If you’ve met Randi Skinner, you might wonder, “What does she not do?” Randi is involved with the Denton Chamber of Commerce, the Denton Rotary, Denton Parks Foundation, Denton Young Professionals, and UNT.
She has 15+ years of experience as a marketing and business development professional and works to help small businesses (who might have limited marketing budgets) with their marketing goals! Randi has mentored during Stoke’s Coffee + Convo sessions and has a way of making you think differently about any projects or problems you might have. Her positive energy is contagious, and we’re so thankful to know her!
Check out our interview with Randi Skinner below.
If you could choose an all-encompassing, creative job title, what would it be?
Marketing & Idea Strategist is my actual title and I think it’s a pretty good fit!
Tell us about what you do and what a typical workday looks like for you.
My typical work day is a fast balance between client meetings and implementation work.
What did it take to start your own consulting business? Was there an “aha” moment or was it something you’ve wanted to do for some time?
I’ve been thinking about starting my own business for some time. I mean I actually have a business degree focused on Entrepreneurship so it’s always been in the cards. After I had my daughter I was really wanting to create more flexibility in my work days and I was missing the creative aspect that developing marketing strategies offers so RS Consulting was born.
What was your path into your business/doing the work that you do?
My career started in more of the sales/business development world. I started working within a marketing agency doing more of the sales aspect and fell into the actual marketing strategy and implementation. The creativity, problem solving and metric driven results kept me coming back.
How do you feel about the coworking environment at Stoke and what it’s like to be a member here?
It’s a great fit for my business. I have access to resources and space that allows me to grow my business at my pace.
What are your measures of success?
Gaining new clients, the overall happiness of my clients in our workflow and of course data. Lots and lots of data. Being able to measure the effectiveness of marketing in a digital world allows for more focused and just better campaigns. Gotta love good data!
What has been your biggest business/work challenge or most difficult project to see to completion?
Honestly marketing for myself is oftentimes the most difficult. Not just the time side but it certainly can feel to be honest- a little vulnerable. When I’m putting together content for my clients it just flows but when it comes to my business I get in my own way. Putting together blog & video content for my own business efforts is my goal for 2020. I’ve successfully launched my blog woohoo! You can check out some marketing awesomesauce over at ideasthatdontsuck.com/blog.
Do you have a favorite app that you use lately?
I just started using Whatagraph. It allows me to create reports for my clients
Do you have any advice or insight that you would offer to someone starting out on their own entrepreneurial endeavor?
Go for it! So obviously creating a business plan and doing it the “right way” is ideal and best. DO THAT! I will be honest I could have done a better job on that for myself. I had the opportunity to make this move and the timing didn’t allow me as much time as I would have liked to really plan and prepare so I had to pivot a little more in the beginning than I probably would have otherwise.
So in theory, the more planning the less pivoting. No matter what with any business new or old you’re going to have pivots but planning allows you to feel more confident as you make them. So I guess we could also say the more planning the more confidence. It’s a win/win y’all.
What are you looking forward to in the future for yourself or your career?
I am looking forward to face-to-face meetings at wine bars! I’m also looking forward to seeing how my business changes. My business has evolved and grown in so many ways over the past year. For me, as a business owner, the professional and personal growth is endless. Anytime I can learn new skills, tap into an expert and gain some wisdom or just discover new ways to get creative, it unlocks pandora's box of business opportunities.
I know that’s just my entrepreneurial spirit getting lit so when I think about the future it’s more of a who knows- let’s do it mindset. Here’s what I do know, I am looking forward to balancing mom life, business owner life and all the hats I get to wear, I know it will never be a dull moment.
Favorite coffee/restaurant/bar in Denton? What do you get?
Fav coffee is Golden Boy! Iced latte and a breakfast taco is glorious.
Share your website and social handles if you’d like:
https://www.ideasthatdontsuck.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ideasthatdontsuck
https://www.instagram.com/ideasthatdontsuck/