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for women in business
I help female coaches, consultants and service providers get past their fear, frustration, and overwhelm around marketing so that they can embrace it and prioritise it to grow their business.
A bit about me...
I live in South Cerney near Cirencester, with my husband and dog Rosie. We have two grown-up daughters - both of whom work in marketing!!! I'm a year-round lake swimmer, love baking, networking, and just hanging out with friends over good food or listening to live music.
I worked in marketing agencies for almost 30 years and most of the time I loved it. I worked with incredibly talented people, I learned a lot and working with brands like TKMaxx, Hilton Hotels and Kenco was exciting. There was always something new happening, and I had some amazing experiences.
But after 30 years, I’d had enough of the relentless battle to meet targets and the long hours, so in 2016, I set up my first business. It was a ‘virtual’ agency, providing marketing consultancy and campaign management to small and medium sized businesses. But I didn't love it, and when you run your own business, you have to love what you do.
I realised that the thing I missed most about my agency life was training and developing my team. I loved it when someone joined us straight out of uni, got promoted a couple of times, and then went on to an amazing job somewhere else. That's what got me out of bed in the morning - helping someone see their potential and grow into it.
So I started to think about how I could combine my 30 years' experience with my love of training and mentoring, to help the many business owners I met who were struggling to do their own marketing.
In 2020 I set up my Marketing Mentor business, and I love it! I use my experience to strip everything back to basics for my clients with a single aim: To stop business owners wasting time, energy, and money on marketing that doesn’t work for them (or to stop them running away from it altogether!)
I'd love to learn more about you and your business too, so do connect or get in touch to arrange a virtual (or real-life!) cuppa.
I mainly hang out on LinkedIn and I also have Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Recommendations
"“I've really, really enjoyed working with you. It's so much more than just marketing that we've done. And I really feel like I've got a sense of my whole business and of me as a person, which really is so powerful. It's been absolutely incredible. So, thank you so much for that.” "
Recommended by Debs Wright, Ryhall Coaching
"Working with Kaye through one-to-one mentoring has been hugely beneficial. Kaye brings just the right balance of support and challenge to our conversations. Through our mentoring partnership I have gained confidence, learnt how to plan my marketing, developed content and most importantly I’ve stopped being frightened of talking to potential clients about what I can do to help them. Kaye’s knowledge and experience underpins her approach and she shares her wisdom generously. I can’t recommend Kaye highly enough. "
Recommended by Liz Jones, Organisational Development Consultant
"A really great Spotlight session - thank you! I am so pleased I met with you before launching my website! I now have so much more clarity on the type of business I am. Many of my peers do a great job in Social Media but my niche is very different and you helped me see that. You have given me the confidence to be passionate about what I love and have the expertise in, rather than what I think I should be doing! "
Recommended by Caroline McShane, Social Honeycomb
"If the mere thought of marketing overwhelms you, you need to speak to Kaye King. Kaye has the ability to break down what seems to be a very complex topic into manageable, actionable chunks so you can take the next step in growing your business. I have been a member of Kaye’s fantastic Marketing Sanctuary since she launched it (just the name of the group takes the panic out of marketing!) she’s always on hand with great advice, encouragement, and guidance. Kaye is trusted source in a crowded, noisy Marketing world."
Recommended by Jane Mallett, Weight Loss and Nutrition Adviser
A bit more about me
What's the most enjoyable thing about your work?
Definitely celebrating wins with my clients - I encourage everyone to do a kitchen Happy Dance whenever they have a breakthrough, get a new client, or just do something they've been afraid to do before ?
What is your vision for your business?
To stop small business owners wasting money on 'get rich quick' schemes that won't work for them.
If you could give one single piece of advice to a new start up business, what would it be?
Before you do any marketing activity at all, spend some time getting clear on three really important questions: Who do you help? How do you help them? Why are you different?
When you're clear on those, you can help your dream client understand how you can help them - and that's what marketing is about after all, helping your dream clients find the right solution for them.
Which business person or company do you admire most and why?
I'm a fan of Deborah Meaden - she's fair, feisty and passionate about environmental issues.
Which one phrase or quote sums up your attitude to business life?
Life never feels so hard when you have the right people around you
What made you join WMB and how do you plan to make the most of the network?
I wanted to do in-person networking where I felt I good make deeper relationships than just chatting over coffee.
What do you do at week-ends?
Spend time with friends and family, cook for friends, read, swim in the lakes near where I live, walk the dog, cinema and live music sometimes.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what 2 luxury items would you take?
A supply of good quality dark chocolate and a fridge to keep it in :)
What book are you currently reading?
Kate Atkinson - Big Sky
What book(s) would you recommend?
Business Book - The One Thing by Gary Keller. It's such a simple philosophy about focusing only on what matters in life and business. We can't make progress if we're trying to do everything all at once.
Also Exploratory Writing by Alison Jones - a brilliant guide to 'free writing' in short bursts to help you solve all of life's challenges or just clear your head.
For Fiction - anything by Anne Tyler
Who's your personal hero and why?
My husband - he's funny, loyal, kind - and he's very handy with paintbrushes, drills, and the hoover ?
What is your worst experience in business or work?
Being very unwell with severe chronic fatigue for almost three years, which meant I had to step right back from my first business only a year after I set it up. But it gave me time to think and lead to me changing direction from being a marketing consultant to being a marketing mentor and coach, which I absolutely love!
What was your first ever job?
Putting tomatoes in boxes in a local market gardeners - dull but it was good to have my own money
Where is your favourite place in the world and why?
Lake Como - we went there last year to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary and it was just stunning. We just kept stopping and staring at the views all the time!!
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