We recently connected with Danielle Phillips and have shared our conversation below.

Danielle, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I never wanted to be an entrepreneur. Growing up, I worked for several small businesses and I witnessed how challenging it is to have your own business—you’re on call 24/7 and solely responsible for fixing anything that breaks or navigating any tricky situation. What I didn’t realize at the time was that along with the responsibility comes a huge amount of freedom. As a business owner, you have the ability to adjust as you go, to say no to clients that might not fit, and to align your business with your values.

I decided to start GuideBeam Digital Marketing as I was leaving a marketing agency job. What I love about marketing is helping people solve problems and find new ways to reach customers. I was taking a corporate job (complete with cubicles) for the first time in my life and knew that I wanted to do more than that, I knew I needed to help real people with their marketing, not just hit sales numbers for a big business.I had spent the last 9 years devoted to growing the agency I had worked at. I had poured my heart and soul into that job and thought “what if I put my energy into my own business, instead?”

So I took a risk and decided to start GuideBeam Digital Marketing, focused on digital marketing coaching and helping people navigate their marketing.

The very first thing I did was look for support in my community. I knew absolutely nothing about starting a business and knew I would need help. Dayton, Ohio has a tightly-knit community and I’ve been active in community organizations and boards. and I reached out to have coffee with a friend who worked for a local entrepreneur organization, Launch Dayton. I shared my business idea and she loved it- she told me that Launch Dayton held free entrepreneur classes to help new business owners, with a cohort starting in just a few weeks!

The classes were EXACTLY what I needed. Each week covered a different aspect of starting a business, from deciding the type of business to form- LLC, S-corp, etc. to how to manage financials, to business taxes, and even marketing! The 8 week series cumulated in a pitch night. The classes were incredibly helpful to connect me with experienced subject matter experts and give me the confidence I needed to move forward. I officially launched my business during the final month of the class. My first couple of clients were relationships/referrals from my previous agency job which helped me refine my processes and cover initial costs.

I had an opportunity to speak at an upcoming conference the next month for Launch Dayton’s Start-up Week. I quickly created a website and business cards and also announced my new business on my personal social media. Before I knew it, I had my first new client opportunity! A friend had seen my announcement and referred me! I also had leads come out of my conference sessions.

Today, I work with regularly with 7 wonderful clients. I give back to the community that has supported me so much by speaking and presenting about marketing. I’m a regular presenter on Marketing for the same Launch Dayton classes that I took as I was starting my business and I love how everything has come full circle. My advice for those starting a business is to find your community of support. You don’t have to navigate this on your own. Surround yourself with others facing similar challenges and embrace the growth that offers.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Marketing can be incredibly challenging, especially for small and mid-sized businesses. It is difficult to know where to invest your time and money, what’s working for you and what’s not, and how to move someone from just a follower to a customer?

I’m Danielle Phillips, the owner and founder of GuideBeam Digital Marketing. I coach businesses on their marketing to help them understand what they need to do to attract, educate and convert their customers. Many of my clients are solo entrepreneurs or mid-sized businesses with a small team. I work closely with them to gain a deep understanding of their business and who their customers are. We work together to form marketing strategies and execute tactics. Then, we focus on results and use them to inform where we spend our time. Some clients need help with social media, others focus on search engine optimization or email marketing. No matter the marketing channel, I always zoom out to overall goals and how to achieve them.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

What I have heard from others in terms of my reputation is that I am genuine, positive, a good at what I do, and someone who gives back. I think this has been critical to help me build my reputation within my market. The network and connections that I have gained all come from giving back to my community on causes I am passionate about. They are not fake, or in place just to gain business. I attend events to listen and truly connect with others. I speak to local college classes, conferences or present workshops to help others who are trying to learn or start their own business. My reputation comes from showing up and putting in the work. Maybe it’s karma, but I’ve found that when I help others grow, I end up with growth for myself too.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The absolute best source of new clients for me has been referrals. Trust is critical. People want to work with someone that they trust to do the best for their business. Almost all of my ongoing business has been from referrals. One referral has turned into 3 long-term clients, with the possibility of more. I’ve found that referrals are extremely helpful for me to find the right clients that fit my business and that I enjoy working with- a true partnership. Several of these clients also partner with each other for events and regular retreats. This has created a sense of community and benefited their marketing too!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.guidebeamdigital.com/
• Instagram: @guidebeamdigital
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guidebeamdigital/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellephillips8/

Image Credits
Jordan Freshour