Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kristin Fornal, Owner of Brand pH, LLC., located in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Brand pH LLC provides executive marketing leadership without the overhead costs. We help our clients understand and fulfill their customer's needs at the right time, place, and cost. We partner with clients to create consistent, personalized, and memorable omnichannel brand experiences.

We focus on the technology industry at Brand pH LLC, working with early-stage and start-up companies, specifically in SaaS or robotics. At Brand pH LLC, our goal is to help clients strengthen the chemistry of their brand and share their stories with the world.

Tell us about yourself

I have been a marketing leader, specifically in the tech industry, for 15 years. I have helped several start-ups and early-stage companies develop and bring products and services to market during this time. Throughout my career, I have stayed involved in professional industry groups with fellow marketers, where we share best practices and discuss issues to help each other resolve them.

By participating in these groups, I noticed a trend where start-ups would hire tactical marketing talent as a point solution without a long-term plan, leaving them wondering why their marketing department isn't successful. These businesses often recognize they need marketing leadership to drive the strategy to align with their business goals but need more substantial funding to support this role.

Brand pH LLC focuses on the growing tech start-up community providing strategic direction with tactical initiatives at a fraction of the cost of a full-time chief marketing officer. Many technology start-ups and early-stage companies use most of the funding they receive to hire engineers. They typically need more budget to hire a full-time marketing leader. This observation gave me the idea to launch a business that caters to this community to provide executive marketing leadership at a fraction of the cost and time.

The excitement from my clients drives my motivation as we build their marketing plans and execute them at a tactical level. At Brand pH LLC, we are reliable, credible, and accountable. We believe in building solid partnerships and never want a client to feel we are too busy to help.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

As an entrepreneur, you can use your time and abilities to create the life of your dreams. Since leaving the corporate environment, I've grown my network, made a name for myself in the Pittsburgh region, and increased my number of clients. All of which have helped me achieve that goal.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things about owning a business is knowing when to scale and not to do it too quickly.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. AmyJo Martin says it best, "If not now, when and if not you, then who?" Why wait if you have an idea and are serious about it? Leaving what many consider a stable corporate role seems scary, but once you take that step, your success will continue with you.
  2. Having a solid support system to help bounce ideas and make recommendations during challenging times is priceless. I recommend engaging with mentors and advisors who are as committed to your success as you are.
  3. Always be selling. So many entrepreneurs get excited with their first big client they forget to keep feeding the pipeline. Regularly reviewing your client concentration is essential to mitigate risk to your bottom line.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://brandph.com/

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-ph-llc/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinfornal/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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