"Don't be afraid to prioritize progress over perfection, everything will work out as it should" with Kristen Day

Photo Credit: Alexa Rae

Kristen Day is a digital marketing + business strategist who guides driven entrepreneurs through the overwhelming process of creating an aligned and profitable online presence by building streamlined processes they feel confident using.

Being self-taught in all of her digital skills, she understands the “pull-you-hair-out” level of frustration that comes with learning how to use the online space to benefit your business. Having created systems for more than 20 different industries, she builds processes that anyone who describes themselves as “not techy” can easily master. She relieves business owners of the stress and overwhelm caused by their online space by translating and simplifying the digital dictionary using the Clear as Day Digital System.

 Can you tell our readers about your background?

o   During the first few years after graduating college, I bounced around from company to company due to my now husband’s job, which moved us all around the country. All of those jobs were, in some way, inside the digital space. From creating websites and designing company content to online marketing and analyzing customer data, I learned a lot. Since my degree was not formally in these areas, it forced me to teach myself these skills in order to perform the jobs well, as there was no real training from the companies. This provided me a first-hand experience of how people with no formal training must learn these skills – through trial, error, and a lot of frustration. I do love to learn and have fallen in love with the online space, but for those who are not interested or are easily overwhelmed by these projects, it can be truly discouraging for them to want to use these tools.  

What inspired you to start your business?

o   I was sick of seeing people get taken advantage of by digital service providers.

I had secured a remote position with an ad agency as a data analyst. This allowed me to stop moving from company to company and develop two of the most important skills I use today.

#1. Working from home in an effective and manageable way that is productive and focused.
#2. Seeing first-hand the major gaps in the online service industry with regards to providing business owners a holistic, effective, and profitable digital process they can actually understand AND use.

I watched over and over again as my employer would onboard an eager new client into a multi-year contract, promise them amazing results, build them a website, run ads on Facebook and other platforms, and then… little to no real results. Worse than getting less than optimal results, the client didn’t own the right to anything. The contract they signed gave the agency owners over the clients’ assets. If they wanted to take their business elsewhere, they lost everything they had paid for and had to pay extra to get out of the contract. Even if they could get the website into their name, they had no idea how to use it.

When I asked someone why things were done this way, the answer was essential, “this is the best way to make money.” I hated that answer. I hated seeing this play out again and again for business owners, good people trying to embrace the digital landscape so that their business could survive, who just needed help. I hated the feeling of supporting a business model that held clients, hostage, over their assets and perpetuated gaps in customer knowledge.

I left that job and opened my company with the intention of bringing a kinder, more compassionate, and giving mentality to how these services are provided to our community. Having personally been in the position of having to trudge through learning the skills and seeing the prevalence of the people we are meant to serve being taken advantage of relentlessly, I strive to not only provide holistic service but also to educate entrepreneurs about their digital landscape.

Where is your business based?

My business is based in Tucson, Arizona, however I work with businesses across the country and the world! I currently work with companies in the United States in Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, California, Kentucky. Outside of the states, I currently work with companies in Spain and Bahrain.

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

I started my business by accident, when I took on my first client before I quit my job. I had no idea at the time that I would make it into a business. The company needed help because their previous web developer had left them with a website they could not edit, and the developer was nowhere to be found.

I created an easy-to-use site that looked professional and that their customers could navigate quickly. I taught them how to update everything themselves so that they never ran into their initial problem again. They were puzzled when I offered to teach them everything and said no one was offering that, that I should create a business. Little did I know - they were right.

When I decided to “officially” start my business, the first steps that I took were selecting a name, purchasing a domain, and immediately building a website. I had no social media at the time, so I wanted a place to send people that looked professional and showed them I took my business seriously.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Connecting with other business owners has been a large part of how I was able to raise awareness about my business. Also, trying to help people in ways that has nothing to do with my own business often leads to naturally discussing what I do. Anytime the opportunity arises to be helpful, whether it benefits me or not, helps spread awareness for what I do professionally.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

o   It’s important to recognize that it has been a smoother ride for me than I think it is for most. I have been incredibly fortunate to be in a position that allowed me to take my time to grow my business. We have not been dependent on my company’s income, and the space and patience that has been granted to me is something that I cannot express enough gratitude for.

I do think every entrepreneur faces very real struggles around making the transition from having a job to running a business successfully. The horrible circumstances surrounding these last couple of years and COVID-19 reinforced my conviction that business owners should be equipped with the knowledge to leverage their online space.

How do you stay focused?

I’m very meticulous about how I spend my time. By strategically planning out my days, weeks, and months and setting achievable goals, I’m able to eliminate most distractions and my focus remains very sharp. Behind each goal, I say what achieving that goal will mean for my life and my future. Even achieving the smallest goal can have a huge impact on being able to reach larger goals, so I never leave out the purpose behind any goal that I set. 

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

My company stands apart from others in the following aspects:

One of my first clients approached me with a website that they had hired another company to create, and they were paying monthly for maintenance. The website was four blank pages. When I asked why they went with that company, the owner said, “I just don’t know anything about this stuff.” The original website provider took three weeks to respond to us to make the transition of ownership, and they had not performed work on the site in over three months. In six weeks, my client had a fully functioning website and a team member fully trained to make any changes they wanted at any time. I build entire digital systems that are easy for people who describe themselves as “technically challenged” to use.

Another client that I worked with needed a site that was not hardcoded that they could update and use. The catch? Their emails were tied to the company that built their website (built before 2010). When they asked to have ownership of their website, the company threatened to terminate their emails as well and refused to help transfer them to a new system. We were able to not only build a website that they manage themselves, but they now own everything they have. When you work with me, at the end of our time together, you, or someone on your team, will be able to use every single digital asset that I build for you. You will also own every single asset to take wherever you like.

I currently work with a business owner to create a plan that aligns with their goals over the entire year. We set a theme every month and make sure that their digital space consistently presents a unified message to their clients. This is done in a short amount of time and helps them focus less on the overwhelm of getting their message out and more on serving their clients. My focus is on creating more than “just a website.” I want you to have a step-by-step plan that’s easy to understand, easy to maintain, and doesn’t take hours every day or even every week.

Lastly, helping clients have a smooth and easy process is as important as supporting our community of amazing entrepreneurs. If you need another service, such as branding, copywriting, photography, etc. I help you connect with local professionals so that your process is seamless. You don’t have to go find those services on your own. 

I’m most proud that my brand is unapologetically not afraid to give the power to the business owner and their team, should they want to have it. We should not shy away from empowering others to succeed, and we should call out those that feel the need to keep it to themselves. Ultimately, I want the industry to embrace this concept. By educating those who are using these services, we help them feel confident and capable of making better decisions for themselves and their business. I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity and the privilege to bring this conversation about the online space to the table.

I want readers to know that there is a version of their business online that is not overwhelming, not scary, and not overly frustrating. There is a world where that piece of their business is manageable, profitable, and understandable.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Personally, I have found referrals and massive amounts of networking to be my most effective marketing strategy. I am a member of a group coaching program that has led to meeting many people who are building their businesses and need my services. I also stay connected with past clients on a regular basis ask for referrals and if they themselves need additional services. Additionally, I seek out partnerships with other professionals that my services compliment, but do not directly compete with. This method has worked very well for keeping a steady stream of business flowing in while supporting both professionals and exceeding the clients’ expectations.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

3 Major Tips for Small Business Owners I Wish Someone Had Told Me Day 1.

Tip #1: Invest in a high-quality business coach, especially if you are just starting out. Even if it's scary or expensive, a good coach can save you YEARS of time, and increase your income dramatically. When I finally hired a coach, I grew more in 3 months than I had in 18 months.   

Tip #2: Do not spend all of your energy on social media if you will not be able to sustain that consistency long-term. This is one of the most common mistakes new business owners make that leads to overwhelms and confuses their audience, ultimately leading to loss of trust and sales.  

Tip #3: Don't wait for your product, material, service, etc. to be PERFECT before you offer it to your audience. Whatever you have to offer can only be perfected by offering it to your audience and getting their feedback! Don't be afraid to prioritize progress over perfection, everything will work out as it should.  

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

For business, my favorite book would be the E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber. This book provides a straightforward guide to building the foundation of a business that can stand the test of time and grow to support your life’s goals. It speaks directly about preparing us to think about our businesses in a way that helps us create a successful, profitable, and, most importantly, manageable organization that provides customers value while supporting our entrepreneurial lifestyle. 

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

o   At the moment, my favorite tool is the Later social media post scheduler. It supports Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Tik Tok, and LinkedIn. It also allows users to preview their Instagram grid to ensure that your profile looks and feels cohesive, helping me plan these posts and my marketing strategically.

I always suggest Later to companies just starting out because they offer quick tutorials and trending reports for their users to check out, making learning about digital marketing easier and more accessible for small businesses. I would recommend using Later from your desktop, not your phone. While the tool does have an app for your phone, I’ve always found it much easier to use for planning and scheduling using drag and drop for posts from my computer. 

Who is your business role model? Why?

It’s hard to pick just one, but I would have to say my mentor, Elise Cruz. Her story is incredible. She traded in a career and life that most people only dream about to start a company that she believes in. She’s so incredibly kind and willing to share her life with others in a way that inspires and ignites more dreams within ourselves. She is the best example of succeeding in a career and being an incredible human being, and I strive to be that as well. 

How do you balance work and life?

To be perfectly honest, I hired a time management coach. She is helping me to priorities my goals, simplify my processes, and eliminate distractions. Being meticulous about my time helps me set boundaries for my work and in my life, which creates more than enough space for both.

 What’s your favorite way to decompress?

I absolutely LOVE to put together living succulent arrangements. We have so many plants in our own home now that when I want to make one, I’m making them for friends and clients, not for our home!

What do you have planned for the next six months?

I’m currently working on a course exclusively for my clients to help them, or their team. The course is meant to help those who describe themselves as “technically challenged,” and give them complete clarity on their digital space.

I’m also working to build a network of professionals that I can work with to provide customers with a painless and complete A-Z experience for building their online presence. My ultimate goal is to give our clients a digital space that is cohesive and easy to use that their customers will absolutely love.

How can our readers connect with you?

I would love for you to connect with me on Instagram! I also offer a free 20-minute discovery call for anyone who’s interested in learning more about how we can work together!

o   Website: https://affinitybyday.com

o   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehomegrind/

o   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehomegrind