We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kayla Stenberg. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kayla below.
Kayla, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s talk about social media – do you manage your own or do you have someone or a company that handles it for you? Why did you make the choice you did?
I manage my own social media! Of course, as a brand new business aiming to minimize spending, the choice was budget-friendly. But aside from the financial viewpoint, I do genuinely enjoy it! I’ve always felt most “myself” when I’m engaged in something creative, whether that means getting behind the ultrasound machine and rendering beautiful 3D images, sitting down to write copy for my website, or creating original content for my social media. I also happen to be a card-carrying member of the MySpace generation–I’ve been on social media for all my adult life and feel comfortable navigating it. It isn’t a source of stress, or confusion. When you’re having fun and continuing to feel inspired, there isn’t really a moment where you think “God, I wish I had someone else doing this for me,” even after your budget fattens up a bit. There’s a heightened sense of pride that comes with each new booking knowing I personally compelled that client to choose me.
I will say that managing my own social media works especially well for me because I’m marketing exclusively to local clients. For example, I advertise in Facebook groups exclusive to young families in my area, knowing the other members are within a reasonable driving distance. If you’re in a similar situation, and you already enjoy using social media in your personal life, I say go for it! Worst case scenario, you pivot to outsourcing.
If you do try your hand, “boosting” posts on Instagram and Facebook has been worth every penny–I get a lot of action through that. I’d also recommend cross-sharing content across multiple platforms even when it feels tedious–I’ve had people book with me through TikTok after seeing my video on their FYP. You never know where the right person’s gonna be doom scrolling!
Kayla, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Kayla, a board-certified Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, mother of two, and founder of Peek Ultrasound. I’ve been “FaceTiming” babies in the womb since 2018… including my own!
Throughout my first pregnancy, I became fascinated with ultrasound technology. Seeing my son’s heartbeat and watching him move around in real-time when he was just a few centimeters big completely blew my mind. I remember getting home from my first OBGYN visit and instantly cracking open my laptop to research the career path. I applied to a program that same evening. After what turned out to be a really intense application process (the program at a remote college in Wyoming only took ten students per cohort), I was accepted, and completed my clinical internship at a 300-bed university hospital and level III trauma center. Part of my early training even included scanning my own babies in the womb! Two years later, I graduated, passed my boards, and started working my dream job.
As an OBGYN sonographer, I have the unique privilege of experiencing some of life’s most special moments alongside my patients. After scanning in hospitals and private practices for the better part of a decade, there’s still nothing more awe-inspiring than capturing a precious yawn or smile in-utero right before the eyes of the parents-to-be. In a modality so dependent on operator discretion, we genuinely have the power to shape outcomes and change lives.
On the other hand, I’m not naive to the many shortcomings of the modern clinical setting; rushed visits, uncomfortable exam rooms, no children or extra family allowed, jam-packed provider schedules, unfamiliar language, understaffed offices, and less-than-friendly ultrasound technologists (we’ve all had one). Conversations with friends paired with my personal insights as a healthcare professional revealed a surprising through line of disappointment in prenatal care, especially relating to the ultrasound experience–an undeniable highlight for so many expecting families. And I felt personally accountable, refusing to subscribe to the notion that “it just is what it is.”
It may sound silly, but OBGYN ultrasound really is so much more to me than black and gray feedback on a screen. For me, peeking into the womb is a glimpse of the future that fortifies me with a strong feeling of purpose. It literally kept me up at night, wondering what I could do provide better service to patients, the public, and the profession. Why shouldn’t a relaxed, luxurious, and fully immersive ultrasound experience exist in the hands of a suitably qualified professional with years of safety training and hands-on experience?
I began to conceptualize Peek Ultrasound– a one-of-a-kind facility where patients under the care of a licensed professional could come to enjoy a dedicated bonding experience with their bundle of joy, surrounded by their loved ones. Turning this idea into reality would be the defining innovative stroke of my career.
At Peek, we’re reimagining prenatal ultrasound from a modern, balanced viewpoint with our middle-ground approach to fetal imaging. Our signature experience emphasizes unrushed, 1-on-1 care in a comfortable space with an experienced, credentialed Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. We provide elective 2D, 3D, 4D and HD Live ultrasound imaging as well as live gender reveals, early DNA gender analysis, VIP viewing parties, recordable heartbeat stuffed animals, diagnostic studies interpreted by board-certified radiologists, and so much more.
What sets us apart at Peek is our steadfast commitment to maintaining clinical standards in the elective setting. Our open, relaxing studio provides plenty of room for extra friends, family, and children. We offer evening and weekend appointments to accommodate a variety of schedules and personal preferences. With us, you can visualize your baby’s features in amazing detail long before they’re born, watch them stretch, yawn, smile, dance, or even try to suck on their fingers and toes in the womb, and still rest assured that you’re receiving quality care and dialogic communication surrounding this extraordinary season of life.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
When I’m not behind the machine with my Peek patients, I continue to contribute onsite at local hospitals and private practices honing a diverse skill set spanning OBGYN, abdomen + small parts, vascular, pediatric, and neonatal sonography. I work closely with the area’s leading OBGYN physicians, midwives, sonographers, and ultrasound physicists to improve quality control over diagnostic obstetric and gynecologic imaging and advocate for improved access to imaging services for underserved patient populations across Long Island.
In other words, I’m lucky enough to spend a third of my week in front of my target demographic! Most doctor’s offices in my area don’t provide 3D imaging, so I make sure to offer my card to any patients who express interest. I also advertise at local daycare centers, children’s clothing boutiques, libraries, and other similar places where young families are likely to hang out.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
Clients who book an ultrasound early in pregnancy are given an exclusive discount code for any future sessions booked during the same pregnancy. Each follow-up email containing the link to all the images and videos from a client’s session includes a list of ways to stay connected including tagging us on social media, mailing a birth announcement for our “alumni wall,” and even bringing the baby by the studio to say hello after they’re born! I also maintain a log of all the due dates for my Peek mamas and make sure to send a handwritten note of congratulations after baby’s safe arrival.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.peek-ultrasound.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peekultrasound
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@peekultrasound
