Meet Katie Brinkley | Social Media Strategist and Coach

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

Hi Katie, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
One reason why I think a lot of people decide to start their own business is for the flexibility to work on their own schedule. I know that was one of the reasons that I started my own business. I love the opportunity to take my daughters to and from school and be there for their events. However, I would be lying if I didn’t say that I have worked harder and more hours than I ever did at any of my previous corporate jobs. It can be a lot of work (and long hours) when you start your own company but it is extremely rewarding.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I never thought I would be an entrepreneur. I landed my dream job right out of college as a post-game reporter for a major radio station. I really thought that is what I would end up doing for my whole career, however, satellite radio emerged and a lot of us in the radio industry panicked. I moved into marketing and landed a career with an incredible boss that really encouraged me to grow professionally. I never thought I would leave my position because I had a great job, great perks, great boss… But, my company merged with another company and my position was eliminated. What was next? I knew that I had always enjoyed social media and had helped develop content, ads, and strategies for my company, but was this something I could make my full-time job? Back in college, I was helping bands with their Myspace pages, soon I was helping local businesses get on Facebook. I had always “understood” the power of social media, but it was never my “full-time” job, it was always either “on the side” or in addition to other tasks. I started by taking any and every client I could. Looking back now, it absolutely helped me gain confidence that what I was doing was a service people would want and outsource. However, it wasn’t until I niched down and really identified my ideal client that my business took off. It was extremely hard turning down clients and ending contracts with clients, but once I did that completely elevated my business.
I also learned that delegation was huge for me growing my business. As entrepreneurs, I think that we tend to try to do it all. Once I hired help and started delegating tasks out, that is what helped me grow my business. I was no longer spending time doing a lot of “admin” work. I was able to spend my time effectively closing sales and growing.

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 would start in Downtown Littleton, I love calling this place home. With all the fantastic restaurants, shops, and breweries on Main Street, it is a great place to give a newbie a tour of local fun. There is always something fun going on too, whether it is Western Welcome Week or live music in the park, I know it would be a great place to have a fun afternoon and evening. One of my favorite breweries is Breckenridge Brewery. I love the outdoor picnic tables, lawn games, and overall vibe. It great to hop on the bikes and ride along the Platte River trail before or after too! A restaurant I would absolutely have to hit up is Izakaya Den or Sushi Den. Hands down the best sushi in all of Colorado.
I’m an avid coffee lover and one of my favorite local coffee joints is Corvus coffee off Broadway. They have delicious blends they roast right on location and also have fun coffee events that I haven’t seen offered anywhere else?
Lastly, I would head west to Morrison for dinner/drinks before hitting up a show at Red Rocks. Tony Rigatoni’s is always a fun spot to grab a bite before seeing a show unlike anything else in the world (and really what’s more Colorado than live music at Red Rocks?!)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a HUGE shoutout to my husband, Josh, and my mom. Without them my business wouldn’t be nearly as successful as it is. I also want to thank my business coach, Sue B., for all of her encouragement, guidance, and belief in me.

Website: www.nextstepsocialcommunications.com

Instagram: instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley

Twitter: twitter.com/_katiebrinkley

Facebook: Facebook.com/nextstepsocialcommunications

Other: Clubhouse.com/@katiebrinkley

Image Credits
Photos credit: Jess Kornacki, Art of Her Photography