Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Stokes Brown.
Kelly Stokes, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up on the east coast, I had a wealth of stories running in my mind and took up writing at a young age to “make sense” of the world around me. My love of writing is only superseded by my love of travel. I’ve been to over 12 different countries on 5 different continents and lived in 5 different states in U.S.
As a young girl, I dreamed of being a teacher. I was fascinated by the idea that one person could affect the lives of so many simply by being a catalyst for learning. One day, I told myself, I would make a difference in the lives of children.
I was attending Mira Costa College when I met my first husband. After our first son was born, I stayed home to raise my son while my then husband worked to provide for us. I put my teaching dreams on hold and found purpose in being a mom and a wife.
I was a stay at home mom with three sons for 12 years until I got divorced in 2008. I had a degree from California State University San Marcos in Literature and Writing, but I had no idea how I would make a living with this degree. After seeing my sons through the public school system, I wasn’t sure I would be able to fulfill my dreams of impacting lives the way I believed when I was younger.
A good friend of mine was working for a well-known motivational speaker and business coach and she needed help in customer service. My hope was that this part-time job would morph into something truly meaningful, and it did! The owner noticed I had a writing background and asked if I’d be willing to interview his clients and write success stories based on his brain training programs.
I jumped at the chance to use my writing and people skills. It was a small start-up at the time, so I had a tremendous opportunity to learn, grow and take on more responsibility. Shortly after writing several success stories, I was asked to become the community manager. Having success in this area by truly connecting with people and providing guidance, I was invited by the owner to be the project manager for his highest income producing business mastermind program.
What I learned during this program in less than one year was akin to gaining a prestigious MBA!
Falling in love with marketing, copywriting and lead generation, I finally found what I really wanted to do. I left this company and started KSB Online Marketing in 2012. Leads came easily at first and were all word of mouth referrals. I had no plan, no vision, and no marketing strategy in place for several years. I was basically “playing” at business instead of building a business. Even though I was able to offer innovative, creative and lucrative ideas to small business owners and help them take action, I had no idea how to do this for myself. I was simply “too close” and unclear about my who I served, how I served or my “why.”
In 2015, I was offered a job as a marketing assistant for a large international publishing company. I saw an opportunity to develop my skills and earn consistent pay, so I took the job. In less than one year, I became the Senior Marketing Copywriter. With a team of creatives, we collaborated on an idea I proposed that garnered over 600,000 leads. The web and email copy I was writing were also getting phenomenal results! Over $5 million in revenue was generated for copy written for events, online courses, and products.
This same year, I heard more and more small business owners struggling to find help in getting clients. They didn’t know who they best served, how they served or even why they served. I totally “got” them because I, too, had struggled with these very same questions. They were frustrated with all of the free and high-priced marketing advice and they were completely exhausted spending countless hours trying to learn what they didn’t know.
I saw an opportunity to use what I had learned as a project manager, marketing copywriter, and lead generation expert to help small business owners bring their business vision to life. I left the publishing company and finally committed to growing my business.
I knew two things for sure. I wasn’t going to succeed working in an isolated environment (aka my home) and I knew I wanted to continue fine-tuning my skills and staying abreast of new marketing strategies so I could be the best at what I do. I became a member of Hera Hub, a spa-inspired co-working space in Carlsbad in 2016 which became the catalyst for tremendous business development, business growth, and sustainable revenue.
Today, I know exactly who I serve, how I serve and why I serve. I no longer struggle with the who, how or why that frustrates and derails so many small business owners. Today, I help female entrepreneurs bring their business vision to life by creating engaging social media strategies and focused marketing plans, innovative lead generation campaigns and effective online product development that attracts more of and the right kind of people to their businesses. My clients say that what truly sets me apart is my commitment and passion to their success. I work with amazing entrepreneurs who are creative, driven, caring and inspired to make a real difference in the world with the work they do.
My bigger “why” is close to my heart as a mother of three sons. No child should go without food. I decided to stop talking about this social problem and instead, become part of the solution. I recently became a volunteer for HopeStart International. This nonprofit organization was founded by Fredrick Clerie who has a lot of heart, hope, and commitment to improve the quality of life for children in Haiti.
As the social media strategist, my role is to build awareness about this organization and to encourage people to take action and make a difference in a child’s life. We all have enormous potential and an extraordinary purpose to fulfill. What inspires and motivates me each and every day is being a part of something bigger, more meaningful, and truly making a difference in someone else’s life.
Has it been a smooth road?
I literally laughed out loud at this question. No, it has not been smooth, Running a successful business is not easy, not quick and comes with a lot of expensive lessons and learning curves.
Even though I started my business in 2012, I really only began focusing on building my business in 2016. Because I wasn’t clear or focused on my business, I created a website that was completely out of line with who I am, who I help or how I am unique. It’s the old cobbler’s kid without shoe conundrum entrepreneurs often find themselves in when they start a business.
I also had some major setbacks along the way: multiple failed businesses, a major health issue, money issues, and struggling to find a healthy balance between work and home.
As an entrepreneur, a lot of people talk about “fear.” I was never afraid. I don’t think fear is really an issue at all. The main problem I’ve noticed in myself and other entrepreneurs is taking the leap from the fatal comfort zone to the magic of the unknown.
So many people stay in unhealthy relationships, unfulfilling jobs and continue with unhealthy habits not because they are afraid, but because it is “easier” to stay with what they know rather than try something new, uncertain of what this new change will bring. It’s our primitive brain saying, “Hey, we don’t know what could happen here. I know you are miserable, unhappy, or unfulfilled, but at least you ‘know’ what to expect. Let’s just cuddle on the couch and ruminate on all the reasons why you should just stay right where you are.”
The one piece of advice I’d offer to anyone starting a business or who owns a business but isn’t getting the results they really want is to try doing something that makes you feel utterly uncomfortable (I mean, queasy stomach, fluttering heart uncomfortable). If public speaking makes your heart race, go speak in front of groups as often as you can.
If writing is daunting but you have a story inside of you, write until your hand hurts, edit it prudently and publish it online where people can see it. Be vulnerable. What you’ll gain is confidence and a knowing inside of you that you can do anything if you get out of your comfort zone if you push yourself if you say yes to uncertainty, and stop buying into the “fear” propaganda so prevalent in our society today. It’s bogus and only pulls you away from your dreams and derails your goals.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
As a solopreneur, I specialize in helping female entrepreneurs bring their business vision to life. I create engaging social media strategies that build awareness and compel people to engage. I develop focused marketing plans so my clients know who their audience is, how they best serve this audience in a unique and authentic way.
And their bigger “why” so they remain consistent in their marketing messages. I work closely with clients to develop effective and meaningful online products. I host a variety of workshops to support female entrepreneurs in reaching their professional goals. Finally, I create innovative lead magnet (free offer) campaigns that attract my clients’ target audience to them.
What I am most known for, according to my clients, is my innovative and creative ideas, really “getting” them, my inspiring and positive personality and my ability to keep clients focused on action.
What I am most proud of are the extraordinary relationships I have with my clients. We are all here to help one another succeed and I am truly inspired by and focused on my clients’ success. Putting their success first is what truly sets me apart, along with my ability to really listen and understand their needs.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
We are so lucky to live in Southern California – the beauty, the weather, the people. I do believe it’s a great place to live and to run a profitable business. As many businesses are focusing more on online marketing and sales, I think anyone who is really driven to start a business could do so in any part of the world. What makes our area unique is the creativity that abounds in the people here. It takes a lot of income to live here, so the motivation to thrive in business is not only important but necessary.
The only issue in starting a business here is it can feel really isolating. I highly recommend joining a co-working space or networking group so that you can connect with other professionals and business owners and continue to develop your skills. Hera Hub has been a tremendous catalyst in building my business and it is wonderful to be surrounded by women who understand what it’s like to own and run a business and who are always willing to support each other’s success.
Pricing:
- 1-hour marketing strategy session FREE
- Social Media Strategy Plan Package starts at $250
- Online Product Development Package starts at $1000
- DIY Ultimate Marketing Plan FREE
- Lead Generation (Free Offer) and Nurturing Email Campaign starts at $500
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.ksbonlinemarketing.com
- Phone: 7604288820
- Email: kelly@ksbonlinemarketing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acourseabove/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KSBMarketingonline
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/KSBMessage
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-stokes-brown-528a095a/
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
