“I’d always felt a bit weird and ‘icky’ about working in marketing but once I was working directly with business owners and could see the direct impact of my work on the lives of clients, I was hooked!”
Kristen Melville of Bizmarketer has worked as a marketing professional for more than two decades. She founded Bizmarketer in 2010 when she saw a need for small businesses to access strategic marketing expertise without hiring a full-time in-house Marketing Manager or Director or working with expensive agencies. Her professional passions are coaching, writing, visual design, process mapping and analysis (Kirsten is a self-confessed tech lover and massive systems and processes geek!).
At Bizmarketer, Kristen helps service-based small business owners who’ve struggled to get consistent results from their marketing, to develop a clear and focused marketing strategy. Kristen supports and coaches her clients to implement a simple marketing system, that brings in a reliable and predictable stream of potential clients who are excited to work together.
Kristen says “I’d always felt a bit weird and ‘icky’ about working in marketing but once I was working directly with business owners and could see the direct impact of my work on the lives of clients, I was hooked!”
Kristen first joined the HerBusiness Network in 2017 and shares that being part of the network is incredibly valuable to her. Kristen is very community-minded and loves being part of something where she feels she can contribute and be helpful for others. Kristen has made amazing friendships and gets the accountability and support she needs to keep showing up even when things get hard.
Who’s your favourite entrepreneur and why?
It’s hard for me to choose between Oprah Winfrey and Richard Branson. Oprah inspires me for how much she overcame to become successful and that her success is so much about being truly and transparently herself and lifting others up. Richard because he seems to bring so much joy and fun to the way he does business. There’s a lightness and an experimental ‘screw it, let’s give it a go’ way of approaching things that I aspire to.
Why did you start your business and what gave you the idea?
I had spent more than ten years working in corporate marketing roles and felt a strong pull to do something more meaningful. I knew the experience I’d gained could be valuable for small businesses, so it seemed a logical step to turn to marketing consulting for SMEs.
I’d always felt a bit weird and ‘icky’ about working in marketing but once I was working directly with business owners and could see the direct impact of my work on the lives of clients, I was hooked!
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
Freedom and flexibility. Being able to choose my own hours and go and work in a different location (or even country!) if I want to. I really love that – especially with family living overseas, it allows me to spend ‘slow time’ with them, not rushing to get back to Australia, to be back in an office.
What three pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?
- Don’t listen to the little voice that says you’re not ready or you’re not good enough
- Get super clear on your why to make sure you stick with it when things get hard
- When it comes to marketing yourself, take your own advice!
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
Don’t wait until you feel ready. Just get out there and figure out how you can help people.
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
- Marketing
- Systems
- Mindset
What does your IDEAL business look like? Even if you’re not there yet, what would it look like if your business was ideal?
We have an amazing team culture, we enjoy coming to work and our clients love us. We deliver consistently outstanding results and have a reputation in the market for helping clients achieve their revenue goals, freeing business owners from the feast or famine cycle.
The business is highly profitable and runs like clockwork without being dependent on any one person in the business. Processes are clearly defined and documented and anyone can execute on a process with a minimum of training or guidance.
What problem does being a Member of the HerBusiness Network solve for you and your business? And, how?
Isolation. Being part of this network is incredibly valuable to me. I’m very community-minded and love being part of something where I feel I can contribute and be helpful for others. I’ve made amazing friendships and get the accountability and support I need to keep showing up even when things get hard.
Learn more about Kristen and Bizmarketer.
