Community Highlights: Meet Katie Brinkley of Next Step Social Communications

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Brinkley.

Hi Katie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My passion for marketing and social media started back in the Myspace days when I began helping local bands build their online presence. Seeing how impactful those simple Myspace profiles could be for unsigned groups trying to connect with fans made me realize I wanted to pursue this field further.

After college, being a social media ANYTHING didn’t exist. I landed my “dream job” and became a sports reporter for a Denver sports radio station. This role allowed me to strengthen my communication abilities and learn how to engage an audience. But I missed the creative aspects of marketing, so I took a job as Marketing Manager for the Colorado Rockies television station. There, I honed my skills in areas like email marketing, script writing, media buys, digital advertising, and leveraging data to improve campaigns.

While I loved working in sports and media, I craved a role with more variety and constant learning. That ultimately inspired me to take the entrepreneurial leap and launch my own social media agency 7 years ago. Since then, I’ve helped dozens of businesses and consultants amplify their brands and connect with targeted audiences through customized digital strategies.

Owning my business has been an incredible, non-stop learning experience. While rewarding, it hasn’t always been easy. I’ve had to push past obstacles like imposter syndrome and teach myself new skills as the industry evolved. But I thrive on adaptability and helping clients thrive. I’m proud of the growth I’ve achieved and look forward to many more years of empowering businesses to succeed online.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As an entrepreneur, the road to building a successful business is never smooth. I’ve encountered my fair share of obstacles and challenges over the years.

In the early stages, a big challenge was establishing processes and structures from the ground up. When it was just me, things flowed naturally but as I added employees, I needed to implement systems and workflows. Finding the right balance between structure and creativity took some trial and error.

Imposter syndrome used to be a major obstacle for me. As my business grew, I sometimes doubted my qualifications and abilities. Over time, I’ve learned to overcome those doubts by focusing on client successes and constructive feedback from mentors.

The fast pace of change in digital marketing and social media is a perpetual challenge. Staying on top of the latest platforms, features, algorithms, and best practices takes continuous effort and education. Adaptability is key in this industry.

With growth comes the obstacle of maintaining a strong company culture and close client relationships. Scaling personal interactions gets harder as teams and workloads expand. I make concerted efforts to nurture culture and stay connected.

While not always easy, facing these challenges has expanded my skills. I’ve become more versatile and resilient. My obstacles have taught me problem-solving, financial management, leadership capabilities, and the value of learning from mentors. For any entrepreneur, overcoming hurdles leads to growth.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Next Step Social Communications, we are passionate about helping businesses thrive in the digital landscape through comprehensive social media management services.

Founded 7 years ago, we offer a full range of options to build our client’s brand awareness, engagement and leads through social media. From creative asset development to data-driven hashtag strategies, we craft cohesive plans tailored to each business’s unique needs and goals.

What sets us apart is our signature Awareness to Action framework that ensures alignment between platforms and conversion-focused strategy execution. We don’t just post content – we utilize the power of social media to generate real results, from skyrocketing brand awareness to optimizing marketing ROI.

Our services include graphic creation, SEO-optimized copywriting, hashtag research, genuine audience engagement, professional video content, and in-depth analytics reporting. We specialize in being a one-stop social media solution for small to medium businesses ready to invigorate their digital presence.

Numerous satisfied clients have experienced transformed social media landscapes and marketing growth by partnering with us. We are proud to be considered a smart investment that saves business owners time while amplifying their brand in meaningful ways.

Whether just starting on social media or needing a refresh, we’re here to collaborate and create success-driven strategies tailored to your unique business needs and goals. Let us focus on elevating your digital presence so you can concentrate on running your thriving company.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
As an entrepreneur, I’ve had to become comfortable with risk-taking. Starting my own business was a major risk in itself. I left the stability of a steady job to pursue my passion, with no guarantees of success.

I’ve always taken risks in terms of expanding service offerings or trying out new strategies before knowing how clients would respond. When social media was still relatively new, it was a risk to devote focus to platforms that many businesses didn’t yet see value in.

Not every risk has panned out. I’ve had ideas flop or new offerings fail to gain traction. But more often than not, my willingness to take calculated risks has propelled my business forward. I course-correct when needed while maintaining an entrepreneurial spirit. These days, I focus on “smart” risks. I gather data, analyze options, ask for feedback, and evaluate worst-case scenarios before moving forward. Risk assessment has become second nature.

While playing it safe may seem appealing, embracing uncertainty is key for growth. My advice to others would be to start small, trust your vision, and don’t fear occasional failure when venturing into the unknown. Taking risks expands knowledge and capabilities. With the right mindset, risks can fuel innovation and progress.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nextstepsocialcommunications.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/iamkatiebrinkley
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rockymountainmarketingpodcast