Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Jacobus

Hi Amy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I always say I started a business by accident.

Truth is, starting my own thing wasn’t the dream. I wanted to combine my passion for writing with my love of dance, and so I moved to NY, where I knew there was a larger market for arts journalism. I landed a full-time job working in a boutique PR firm for the performing arts, and I spent six months begging critics from The New York Times to come to our client’s shows, only to watch some of those clients get crushed by negative reviews, It felt like there were better ways to tell an artists’ story and share their work with the world.

When I walked out on that PR job, I no idea what was next. I started freelancing with people I knew in New York, writing, pitching, marketing… After five years of taking on any project I could, I realized I was making more money on my own than in a 9-to-5, And I was good at this digital marketing thing. I focused up and started to build my business with intention.

I did the big girl tasks, like filing the paperwork to become an LLC, but more importantly, I defined the framework I was using that made my approach unique, hired employees, and narrowed our service list.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

I don’t think owning your own business is ever a smooth road. Every founder I know started out hustling their butts off – working long hours, learning all they can, and getting comfy with failure.

Then, just as you start to figure things out, something changes. Maybe there are shifts in the market that you need to pivot to accommodate, or maybe your role has changed into more of a managerial one than a creative one. New challenges emerge, and you have to be willing to meet them, over and over.

One of my biggest struggles currently is recognizing that in order to support more clients and have a bigger impact, I need to start delegating some of the tasks I’m good at, or some of the work I enjoy most… Letting go of that control is really hard for me. But each time I’ve done it, it’s been worth it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Grounded Growth Marketing (formerly Amy Jacobus Marketing)?

We’re currently going through a major rebrand, leaving behind the personal brand with my name in it and embracing a company name based on our marketing framework: Grounded Growth Marketing.

Our marketing approach starts by getting GROUNDED in a client’s unique needs in order to plan for reliable and ongoing GROWTH. We work with mission-minded folks at arts organizations and who have founded their own service-based businesses. In order for them to connect with the best-fit audience, the need to establish marketing habits they will actually stick with. This comes from deeper understanding, smarter prioritization and consistent action.

Deeper Understanding
We’re not only looking at your numbers and what’s worked in the past. Our team creates an individualized approach that fits your day-to-day flow and allows plenty of space for the work you actually LOVE (in addition to simply promoting it).

Smarter Prioritization
Once we’ve established your brand’s position in the market, who it is you’re trying to reach, and the values that support and inspire your work, we can immediately begin prioritizing tactics that will garner the best results.

Consistent Action
Your commitment to routine communications will be both evergreen and ongoing. Arts organizations in particular have a problem with persistence presence. They tend only to show up when there’s an event to sell. But artistic leaders and founders in general need to know how to show up in those moments in-between events to build recognition, trust and good will.

Our consulting process doesn’t skip over any steps. We want folks to see success for the long haul, not just quick wins in the current moment.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?

Folks can work with us in one of four ways:

They can engage us for a single action plan, typically a marketing and communications plan around a new offer or program, or a pivot or rebrand.

They can hire us to build a content marketing calendar — this is to ensure that any email, social or other communication they spend time and energy creating and distributing is strategic and helps them get closer to their goals.

We can build a comprehensive marketing strategy — one that acts as a guide for every component of their communications, from brand storytelling to web content, to where and what to post on social media channels.

And they can hire us to actually manage their marketing, to expand capacity of their team and efforts.

You can learn more about what we do on our website or on our Instagram: @groundedgrowth.marketing

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amyjacobus.marketing
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/groundedgrowth.marketing

Image Credits

Studio 5800