Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rachel Vanni. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rachel, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success comes in many forms, but I believe it starts with the courage to be uncomfortable. When you are pushing past your current knowledge or skillset, it doesn’t feel great all the time. It can be downright scary. You may feel insecure or unsure, but you just learn how to lean into it. I had a professor who said something that always stuck with me: “Knowledge makes a bloody entrance.” When I’m facing a challenge and it feels really difficult, I remember that growth can be painful but when you learn to accept that, nothing can stop you.

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.

I am the Founder of Local Content, a marketing firm that works with small businesses and startups. I have worked in the marketing industry for 11 years as a consultant and within agencies. I believe in authentic, more organic-focused marketing strategies rather than prioritizing paid ads. Authentic marketing is based on a company’s personality and bringing the value they offer their customers to the forefront through storytelling.

Many small businesses and startups know who they are and who they are trying to engage, but they are strapped for time running all the other components of their business, and marketing gets pushed to the wayside. I work hand-in-hand with these teams to create engaging marketing strategies that truly speak to their customers. I then lay out specific tactics that produce measurable results. Clients can then choose to have our agency activate those tactics or handle them in-house.

I love building things from the ground up and have had great success with early-stage companies, small businesses, and startups in building their audiences from scratch.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Consistency in the quality of what I do. I’m always consistent with my work product, my availability, and my communication, and that is key to businesses who are just starting, or don’t have a lot of leeway in terms of their budget. They can rely on me and trust that what I provide them will be aligned with their expectations, and if they need anything, I’ll be there to support them.

Have you ever had to pivot?

While I have had a fantastic career in marketing, it wasn’t what I set out to do. I graduated from law school in 2012 with a plan to become a family law attorney. Shortly after I began my career in law, I gave birth to my daughter, Charlie, who was diagnosed with a rare disease. Because of her very intense medical needs, I could not manage a time-demanding job as an attorney. I had to pivot to a job I could do remotely, so I got a job as a remote content writer at a marketing agency.

My daughter passed away in 2017, and inspired me to found a non-profit in her memory in 2024, The Charlie Elenore Foundation. We support rare disease families by providing information and resources to overcome barriers to treatment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://CharlieElenoreFoundation.org
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-vanni/

Image Credits

Betsy McCue- Photography