We had the good fortune of connecting with Kate Paine and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I was a little girl, my father owned his own business and I always imagined that some day I’d have my own business, too. I wasn’t sure what the business would be but I imagined myself in a suit and carrying a briefcase – much like my father did. After I went to college in New York City for broadcast journalism and communications, I knew I definitely wanted to be in the media communications world. I first worked in print journalism, then into PR roles, owned my own PR business for awhile until I pivoted with the onset of digital marketing and social media and established Standing Out Online in 2014. Today, I work with entrepreneurs who are speakers, authors, coaches or executives who want to make a positive impact in our world. I help them with their visibility – both online and off.

What should our readers know about your business?
In my many years in marketing, journalism, and PR, I was always looking for that one thing in a person or organization that was different. What set them apart? What was their differentiator? Finding that nugget in one’s slice-of-life story that’s related to their business and the outcome they provide, is critical. In this digital age, it’s “noisy” out there…there is so much coming at us all day, every day. How do we discern who’s real and who we may want to build a relationship with, or hire, or have in our community?

That’s what I do…I work with my clients to tease out their story, solidify their personal brand, and find uncommon or unexpected ways to make them more visible. I don’t want them to be the “best kept secret.” I want to help them showcase their personality, their values, and the outcome that their service provides their clients so they stand out in their marketplace.

It took me some time to discover this aspect of my business. When I decided to pivot from just PR into personal branding and digital marketing, it was not an easy pivot. My personal brand was always known only from the PR side of things…so I had to re-establish myself as a go-to resource for personal branding. My differentiator when I started was how to leverage the power of the LinkedIn platform in their business. Many people really didn’t know what to do with their presence on LinkedIn and really considered it as only a tool for job seeking. But since 2016, LinkedIn has become THE place to be online to build your digital footprint. It goes way beyond just being a place for your electronic resume. I want people to see how they can use it for their thought leadership, to build connections, and to share content that helps others in their business or industry.

The foundation for my expertise goes all the way back to my journalism and marketing background. It was a “must” to be a good writer, to get to the meat of a story, and tell it in a way that was interesting and compelling to the listener or reader. Those skills are essential in the work I do today to help my clients set themselves apart in their marketplace. I want to help them make the impact their business provides to THEIR clients or customers.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I moved to CO Springs from Vermont in the fall of 2022. I had always had an affinity for the West and made the decision to move here. I had friends here and my many trips over the years to CO, Utah, and Arizona drew me this way. When I have friends visit me here in Colorado, I take them straightaway into the mountains. We may start in the Garden of the Gods, which is like a mini Sedona to me and absolutely beautiful. Every person I take there is captivated. We explore the Trading Post, which has wonderful southwestern art, and sit in the cafe for lunch. Then I take them into Manitou Springs to see that there really are “springs” here – since CO Springs doesn’t actually have any springs!

Suga’s in the Springs is a fabulous place for lunch and one MUST try their lavender lemonade. Then take a walk into downtown Springs and check out Poor Richard’s shop/cafe, Rocky Mountain Soap Co., and Terra Verde. Four of my favorite places; all locally owned. And you must try the Nut & Berry Salad at the ViewHouse just off I-25 and Woodmen Rd.

A walk through the Paint Mines in Calhan is other-worldly and a must visit. The colors of the mines, which native Americans used to use in their pottery is truly stunning. It’s also fun to take a day trip from the Springs to drive up through Woodland Park and over to Hartsel and Fairplay. On the way to Fairplay, you’ll pass a private bison ranch and can see all the bison grazing in the ranchlands. So cool to see bison in this area! Then, once in Fairplay, go to the little historic area of South Park, which was the inspiration for the TV show. Great art galleries there and fun places to grab a bite to eat.

If you’re here in winter and are a skier, I strongly suggest you ski at Monarch, which is southwest of the Springs near Salida.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout would be to the eWomenNetwork community both here in Colorado and throughout the U.S, As the eWN CEO Sandra Yancey, always says, when we are entrepreneurs, we do not do this alone. We need support, we need to hire the right people to get us where we want to go faster, and we definitely to find our tribe. For me, that tribe is a group of fellow women entrepreneurs who have helped me grow and expand my own business. eWomenNetwork is a values-based organization, which makes it unique as women’s entrepreneurial networking association. Three of their values that resonate with me are: lift others as you climb; give first, share always, and “it takes teamwork to make the dream work.” I live by those values in my own business and community.

Website: https://standingoutonline.com

Instagram: kpaine66

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/katepaine

Facebook: https://facebook.com/KateHaslamPaine

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@standingoutonline

Other: Coffee with Kate podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@standingoutonline/podcasts

Image Credits
Mandy Penn Photography
Tricia Turpenoff Photography
eWomenNetwork

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.