Meet Julie Nichols

 

We recently connected with Julie Nichols and have shared our conversation below.

Julie, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

I have always been drawn to the creative. As a child, I was in art classes, choir, and theatre productions—anything that tapped into my creative side, I was all in! That creativity drew me towards a career in the theatre, which grew into a love of writing and ultimately led me to what I do today — small business marketing. I love that I get to be creative in my work every day. My favorite work is helping my clients describe what they do and the value it offers their customers. Defining that brand strategy is so freeing! When you finally have the words to draw in your ideal customers, it’s like a weight is lifted off your shoulders. I get a kick out of helping small business owners open their minds to all the opportunities out there to showcase their brands. I want them to succeed! Besides the creativity that comes with my work, I seek out opportunities to be creative in my personal life. Directing the youth choir at my synagogue has been such a blessing. Those kids really keep me on my toes! I love teaching them the fundamentals of working as a team, voice projection, vocal tone, and exploring the meanings of the songs. I can see all the little light bulbs going off at every rehearsal. I also sing in the temple band, which is so fulfilling. Having that outlet to sing with a very flexible schedule with many talented artists is such a gift.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Over the past 13 years, I’ve helped small businesses achieve growth through my marketing leadership and strategy. I’ve seen firsthand how connecting businesses with their dream clients can transform their growth. My approach isn’t just about the digital world – it’s about helping you shine in person, too, whether you’re shaking hands at a conference, speaking on stage, or sharing your expertise in print. It’s about bringing out the best in you and your business wherever your audience is waiting to be found and helping you stand out in a crowded market.

I work with businesses in two ways:

1. As a fractional CMO for companies with $1M+ revenue, providing part-time strategic leadership and project management.
2. Through marketing projects for businesses under $1M, including brand strategy, email marketing, website development, content creation, and social media strategy.

My focus is on professional services, nonprofits, online media, and consulting firms.

In addition to my work as a marketer, I’m a community builder. This year, I founded Skokie Morton Grove Professional Moms, a free networking group for working women in the Chicago area. We have grown to over 800 members in less than a year. I love hosting events to bring women together! I am also the Membership Director for Inner Circle Network, an incredible professional network of collaborators who walk the walk.

I also love to share my marketing and community-building knowledge as a public speaker, and I’m actively seeking these opportunities nationally.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three most impactful qualities in my journey are curiosity, resilience, and chutzpah. I’m a lifelong learner who is always looking to learn more. I’m not satisfied with an answer that seems incomplete. I was always that kid with my hand in the air – yes, a bit like Hermione Grainger, but (I like to think) a lot more fun. Resiliency is something I’ve had to build up my entire life, especially when I was a working actor. I was constantly facing rejection, as you only book about one in 20 auditions. This helped me build a thick skin, which really comes in handy now as an entrepreneur. My favorite quote by Mary Pickford: “What we call failure is not the falling down but the staying down.” As for chutzpah, it is a Yiddish word that means an attitude that says nothing will stop you from doing what you were meant to do. Reminding myself daily that this is my chosen word of the year for 2024 helps me to keep my eye on the prize and stay confident, even in the face of rejection.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

I love working with small business owners, small non-profits, and entrepreneurs who have an excellent reputation and do great work. They have gotten by with little or no marketing so far, but they are ready to scale and know they need to start reaching people outside their referral network. I can help them build the marketing fundamentals, including brand strategy and messaging refinement, and create a marketing strategy to lead those ideal clients their way.

I especially love helping folks who feel overwhelmed by marketing their business online and want to find someone they can trust to take care of marketing for them. I serve as a trusted part-time contract Chief Marketing Officer and bring in my team of excellent contractors to do all the implementation work.

I have experience working with law firms, accounting/bookkeeping firms, consulting firms, health and wellness, juvenile products, and nonprofits. I also have experience in the following industries: beauty education, theatre, electronics distribution, and trucking/logistics.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Nikki Allen/Spilt Coffee Studio (only the ones in the black dress)

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