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Melinda Livsey
เข้าร่วมเมื่อ 11 ม.ค. 2013
Hi! I’m Melinda, graphic designer turned brand strategist.
In 2017, after doing graphic design for 9 years, I discovered the missing piece I had been looking for throughout my entire design career: brand strategy.
This new found treasure enabled me to solve big brand and business problems utilizing the very things that brought me to design in the first place-creative problem solving, storytelling, and meaning making.
I was finally doing meaningful work that made an impact. And I was hooked.
In addition to client work, I also consult for design agencies and creatives, helping them add brand strategy to their services and position themselves as a valued partner instead of an order taker.
In 2017, after doing graphic design for 9 years, I discovered the missing piece I had been looking for throughout my entire design career: brand strategy.
This new found treasure enabled me to solve big brand and business problems utilizing the very things that brought me to design in the first place-creative problem solving, storytelling, and meaning making.
I was finally doing meaningful work that made an impact. And I was hooked.
In addition to client work, I also consult for design agencies and creatives, helping them add brand strategy to their services and position themselves as a valued partner instead of an order taker.
Get hired for being yourself — Melinda Livsey chats with Thad Cox
How do we get hired for who we are? The discussion revolves around the significance of authentic emotional connections in business, emphasizing the desire to be hired for one's true self without the need for a façade. Thad Cox shares insights into the challenges of maintaining interest in discussing professional expertise and the struggle with personal branding in a crowded digital landscape.
Connect with Thad:
www.linkedin.com/in/mrthadcox/
Connect with Melinda:
www.linkedin.com/in/melindalivsey/
melindalivsey
melindalivsey.com
Connect with Thad:
www.linkedin.com/in/mrthadcox/
Connect with Melinda:
www.linkedin.com/in/melindalivsey/
melindalivsey
melindalivsey.com
มุมมอง: 250
วีดีโอ
How to get grants for your creative business Q&A
มุมมอง 1K2 ปีที่แล้ว
Have you been wanting to invest in the Brand Strategy Bootcamp, or something else that would help you grow in your business, but just don’t have the funds for it yet? What if you could get those things paid for? With money you don’t have to pay back? I know, sounds crazy, but check this out... Late last year, a new coaching client, Kimberly, received a grant that covered the entire amount of ou...
How She Went From $3k to $20k+ with Brand Strategy
มุมมอง 1.8K3 ปีที่แล้ว
One of the biggest challenges for any brand strategist is to find their dream clients. If you're still struggling to find yours, this is the video for you. In this video, I interview Chloé N., one of our Brand Strategy Bootcamp alumni. She will give a break down of her experience from charging $3K to $20K and working with dream clients. She'll also share with us her remarkable transformation fr...
Is being a successful brand strategist possible? Chloé's Story
มุมมอง 1.8K3 ปีที่แล้ว
Watch Chloé's story of limiting beliefs, mindset shifts, and new trajectory. This video was originally recorded and unlisted on August 27, 2020 and was published publicly on October 26, 2021. Check out Chloé's transformation 1 year later here: th-cam.com/video/h3TdbA3hQOo/w-d-xo.html Apply for the Brand Strategy Bootcamp here: www.marksandmaker.com/brand-strategy-bootcamp
How she sent only 1 logo option to her client
มุมมอง 1.4K3 ปีที่แล้ว
"I only sent my client 1 logo. The last designer they hired sent them 15 logos that all missed the mark. Brand strategy works!" After receiving that message from Jessica, I had to know more. Here's a piece of the conversation Cortney and I had with her about it. Apply for the Brand Strategy Bootcamp here: www.marksandmaker.com/brand-strategy-bootcamp Connect with Jessica Hannan: www.outpourco.c...
How to overcome imposter syndrome as a brand strategist
มุมมอง 1.2K3 ปีที่แล้ว
Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where people are unable to internalize their own accomplishments and have a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud". It is a widely experienced, although not widely talked about phenomenon. In this video, we go over how to overcome imposter syndrome as a beginner brand strategist. If you are a beginner in the branding and market...
The key to an effective brand strategy session
มุมมอง 1.5K3 ปีที่แล้ว
Asking questions is the key to solving a lot of problems, especially in brand strategy. A lot of business decisions are made in meetings, where a lot of different ideas are being thrown around, but often times it's hard to agree on a direction. In this video, one of our new brand strategy students describes how she managed to make an impact on her client's decision making process by listening m...
Charging $5k for Brand Strategy without a Portfolio
มุมมอง 3.7K3 ปีที่แล้ว
How to Sell Brand Strategy - Get the work you want while charging the rate you want. Hear Angela's story about how she has found fulfillment in her work, even more so than the work she used to do on big projects in her agency days. Connect with Angela: angelaficorelli Learn more about Brand Strategy: Take the Brand Strategy 101 Free Email course: www.marksandmaker.com Learn how t...
What Went Into a $70k Branding Project
มุมมอง 2.4K3 ปีที่แล้ว
Recently, I invited my friend Brandon Triola as a guest to our Brand Strategy Bootcamp's weekly Q&A. Brandon is an amazing brand strategist who recently charged $78k for branding. Watch this video to learn more about how he built his business and his brand strategy process. 0:00 Introductions 13:06 Do you do research on the client's industry prior to meeting with them? 16:04 Could you go deeper...
The Value of Brand Strategy
มุมมอง 9K3 ปีที่แล้ว
This is Lesson 1 from Brand Strategy 101, a free email course. If you haven't already signed up for the entire course, you can here: www.marksandmaker.com Apply for the Brand Strategy Bootcamp: www.marksandmaker.com/brand-strategy-bootcamp Learn how to sell Brand Strategy: www.marksandmaker.com/how-to-sell-brand-strategy-course
What is Brand Strategy? Simple breakdown.
มุมมอง 49K5 ปีที่แล้ว
This is an excerpt from the Brand Strategy (Beta) Bootcamp where I go over what brand strategy is and a brand strategy process. This video can also be found in the Brand Strategy 101 email course. Get the free course here: www.marksandmaker.com Apply for the Brand Strategy Bootcamp: www.marksandmaker.com/brand-strategy-bootcamp Learn how to sell Brand Strategy: www.marksandmaker.com/how-to-sell...
Lead Gen for Creative Introverts
มุมมอง 7K5 ปีที่แล้ว
Get a step-by-step process to attract leads like bees to honey, whether for Brand Strategy or any other creative endeavor. This was a free group call offered to newsletter subscribers: www.marksandmaker.com Want to learn more about brand strategy? Here's a course on how to sell brand strategy taken from the brand strategy bootcamp: www.marksandmaker.com/how-to-sell-brand-strategy-course Want to...
Brand Strategy versus Brand Questionnaire
มุมมอง 9K6 ปีที่แล้ว
Switching from a branding questionnaire to an in-person brand strategy workshop resulted in higher paying clients and better design work. Listen as I share how and why I ditched my impersonal branding questionnaire for an interactive, in-person brand strategy workshop netting me $10k per session. This was a guest event with Creative Roundtable. Sign up for a free Brand Strategy 101 email course...
How to Run a Creative Business - Building Processes
มุมมอง 4K6 ปีที่แล้ว
This was a Zoom chat with my newsletter subscribers on 8-16-18 about how to start building processes for creative businesses, whether for graphic design, brand strategy, or anything else creative. I was feeling overwhelmed and re-inventing the wheel with each project until I started to document my processes. Sign up for a free Brand Strategy 101 email course: www.marksandmaker.com Check out the...
Hey Melinda, great content! I've sent you an email.
The explanation is clear and I thank you for that, just don’t agree about that the branding strategist failed to helping to motivate people 9:25 . A person who has a brand is an adult. This person should already know to motivate themselves without having a “babysitter”, to them in order to do their job and make things happen to their own business…
I've been looking for days for an explanation about brand strategy. This is the best that I found.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Lol Anaheim hills buzz I’m in their to
I saw Melinda this year!
Sausage KARMA! 😂
Liberating!
❤❤
I hope you post more
👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
This genuinely made it click in a way that I can properly explain to someone
Can u linked the video u are talking about where santoso says- Brand Stratgy is like match making ?
So helpful! Thank you
Thank you so much for sharing this! I really love how you explain where you came from, where you are now and how you got there.
Thank you so much for explaining this important concept in a concise manner!
My pleasure!
Very valuable talk 🔥
Thank you!
Really down to earth story and conversation, this video gives me so much hope to get to where I am trying to get and I''m no where near. Thank You for this video! I would love to hear more stories of successful freelance designers.
I'm so happy to hear this gave you hope! And thanks for the feedback. I'll work on posting more stories :)
@@melindalivsey1 cool, thank you! I'm looking forward to it.
Thank you so much, this is simply one of the most educational videos I've seen. Please share more with us! Thank you so much
Thank you for the kind words and encouragement!
This was great so many gems in here going to deep dive into more of your content. Explaining branding has been a learning curve for me this is very helpful.
I'm happy to hear it helped! :D
13:50 That's what I want to reach. Great work Melinda & Chloé.
Thanks Louda ❤
Chloe's former mindset is where I'm at right now, she experienced all the things I'm experiencing at the moment and it's refreshing to see that she could break out of that and grow her business so much. This video gave me some hope. I hope someday it happens for me too. Thanks Melinda 😊
I'm so happy to hear it gave you hope! That was my intention in sharing her story. Keep at it! And let me know when you have that breakthrough. ❤️
Thumbs up your the first out of 5 videos that doesn't consume or start the videos with rambling and the life story of someone else but you get to and stick to the point. Time is money and you get that. Also the video makes sense in plane language. Thx.
My pleasure. Thanks for the feedback!
Hi Melinda! This is so helpful! 💗 Just a quick question, how much do you think a newbie should charge for brand strategy only?
Hi! I don't know. I know people who've charged $10k their first time doing it and others who practice with clients for free the first few times or charge very minimally.
@@melindalivsey1 I see, I really appreciate your response 💕 Thank you!
@@zhafire9657 can we work in collaboration
Hey Melinda, I am a great fun from Ethiopia. Yes from Ethiopia !!!...lol..I was wondering if it is possible to enroll to your brand strategy course with a grant ?
Hi there! Yes, it is possible. The grant is something that you'd receive from an institution, government, or other organization. If you get the grant, the money would go straight to you, and you could use it for something like the Bootcamp or other business expense (depending on the type of grant). That's how Kimberly was able to join our Bootcamp-she received a grant that covered the amount of it. :) Does that help?
@@melindalivsey1 hey Melinda that was super helpful. One other thing, what exactly did she apply to get your grand so that I can do the same ?
@@endalkachewy I'm not sure. That'd be a question for Kimberly. Feel free to check out her site and reach out for more information: mintmaven.co
I didn't watch the video yet, but the title is very successful! I'm gon a watch it
this is where I want to be.
YAY! Is there anything getting in your way?
@@melindalivsey1 Probably a lack of confidence, mostly. Also needing the money. I also don't like feeling as if I'm always trying to convince people I'm worth more than minimum wage. Like you, I've also been an 'order taker' - for a long time now. I feel like I've been in a vicious cycle - and I'm starting to see my way out of it, and into something that feels (and actually is) more rewarding. I love your content so much - thank you for making it and thank you for replying.
@@themuse11 My pleasure. Thanks for the thoughtful comments. :)
Any videos teaching how to find clients or any outreach techniques as brand strategist !!
Have you watched this one? th-cam.com/video/80PCh3IoZ6o/w-d-xo.html
True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less! 📝📝❤️ I absolutely love this!
ILOOOOOVE HEAR THIS <3
Chloe is me! Glad to hear that she's off to good start
This was great! The more I learn, the more excited I get about transitioning into the strategy world!
It's a fun world!
Chloé, Melinda, I loved the whole conversation and hearing where Chloé is now! I loved reading in the comment section, what this win meant to Chloé and especially I really LOVE what she said in the end: Melinda gives knowledge to help people help themselves. Thank you both for sharing this valuable conversation!
Thank you Zuni!!! So nice having you in the Q&A's lately.
I love this explanation! Brand strategy has always been such a nebulous topic to me, but that pyramid makes everything super clear. I too tend to get creative strategy and brand strategy mixed up.
I'm happy to hear it helped, Juan.
Thank you Melinda , you really broke this down for me in the best way possible , could very much be an ego thing also , but most importantly trust and delivery are key components
I’m happy it helped!
Fantastic. Smart girl. Cheering for your continued & future successes Chloe! Thx for the inspiration you two.
You're very welcome. Thanks for the kind words!
I was smiling through this whole video🔥got me fired up🙏🏻Thank you both for sharing and congrats to Chloe😁I'm happy for you! 🔥This video really answered that very polular question thank for posting Melinda🥇
My pleasure!
This video brings up an interesting question for me. Chloe's response to receiving these rates makes me feel like she's been taught to sell at higher prices regardless of the circumstances, but not how to properly quantify her actual value. If her work brings returns of much higher than $22.5k, then her response to receiving that amount of money does not seem to match. This observation is not specific to Chloe, and I took a look at her work and it looks very nice so I'm actually surprised to hear her say she had/has trouble with design. Maybe I missed it, but if she were to look back at a prior client, could she quantify how much value her work generated, or simply report how much she got paid? If she got paid $10k and generated $500k, then she should feel underpaid. But if she got paid $10k and generated $5k, then she should feel overpaid. In contrast to that approach, it seems (Chris does this too, but not all the time.) that figuring out whether you were over/underpaid is tied ONLY to if you could have asked for and received more. $22.5k seems like a ton of money to her, but that is only because she is comparing it to what she was charging before. But in.comparison to the results she's been able to procure for clients... is it a ton of money or has the client actually ripped her off? The reason this has been a growing thorn in my mind is not only because of reactions like these to being paid, but because I come across these clients (obviously not Chloe's specifically) after they have worked with people who have been trained to extract as much cash as possible, but then their results simply don't live up. Sorry for the wall of text. I'm on a lot of caffeine.
I'm not quite clear on the sum of your thoughts; are you saying her rates can only be based on how much her client's income grows in connection to the new branding? Ultimately the client drives their own marketing and visibility so unless she's also offering the ads & social media & advertising approach her responsibility ends on delivery of the new brand. (I'm assuming that's the package she offers). She also mentioned positioning- so I have to assume she made the switch to valuing her own brand and her work as highest level, so her clients by default will only be the ones with high budgets and are used to paying (or have deeper pockets for) these higher amounts. The point being: Chloe can now charge what she likes. And why? Purely because she's confident in the work, understands there is money out there for services, & mostly- she's decided her company & talent is worth it.
@@studiocelestedesign The sum of my thoughts is that we should be charging based upon an honest evaluation and comprehension of what our work is worth. That takes into account results. It stands in opposition to the idea of just charging however much you CAN charge for it. I am certain I went out of my way to express my comments are not specific to Chloe, as I don't know what her results have been. I am speaking to the mindset of having your mind blown by charging a certain amount. If you know that your work is worth a certain amount, then why would you be surprised that you could charge that amount? It seems that the "worth" of work is not being determined by what it accomplishes for clients, but on nothing more than how much we can convince people to pay for it. I'd argue you can make much, MUCH more if you have a grasp on the measurable results of your work (and if those results are good), as opposed to smash and grab and move on to the next client to charge $5k more because you got the $22.5k so easily.
@@andrewhersh4040 You bring up fantastic points that we didn't speak about in the chat. I'm loving what you're bringing up here! Thank you.
@Andrew Hersh What an interesting thought! I'd love to chat more about this at some point (yes, tis I, Chloé)! So here are my quick and dirty thoughts based on my understanding of what you've said: 1. Quantifying the direct effects of branding and positioning work isn't an exact science since there are so many variables to account for as well. I've definitely attempted to do so, so I know it can be a great internal tool. But because it's not an exact science, I always tend to be extra careful with the external promises I make once I've done so. 2. On my excitement, I've got to draw your attention to who I am. Despite all the accomplishments I can quantify I am also a young, black, American woman. So what I get paid isn't just a neutral accounting of how successful my work has been in the past. It's also an accounting of the biases I navigate everyday. So that excitement isn't just because of the number. It's because that number was unflinchingly agreed to despite those biases. Does that help? (Edited to attempt to tag the original poster)
@@n.chloenwangwu3828 Congratulations on your success. Your website and branding are top class. Putting myself in the place of a client, I'd feel confident that my money would be well-spent with you for brand strategy. You have articulated the process perfectly, managed expectations - and presented yourself as fun, caring, whip-smart and a great designer.
Her story really inspired me. I love to help people and the fact that strategy allows for exactly that is such a huge inspiration to get up and to go find clients. Increasing percieved value and hitting the client's mark is the end all and be all, thank you for sharing Melinda🙏🏻💪🏻this was great🔥
My pleasure! So happy it inspired you. :)
This is great!
Glad you liked it!
This was really inspiring. Chloe's story is beautiful. I'm so happy for her!
It get's even better! We chatted a month ago, 1 year after recording this video, and have lots of updates to share. Can't wait to post the new video =)
@@melindalivsey1 That's so exciting! Can't wait! I'm so thankful for strategy and the opportunities it creates for us designers. And thank you Melinda for showing us how🙏🏻