We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kelly Stark a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kelly, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

You always hear, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Well, I didn’t know work & life could look like this. I went through terrible boss and coworkers, I worked my tail off for zero credit for my work and I just got tired of killing myself so someone else could look like the hero. I realized that “numbers” were the decision makers for a business. Analytics are ignored and decisions are made based on unrealistic goals or motives. So, I learned how to dig deep into what website stats, insights, conversions were saying about a business. I then created a strategy based on the loop holes and lack of strategy. My business has been 100% word of mouth without paid advertising. That means a lot to me in terms of my capability and work ethic! I LOVE what I do.. but I had to go through some painful jobs and experiences to know my worth. Every day is exciting. It’s REALLY hard work to own your own business, but it’s worth the struggle. When you take the step out of your comfort zone, the rewards are immeasurable. You have to go through the pain points to learn how you want to craft your life and career. But, step out! Take the leap– it will be the BEST thing you ever do!

Kelly, 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 feel more like myself when I create and design! I realized that my scientific background in engineering and analytics coupled with my artistic skillset with photography and videography was something magical when put together. Over the past 20+ years, I realized marketing companies said they “do marketing,” but they really just post junk on social media. They don’t look at insights, they don’t understand SEO and content, they post junk that people don’t engage with and they have zero understanding of their market, trends and lack of strategy. When I do consults and sit with clients– they are amazed at how much they AREN’T doing to engage with their past clients and leads! My work has been published on billboards, book covers, in international magazines, in commercials, etc. I’ve had so many success stories that allowed businesses to KEEP their businesses when in the “red zone.” It feels good to be recognized for my skills I worked endlessly to cultivate. There’s very few full-scale boutique marketing firms that give you everything you need to effectively run your business at an affordable price. Paying $500 for marketing isn’t true marketing. It’s automated, watered-down marketing that doesn’t carry your brand or voice. If you don’t know what your numbers are for your business, you can’t effectively understand how to reach potential business or what your clients find most interesting about you! It’s science.. and not everyone understands that completely. That’s where we step in and shine for clients!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I think the most valuable information I ever heard in my professional career was to make sure you can “pivot.” Have new services you can offer, learn a new skillset you can monetize or have an “out” if you want to do something different. I started just doing basic marketing in my late “teens.” I then learned CSS and web development in college. Then I was self taught in photography 1 years ago, then I learned videography over Covid and then I learned about creating funnels and e-commerce marketing sales. I’ve always been 3 dimensional in my business offerings. When something wasn’t working– I had 3 streams of income to tap into. The more you make yourself profitable by learning a new skill, the better off you’ll be in your life. We are a stagnant people. We graduate and never challenge ourselves outside of what we do day to day! You can create a life based on how you want it to look and function. It’s extremely challenging work! But my life looks exactly as I pictured it. I get to have multiple businesses (that work FOR me while I’m away) and I get to be Mom and travel and volunteer, etc. I have to make sacrifices but I get to do it ALL! That was important for me…

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

You grow by focusing on past clients. It sounds counterintuitive, but you grow by referrals, maintaining past clients and growing exposure. Almost every consult I do with potential clients– I ask: “What are you doing to keep the clients who worked/bought from you?” Typically, blank stares happen or the quiet sets in. We spend so much time, energy and money to capture new business— and then we forget about them! There are so many effective strategies to KEEP clients rather than wasting more time and money to find NEW clients. I’m all about growth– believe me– but there needs to be a space to nurture and connect with past clients who gave you their business. It’s crucial– if not the MOST important part of your business.

Contact Info:

• Website: Starksocialmarketing.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/kellystarkphotography
• Facebook: facebook.com/starksocialmarketing
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellystarkftw/

Image Credits
Kelly Stark Photography