There’s one member in our lovely Club that it feels like every month, we’re uncovering more and more about. Kerry…she’s just a bundle of many hidden talents!
One thing she doesn’t hide is her huge knowledge of marketing. Kerry is the proud owner of Pink Heart Marketing and offers bespoke marketing support and training to small business owners to empower them to create effective marketing plans, strategies and activities to help their business succeed.
Back in June, Kerry delivered some hugely practical and helpful training on increasing Facebook page engagement rates, and members are still raving about how helpful it’s been to them.
So, Kerry tell us, why do you do what you do?
I have worked in marketing for over 14 years and have really learned my skills ‘on the job’ during the 2008 financial crash and the recession the followed it and through the development of the online and digital marketing era we now find ourselves in. During this time, social media marketing also became a ‘thing’ and I’ve learned how to help businesses use their platforms as marketing tools to build and maintain relationships with their clients, build a presence in their field and ultimately, to make the sales they are looking for!
I have largely worked as a marketing consultant, often being the one who has done the ‘outsourced work’, for a variety of clients including conference and events venues, independent beauty salons, a farm shop and tearoom, a luxury independent spa and even for a confectionery company! Early in my career I also worked for a spa booking website, static caravan company, a fuelling equipment company and a marketing agency so I am used to adapting to different work environments.
Working for myself and setting up my own business is something I have always aimed for and as my own boss I can balance work with my family’s needs and create the work-life balance I want. I love that I can be at school plays and assemblies and also have a job that I love without the compromise of trying to ‘have it all’.
What practical advice would you give to anyone about to start, or in the early stages of owning a business?
Find your tribe. They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well I think it takes a village to create a business too! Running your own business is hard work. It can sometimes feel lonely, and often as the person making all of the decisions, it can be daunting to know if you’re doing the right thing. By finding other likeminded business people, you have ‘colleagues’ you can turn to for advice and support and people who understand the balancing act that being a business owner can be sometimes. I believe in community over competition, there’s room for everyone and by connecting with other local business owners, you’ll have someone in the same boat to cheer you on when you need it and vice versa.
What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why?
To be honest, I can’t name just a single person for this! I am inspired by anyone who has taken an idea and created a successful business. Anyone who manages to create a side hustle that then becomes their main hustle is an influence to me, because if they can do it, so can I! I am always fascinated to hear what lead to someone creating their business, particularly women because I believe we have a unique way of looking at things that really lends itself to being successful in business.
What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve been given in business?
I’ve always lived by ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’. Sometimes you just have to take that leap and figure it all out on the way! When I haven’t been certain on a decision, I’ve gone with my gut feeling and worked the rest out later. That has served me fairly well over the years.
Most recently, I came across the quote ‘strive for progress, not perfection’ and I have been trying my best to adopt that as I begin my own business from scratch. I’ve consciously tried to get out of my own way and take the steps I need to get to where I want to go.
What one thing have you learned as a small business owner that has served you well over the years?
You don’t have to do it all yourself. Often, we feel that we have to do all of the things in our business but sometimes that is counterproductive. Ultimately, you know your business better than anyone, but maybe you’re not great at accounts, or you really hate scheduling your social media posts. If you can, find someone to help you with the things in your business that you find challenging, don’t have time for or simply don’t like doing, even if it’s just on an ad hoc basis!
This is something that I have seen over the years, particularly as I’m often the one doing the marketing work that has been outsourced! In the end, by delegating some of your responsibilities, it allows you to concentrate on the bigger picture.
What has been the most effective marketing initiatives or programs you have used to promote your business?
My one piece of advice for anyone’s marketing is: cohesion. All of your marketing tools should be working together: website, social media profiles, email campaigns and any printed materials should all be highly recognisable as yours. Consistent branding throughout is key but so are the messages you are putting out there, and you also need to back it up with your actions. I guess that is why my own marketing activities are not yet ready to launch! I’m still putting the pieces of the puzzle together and the big ‘ta-da’ moment is on its way.
One thing that has really helped me begin building a name for myself is to join a networking group and to start getting to know other businesswomen. Being a part of the Thrive Collective has been invaluable to me in so many ways, I really feel like I found my tribe (back to my point in Q1!) In our various conversations, I have found out that I know more about business and marketing than I give myself credit for and while I have learned a lot from the training and the other ladies in the Collective, I have also learned about myself too. All of this is helping me to lay the foundations for a soon to be thriving business.
Do you have any new projects coming up?
Now that my youngest child has started nursery, I have dedicated time to focus on developing my business. I have plans for developing my social media training and creating new training to help business owners manage their own SEO, campaign planning and creating effective marketing plans. In the coming months, I will be launching my website with more information on the ways to work with me so keep an eye out on my social media for updates on that.
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences, your tips and insights Kerry. We absolutely love having you in the Thrive Collective Club and seeing you Thrive in business.
Keen to connect with Kerry. Check out her Facebook page, Instagram and website.
Thrive Collective is a community of business women supporting each other to connect, collaborate, learn and thrive together in business.We’re women who are energised by other women’s successes and equally motivated by our own.Thrive Collective is the combination of both the Thrive Collective Meet Ups and Thrive Collective Online Membership, whatever help you need, we’ve got you covered!