Community Highlights: Meet Carrie Horn of Bold Story Marketing

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Horn.

Hi Carrie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hello! I’m Carrie Horn, and I’ve been an entreprenuer for just under two years now. I founded Bold Story in September of 2020 with a mission to help brands create awareness, curate their mission and vision, and impact the community in a positive way. My goals were threefold: to genuinely enjoy spending time with my clients, to help brands succinctly present their differentiation, and to execute very special, out-of-the-box ideas.

Prior to opening the company, I gained a breadth of knowledge as the marketing director for several media brands in Denver. Those roles allowed me to connect with an incredible circle of people. A strong network is at the foundation of both my professional and personal life, and I am a big believer in the power of people and relationships. My background is unique: in my career, I’ve worked for a variety of different types of organizations, including a non-profit, a PR agency, and for local media outlets Entercom (now Audacy) and 5280 magazine. This varied experience enabled me to build a unique skillset I use on a daily basis to guide, strategize with, and execute for my clients.

Bold Story began with an Instagram account and a handful of coffee dates. I reached out to people, many of them women, to seek advice, ask questions, and engage with people who could help me script my business plan. And then I dove in. I was lucky to receive a few stellar clients out of the gate that produced authentic, mutually beneficial relationships where we could grow together. Those clients are still with me to this day.

Almost a year and a half into business, I’m delighted to say I’ve surpassed my goals and expectations. I’ve connected with outstanding individuals and brands; I’ve helped my clients find their voice and I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to put into action so many big ideas. Going out on my own has allowed me to learn, truly get to know incredible people, and to use my creativity in new and exciting ways.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Becoming an entrepreneur has required choosing my own path. As many who have started businesses before me, that road can be lonely at times. There are a lot of question marks and situations that demand trial and error. Thankfully, I’ve found that Denver is a welcoming city for entrepreneurs. I’ve met people to collaborate with, groups to join for sharing stories and ideas, and a village of supporters to cheer me on.

One of the biggest challenges I faced when I started this business in 2020 was the inability to meet people in person due to the pandemic. There are so many non-verbal cues we give each other as human beings when we are face-to-face that simply are not seen through a virtual call. It’s hard to network, maintain relationships, and seek out new ones in this COVID era.

I plan to enjoy even more success with the ability to take meetings in person more often, attend parties, entertain clients, and engage with new people. I am very much looking forward to that.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The mission of Bold Story is to unlock brand superpowers and help clients understand their magic. My goal is to integrate so closely with clients and their staff that they truly feel like I’m a part of the in-house team. I individualize my work with each of my customers and aim to dream up and execute great ideas they have never tried before.

I harness the power of storytelling, the strength behind strategic collaborations, and the influence of multi-platform messaging for the ultimate mix of awareness tailored to fit individual client needs in support of delivering against their brand goals. To do that I use my expertise in event planning, the construction of unique partnerships and content creation all tied together to present the true story of a brand.

In order to achieve the highest level of impact and find success, my first step with a new client is to understand what I call their ‘brand superpower’ otherwise known as value differentiation. I use this knowledge to develop strategy, goals, objectives, and tactics that I will execute over the course of our work together, always with the brand superpower as the North Star. The plan for each client can be wildly different and may encompass managing social media accounts, writing newsletters, obtaining speaking engagements, or even finding a category of business that best suits a brand for collaboration. I’ve helped brands create video series, pitch new business, gain public relations placements, and secure event sponsorships. This is why I love what I do, every day is different and each client plan is unique.

I believe that people are the key to making big ideas work. That’s the ‘secret sauce’ behind Bold Story: the great people in my network and the great clients I have who are passionate about telling their brand stories. You can come up with the sexiest of plans, but if you can’t pick up the phone to put it into action by calling the right individual, it’s just a plan never used.

I have been asked over the past year what category of business I serve; do I have a niche? The answer I keep coming back to, is that I want to work with people where I have a connection. I like to work with clients who have a deep-rooted love for what they do and big goals for what they want to accomplish. I want to work with people who can take risks, try new things, and who always want to aim higher. If that’s you, and your brand needs a lift, even if you’re not sure exactly what you need, give me a call. I’d love to find out more.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The absolute most important lesson I’ve learned along my journey is to never, ever burn a bridge. At times, this has demanded I put aside my pride, or to refrain from speaking my mind. I like to think I am for the high road. You never know when a person or company from the past will come into play in your current endeavors. In the world of marketing, public relations, and events, your reputation is everything. The best results will come from the most opportunities pursued. You can only explore everything if all the doors are open to do so.

Contact Info:

• Email: carrie@boldstorymarketing.com
• Website: www.boldstorymarketing.com
• Instagram: @bold.story.marketing
• Facebook: @bold.story.marketing
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bold-story-marketing

Image Credits
Jordyn Koroneos
Kalen Jesse