with and being in app
design.
It just seemed so many stepsbetween seeing a real impact in
the people that I was workingwith.
And so now I get to choose who Iwork with and I get to be really
hands on in their business andhonestly become really good
friends with my clients.
And for me, that, that was muchmore meaningful.
(01:47):
That's awesome.
So do you help them with theinitial concept to the full
design to then building it outor where do you help them in
that process?
Yeah.
So I do everything from, we,with all my clients, I always
start with an hour long, justget to know them session because
I am a values-based branddesigner.
And so I think that startingwith understanding their values
(02:08):
and their passion and theirmission is also important to
establishing the branding.
And so we start on that.
So we go everywhere.
Were from initial concepting tobrand strategy to brand design.
And then if they're ready for awebsite, then I also help them
design a website with their newbranding.
All aspects of it I like to behands on with.
That's awesome.
And do you find that you helpmore like beginning business
(02:29):
owners or people that are maybea couple years in and they're
rebranding and taking it to thenext level?
Yeah, that's a fun question.
I was actually just talking tosomeone about it recently.
I feel like there's two types ofpeople that start a business.
There's like the people whostart a business and they know
their direction right away.
They have the funds to starttheir business and that.
But then there's also this sideof the business world where they
(02:50):
start their business.
Because they wanna do somethingdifferent.
They're not totally clear rightaway.
They don't have funds to start abusiness, so they're scraping
by.
So sometimes I start with peoplebranding right away when they're
like, yep, I know what I wannado.
I have the funds to invest inbranding.
And so sometimes I get to workwith those people like from the
very beginning of theirbusiness.
(03:10):
But then also there's a lot ofpeople who.
Don't quite invest in brandinguntil they, they're a little bit
further along, so maybe two tofive years they're like, okay,
idea why my branding now I'mready to like actually invest in
branding and make everythinglook good.
And so I kinda get a combo ofthose two types of business
owners.
That's awesome.
And it's a lot of the similarskills, but definitely a
different perspective.
(03:31):
And I know I've worked withclients on those ends of the
spectrum as well.
It's a lot of fun to dig deeperinto their business and figure
out, okay, what are your driversbehind it?
Where do you wanna go with this?
And then really help them soarfrom there.
Yeah.
Yeah.
A lot of it is, I'm not a coach,but I always say especially when
I work with those people who arestarting their business and I'm
like one of their firstinvestments there's a lot of
(03:51):
handholding and cheering on thatgoes with it.
Even though I'm just doing theirbranding.
It becomes like a reallyhands-on process where I get to
help those business ownersreally take the first steps in
their business and it's reallyexciting to see that.
That's awesome.
Do you have favorite tools andplatforms that you'd like to use
or what's your go-to?
Yeah, so I I went to college forgraphic design and in college
(04:13):
there was no alternatives.
We learned Adobe I dunno, it'sthe academic side of design.
They like only trust Adobe.
So that is where I'm likeofficially trained in Adobe.
But Now, I'll dabble in a lot ofdifferent areas.
I'll occasionally use Canva.
I know that a lot of likeacademically trained designers
like to say a lot of mean thingsabout Canva, it's a great tool.
(04:36):
So I'll dabble back and forth.
And then as far as websitedesign, I lean towards show it
for most of my website design.
If people don't have a platformthat they're super in love with,
I always recommend them to go toshow it.
But I will occasionally work inother.
Website platforms if my clientsare really stuck in staying in
wherever they're at.
(04:56):
But I like show with the best.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's funny, I've used creativeCloud or before Creative Cloud
pretty much my entire career,which was, God, I started almost
18 years ago, so it was likedream weaver and tables when I
first started voting things out.
And, that's.
Come way far since then.
Yeah, I'd love Adobe, but I,since I've found Canva, I love
(05:18):
it and I have nothing bad to sayabout it.
Like I use it for pretty mucheverything, even though I have
the full creative cloud on mycomputer.
I know, and they make it soeasy.
Like I, I know how to like editvideos in Adobe Premiere and I
know how to do all that, but,and it is really professional
grade and like really great, butsometimes I just feel like
there's 12 extra steps in AdobePremiere where I could do it in
(05:41):
two steps in Canvas.
So it's and I go back and forth,I'm just like, oh, I should just
do it quick on Canva and get itdone.
And then sometimes I'm like, no,I should be professional and do
it in Adobe, but.
Both platforms are honestlygreat nowadays yeah.
That's funny.
So actually to videos, what doyou use for videos?
Cuz I use Premiere all the timeand it's I'm looking for
(06:01):
something simpler because I cando everything I want in
Premiere, but I need to getfaster.
Yeah.
I go back and forth honestlybecause I know Premier, so I
know how to set the timelinesand do those things where if I
really wanna add text at acertain point, not that I do a
lot in video nowadays.
So nowadays really I do most ofit in Canva because a lot of the
(06:22):
video that I do is just likeediting short snips of a video
to go on a website or somethingto be a banner.
And so it's not like a ton of, Idon't do as much of the long.
I don't know, edited videos.
And nowadays it's a little bitmore of making snippets of
things to go, certain pieces.
And in those things they'll justdo Canva cuz they have such a
(06:42):
great process to creating gifs.
Which I use a lot of on websitedesign now and.
Making gifs in Adobe Premier forsome reason is just so
complicated and I dunno, I, alot of times I know now I just
go with Camba and I think youcan actually like fully edit and
clip together different videosin Camba now too.
So I don't think you can do textyet.
So if I had to do texts, I wouldprobably go back to Premiere.
(07:04):
There you go.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's definitely more limited,but it's a lot easier, if you're
using smaller files and you canimport them in.
Yeah.
Yeah, absolutely.
So what do you find as yourdesign inspiration when you're
working with clients andfiguring out their branding?
Do you dig into their colors andwhere do you get your
inspiration from?
Honestly, I get it from them.
(07:25):
I am such a people person.
I love people.
I love getting to know peopleand just figuring out what they
care about, what they'repassionate about, and like truly
just what makes'em different andunique.
I'm such a people person andlike I said, that's always the
first step when I work withpeople is just really getting to
know them.
And so then after I get to knowtheir personality and what they
care about, it's I shouldn't,it's not like easy, but it's so
(07:46):
inspiring a lot of times whatthey're doing, these passionate
business owners that I lovepulling inspiration straight
from the people.
I've worked with clients whosevalues are really down to earth
and it's easier to pull outcolors and ideas and fonts and
branding inspiration from theperson.
So that's a lot of what I do.
And I know that doesn't always Ithink people that when I talk to
(08:10):
a person, it's really easy forme to see their colors, which
sounds really weird.
And so I know a lot of peoplelike struggle with that concept.
But yeah, it's just really easyfor me to pull branding
inspiration straight from theperson.
That's a lot of what I do.
But I also like Pinterestgetting different ideas from
other designers and photographyand things like that yeah.
Very cool.
(08:30):
Yeah.
And I, you're pulling it fromthe person and the personality
as your source of inspiration,then it's truly more authentic
to them.
So yeah, I think that's reallycool if that's, the source that
you're pulling from.
Yeah.
And that's big of what I'mtrying to do is I think that for
a while branding was a lot of,trying to make yourself look a
certain way and trying to fitinto the Boss Babe aesthetic and
(08:52):
and everyone started to kindalook the same.
All of these online businessowners just looked like.
So and so the influencer insteadof themselves.
And nowadays there's such a bigtrend where people are trying to
show more of their personalitybecause consumers and potential
clients care so much more aboutbeing personally connected to
the business owner.
And so now there's this reallycool trend where people are
actually trying to be likereally authentic and they're
(09:13):
branding and showing theirpersonality more.
And so that's.
That's a big reason why I dothat now, because it's so much
more effective in marketing andit's also so much more personal,
which people really love, which,and I think it's a lot easier if
you're just truly trying to beyourself rather than trying to
be somebody else and Totally.
Yeah, it's easier, but I thinksometimes it's scarier too, like
(09:34):
I think when we were able tohide behind, just looking like
all the other.
Yeah, business owners and wedidn't have to like, be ourself
and it wasn't so much pressure.
Whereas now it's okay, beauthentic, be personal, show
your flaws.
So I don't know.
I think that's why we fell intoit just cuz it was like a little
bit easier to hide behind.
Whereas now it's no, be real, behonest be authentic.
(09:57):
And it takes a little bit moreguts, but I think it's, I think
it's worth it.
Definitely.
And what have you found is yourfavorite lead generation
strategy with your business?
For me it's really just I thinkoriginally when I started my
business, I fell into I call ita trap, but I think it works for
some people.
But the idea of attractionmarketing where basically you
(10:19):
just show up and you act.
I'm cool and people find you andlike just fall in love with you
and wanna work with you.
And so I did it for a long timeand I was like, this is not
really working for me.
I don't know if I'm just likenot cool enough or what.
So I really had to like, takesome time to, to readjust and
figure out like what was morealigned with my personality.
And for me it's just talking topeople.
I love doing coffee chats andbuilding connections and
(10:41):
building a network because Itruly feel like when you go on a
coffee, on a virtual coffee chatwith a person with like open
intentions, not necessarilybeing like, oh, I wanna sell
this person my website, but justbeing like, oh, this is what I
do.
What do you do?
How can we help each other?
That person might know fivepeople on the future that need a
website, and so it's just.
This idea of just buildingauthentic connections and a
(11:03):
network with people in theonline business world and just
seeing where those connectionsgo.
And just talking to people ishonestly my biggest lead
generation right now.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
I guess we used to do it inperson and now we do it also
virtual.
I know.
It's so weird.
Since I've been since I've owneda business, I haven't been to
like a single in-personnetworking event.
(11:24):
Because my business is almosttwo years old now.
And so basically the whole time,or like the first year was
really during the pandemic andso there wasn't a lot of these
in-person networking events.
And so I don't even know how tonetwork in person anymore cause
we're so used to it virtuallyand doing these like online
coffee chats with women from allover the world.
So yeah it's funny how thatnetworking has shifted what it
(11:46):
looks like now.
Totally.
Yeah.
And what would you saythroughout your journey has been
the hardest part of being anentrepreneur?
Ooh.
I think just figuring out whatit means to own a business.
Cause like I, I had professionaltraining and in the design.
(12:09):
In the design aspect of it.
And so I knew how to make a logofor a client.
I knew how to talk to a client.
I knew how to do these practicalskills.
But there's so much more thatgoes into it when you're on your
own when you don't have anagency behind you or you don't
have a.
A company behind you to bring inclients to do taxes, to pay you.
(12:29):
There's so much more of theselike little tasks that you don't
really think about when you'relike, okay, I'm gonna do it
myself.
It's like the bookkeeping orKeeping up with lead gen and
being a salesperson and justthings like that, that you don't
think right away.
When I started on my own, I waslike, okay, I'm just gonna be a
designer.
And now that I'm here, I'm like,okay, I'm also gonna be a social
media manager.
I'm also gonna be an accountant.
I'm also gonna be, this and thisand this.
(12:51):
And so I think it was reallyjust figuring out all the other
task and how to manage them allreally.
Yeah.
Do you use automation in yourbusiness, like with your
business in general and thenwith your marketing?
Yeah, to an extent.
I'm a huge system person.
I geek out when I have a goodsystem and it works good.
And so I, with my clients I havea very.
(13:13):
Built out automation with how Igo through the process with
them.
And so like when a new clientsigns with me especially when
they're doing website, there'sso many little things that I
need from them.
Like I need their login info.
I need this link and all thisstuff.
And I have a really, I use asauna as my client.
Not management software becauseI also have a client management
(13:34):
software, but it's more like myplace to gather information from
them.
I use Asana and I have a reallygreat automation set up in Honey
Books where once they sign withme, then there's all these steps
that they go through to do theircontract, do their invoice, get
their Asana boards, start to dothe task, remind them about the
tasks, and Approve the designseventually.
And yeah, I've tried to make itso that it's easy for me and I
(13:56):
don't have to think about itevery single time I'm working
with a new client.
Yeah that's probably my biggestautomation right now.
I think I might have a fewsmaller ones, but that's really
my biggest one that I rely on alot.
No, and that's huge, especiallyfor client onboarding.
There is definitely that processthat you walk through every
single time.
And to be able to get that andmake it easy to work with you, I
think is like priceless.
(14:18):
Yeah.
Yeah.
And also it's just easier forthem too, cuz then they like all
these steps.
Come to them.
And that's that's something thatclients have said to me a lot is
that they like the systems I'vebuilt.
Especially I have this oneoffer, it's called branding and
website in a week.
And because it's in a week,everything pretty much has to be
automated and has to be likebuilt in a system.
So that way I can.
Still be creative without havingto deal with all these little
(14:40):
things.
And so clients have said that tome.
They're like, I love theprocess.
I felt like I knew what I wasdoing every single day.
I knew what was expected.
I knew all the next steps.
And yeah, it's easy for me, butalso clients love it too.
So it's easy for everybody.
Absolutely.
So for any business owners thatare out there listening that are
ready to take that next step orat the beginning of the process,
like what is your advice forthem?
(15:02):
For branding or for website orboth?
For both.
If they're just getting startedand they need help.
Yeah.
I would say figure out.
I think the first step is reallyfiguring out if you're ready for
it.
Because branding is aninvestment and it's not.
It's not a cheap investmentalways, especially if you're
working with a designer that'sgonna do a really good job.
(15:23):
And so you really want, thefirst step is truly just
figuring out if you're ready forit.
If you have a business thatyou're like, okay, yep, this is
what I wanna do.
This is the industry I wannastay in.
Because, especially Peoplechange a lot.
Like a lot of times, like peoplewill start as a VA and then they
wanna do their branding and geteverything established as their
va, but then a year or two intotheir business, they're like I
(15:44):
kinda like website design more.
Or I bookkeeping more, thingslike that.
And there can be a shift.
And so before you invest inbranding, make sure you are set.
You don't have to be likewritten and stoned by any means,
but make sure you have a clearvision of what your business is
gonna look like.
And then make sure you're readyfor the investment.
Because like I said, it's.
It's not always a cheapinvestment, it's something that
you are gonna want to invest inappropriately.
(16:06):
Because if you just, I don'tknow, don't take it seriously,
then you're only gonna get somuch outta your branding.
You wanna work with a branddesigner that's really gonna sit
down, listen to you care aboutyour business and create a brand
that's authentic to you.
And Take that seriously and makesure you find a brand designer
that's aligned with you.
And so really you gotta just mapout first am I ready for this?
(16:27):
And if the answer is yes, thenam I financially ready for this
as well?
So that's kinda the first step.
But then once you do that andyou're like, okay, nope, I'm
ready for this.
Like I said, find a branddesigner that's aligned with
you.
There's so many different typesof designers with different
styles, with different ways oftalking to clients.
Some designers like to just stayin their style and Not
(16:48):
necessarily create the samelooks, but the same kind of
vibe.
And so if that's what you'relooking for, find someone with
that vibe.
Or if you want someone that'svalues-based, there's designers
like that.
And just go through, there'smillions of designers out there,
so you wanna make sure that youfind someone that's really
aligned with you and someonethat you connect with.
That's a really important parttoo.
Totally, because you'll beworking very closely with them
(17:10):
and getting to know each otherthat you wanna make sure you
click with their personality andhaving those conversations,
looking at, their work andmaking sure you like their style
and you like their vibe and whatthey do for clients.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And then as a website designer,that's.
You're really handing over a lotof trust.
You're letting them, step intoyour business and get to know
all the ins and outs of yourbusiness.
And when you work with a websitedesigner, you wanna make sure
(17:32):
it's someone that you can trusttoo, and someone that you feel
comfortable reaching out to ifyou have questions or if you.
If you don't exactly know whatyou need on your website, make
sure it's a web site designerthat's knowledgeable, that's
gonna be able to talk youthrough best practices of
website design.
And yeah, there's a lot of trustin letting anyone into your
business really.
Key is just making sure you havethat connection, definitely.
(17:54):
So looking over your businessand looking ahead to what you
have in the future, how wouldyou define success?
That's a good question.
I dunno.
I think very recently I likeposted this thing on Instagram
and I decided that I wasredefining wealth last year.
That was a huge step for mebecause I think that it can be
(18:18):
really easy to fall into thistrap where it's wealth is making
a hundred k, making 200 k,whatever that is.
But really I think your wealthshould be defined by what's most
important to you and how much ofthat you have.
And for me, something that Ivalue above all else is spending
quality time with my friends andfamily.
(18:38):
And I have friends and familyall over the country, and so
spending quality time with themisn't necessarily the easiest
task.
But last year I just felt, Ifelt really wealthy in the sense
that I was able to spend so muchtime with.
Friends and family and, I wasable to pick up my work and go
spend two weeks with my sisterin Colorado while I was working
in her apartment, but then Iwould get to spend time with
(18:58):
her.
And same with my parents.
And so it's just for me, I thinksuccess is being able to grow
and expand my business, but alsonot losing that freedom and
flexibility.
That is the main reason Istarted my business.
And I want my business to grow.
I want to have clients that loveme and I want to have a
consistent client list that'scraving to work with me and is
(19:22):
okay waiting, six months if I'mbooked out.
But I also don't wanna let ittake over my life in a sense
where I can't go spend time withmy friend if she needs me for a
week or something like that.
And yeah, kind of success for meis n.
Growing but staying balanced.
I love it.
Yeah.
That flexibility is huge.
(19:43):
I totally agree with you.
Yeah.
It's just so nice to be able tojust.
Go spend time with your lovedones when it's needed and be
able to take work with you.
I remember in my corporate job Iasked for a Friday off once cuz
my best friend was gettingmarried and she was having a
bachelorette party and I askedfor one Friday off.
And I got like an eye roll andlike a okay.
(20:05):
Oh my goodness.
They said yes because theylegally had to, but they like
were saying no internally,right?
Saying don't ever ask again.
Yeah.
It's just oh my goodness.
Like it's my best friend.
This is something that'simportant to her.
So it's important to me and Ijust never wanna feel like that
again.
I never wanna feel like I can'tshow up for my friends and
family because of work.
(20:25):
That's not.
How my brain is wired.
And so yeah, having theflexibility to be able to
prioritize things like that is,is so amazing.
Awesome.
Yeah, I totally agree.
So what can people expect fromyou next?
So I recently, not evenrecently, it was a few months
ago launched an offer, which ismy signature offer now.
(20:49):
It's called branding a websitein a week.
And it's one week where we sitdown, I get to know them, I
create their brand, and I launchthem a four page website by
Friday.
And I think in the future, mygoal is to really just have
that.
Offer booked out.
I would love to get to the pointwhere, I'm able to connect with
as many entrepreneurs aspossible and help them build a
(21:13):
brand and publish a website thatthey're really excited about,
that really brings in clientsthat really is something that is
helpful for their business, andthey can tangibly see that it,
it helped their business grow.
And I truly believe that a goodbrand and a website is one of
the best ways that you caninvest in your business and help
your business grow.
And Yeah, in the future, I thinkI just really want to use that
(21:36):
offer to connect with as manyentrepreneurs as they can and
help their businesses grow.
Awesome.
I love it.
And how can listeners supportyou in your work?
Where can they find you online?
I.
Yeah, you can find me on socialmedia.
I have Instagram, it's at Izzywait Design.
That is the number one placethat I really show up and I love
(21:58):
being social on there.
Shocker, I know social mediaapp, but I feel like sometimes
we lose that aspect of it.
But I truly love just havingconversations over there.
So if you're interested inwebsite, send me a DM if you're
interested in having a coffeechat.
Send me a message it doesn'tnecessarily have to be website
related, I just love talking toother passionate heart semi
entrepreneurs.
(22:18):
So that's, you come chat with meon Instagram or my website is
izzy way.com.
Perfect.
And we'll have all the linksbelow.
Yeah.
Very cool.
Thank you so much Izzy.
I appreciate you being on.
Yeah, thank you so much forhaving me.
This was really great.
Yeah, you can findme@sevenfigurebuilder.com and
we'll see you in the nextepisode.
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