01What does your business do, in your own words?
I'm a marketing strategist and fractional CMO, which means I help small business owners figure out how to make all the pieces of their marketing work together. I also host a podcast called My Weekly Marketing, where I talk with experts and share what I've learned over 30+ years in the industry.
“The marketing you do today often determines how much business you'll have three months from now.”
02How did you get started? Give us the origin story.
When I started my first business, a design agency, I wasn't exactly new to marketing. I'd worked in Fortune 500 companies, retail marketing, agencies, and with plenty of small businesses. But becoming a business owner gave me a whole new perspective! Suddenly, I was the one trying to juggle social media, email marketing, blogging, networking, and about a hundred other things. Even with my background, it was overwhelming. Ever since, my mission has been to help small business owners stop guessing at marketing and start growing with a clear plan.
03What's the hardest part of running this business that nobody sees?
Taking my own advice! I tell my clients all the time that they need to make time to work ON their business, not just IN it. But when you're running a business, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks, such as the website and social media, that don't move the needle. The hardest part is protecting time to think about the big picture instead of just checking things off a to-do list.
04What early mistake taught you the most?
Learning that being busy and building a profitable business aren't necessarily the same thing! Early on, I learned how easy it is to get so wrapped up in serving current clients that you forget to market your own business. Everything looks great until a project ends, and suddenly you're wondering where the next client is coming from. I learned that you have to pay attention to your numbers and keep marketing even when you're busy. Cash really is king in business, and the marketing you do today often determines how much business you'll have three months from now.
05What do you wish more people knew about your industry?
I wish more people understood that good marketing isn't about being pushy, manipulative, or convincing people to buy something they don't need. At its heart, marketing is about recognizing what someone needs, or what they're struggling with, and how your business can genuinely meet that need.
“At its heart, marketing is about recognizing what someone needs, or what they're struggling with, and how your business can genuinely meet that need.”
06Why here? What made you choose this area?
My husband was offered a position teaching in the MBA program at Concordia University Texas, so we started looking in northwest Austin. We found a house we loved in Leander and quickly fell in love with the area, too. I like that we can hop on the train to Austin, but we're also close to hiking trails, nature, and the Hill Country. It's a wonderful combination of city convenience and the quiet of suburbia.
07Where do you take out-of-town guests to show off the area?
We always make sure our guests get some good Texas BBQ and Tex-Mex. That's practically a requirement, right? We also love taking people hiking at Balcones Canyonlands to see the beautiful Hill Country views, and Georgetown's historic square. There's so much more to this area than people expect.
08What's next for the business this year?
This year is wrapping up, but I'm really excited about what I'm building for 2027! I'm developing a new offer that will help small business owners create their own AI-powered marketing team, customized to their business. My goal is to help entrepreneurs use AI strategically to make their marketing easier, more effective, and a whole lot less overwhelming.
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Leander, Cedar Park, and Liberty Hill in one Tuesday email.