"Build relationships, not links."
Katrina Garnes is a digital marketer and business owner making waves in the digital marketing world in Georgia. She works full-time in Marketing and Communications, while running her own business as Chief Executive Officer of Cold Storm Media. Katrina is also the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of a blog called Tell What's Going On and the curator of Digital Empowerment Mastermind. Before these positions, she worked as an Online Media Coordinator at Rosewell UMC and the Director of Communications at Central UMC.
Katrina got a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and Broadcasting from Francis Marion University, where she was Vice President of Student Media Association. I met Katrina virtually on Instagram and was instantly impressed by her your knowledge, career path, and zeal to help youth succeed in their desired careers. I knew she would be an excellent fit for the NK the Marketer community and readers. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did.
What does a typical day in your role look like?
I work full time in Digital Marketing and Communications, while also running my business, Cold Storm Media LLC, so as you'd probably guess, my day is very busy! Immediately after waking up I meditate for about 10-15 minutes, then proceed to get ready for work. I always make sure that I have at least 20 extra minutes before leaving home, and during that 20 minutes I check and respond to any emails or inquiries. My 9-5 job requires the same thing as my small business. I manage the company's social media presence across all digital channels, brainstorm new and creative growth strategies, create brochures, produce press releases and even do production work for them. After working 8+ hours there, I go home and tend to my business for an additional four to six hours and then my night concludes.
What are you passionate about?
I'm most passionate about helping the youth! During and right after college, a lot of young people have an idea of what they want as a career, but they aren't entirely sure. That was me when I was younger, and I didn't have a mentor to give me firsthand guidance or experience, so that's what I use my platform for now. Communications is a very broad field, and it can be challenging to narrow down the exact route you want to go with it. Once deciding which direction they want to take, I equip them for that role, just to give them an idea of what their day-to-day work life will be like.
What do you find most challenging about being a Business Owner and Marketer?
One of the most challenging things that I've faced is having balance. As I mentioned earlier, I have a 9-5 takes a lot of my time and energy, which I'd much rather be putting into my own business. Because running my own business is so demanding, I have had to hire interns and assistants to help out. Client dependence can also be complicated and as you know diversifying the client base is vital to growing your business. As business owners, we take on a risk not having our clients pay for services in full upfront. We do want to be considerate and fair, but let's face it, a lot of times people do not follow through and we, as business owners have to protect our finances! As Marketers, we have to make sure that we are staying on our toes and are in tune with trends and creativity. We don't want to lose the ability to attract future clients.
What do you find most enriching about being a Business Owner and Marketer?
Being able to call Cold Storm Media mine is enriching in itself. My blood, sweat, and tears were put into the creation of my business. Starting a business is already a lot of work, but to have it reach exponential levels, is a huge accomplishment. Now, I'm very humble, but I also know that I've put in great work to get my business where it is now, and I'll never allow my work to be undermined.
How did you find yourself on a marketing career track?
I always loved technology and keeping up with the latest trends and innovations. Digital Marketing won me over because I knew I'd be doing something different every day. I wanted to be able to use my creative mind and take on entrepreneurship, which is what I always wanted. As I mentioned before, I do the same thing for my 9-5 job, for my business, so I'm continuously improving and perfecting my skills.
Words of advice for anyone who wants to pursue a career in marketing?
Be consistent with working on your skills. You should always be looking for new things to incorporate into your digital marketing strategy. If you decide on marketing as a career, it should be something you love! Reason being, it can require a lot and become overwhelming, and without a genuine love for it, your drive may die down. Know your audience and stay connected with them. Engage with them and keep them entertained! Lastly, take advantage of the different applications and content management systems that are made available to you! They make life a lot easier by helping you organize. 😀
To learn about Katrina, her previous and current projects, or how you can work with her, visit her website.
Thanks for reading!