Kara Stanford
Strategic Marketing Consultant with over 25 years of experience.
CEO & Founder of The Marketing Spaces.
Kara Stanford
Strategic Marketing Consultant with over 25 years of experience.
CEO & Founder of The Marketing Spaces.
There’s a reason why over 60% of medium to small businesses don’t have a Marketing Plan – many of them put it in the ‘too hard, do it later’ drawer.
With so many marketing tools and techniques to choose from, creating a marketing pipeline that works can seem like a minefield.
- How do you know what marketing to do?
- How does each stage of the marketing pipeline differ?
- How do you measure success?
- Why can’t you find advice on how to plan marketing in a way that works for your business?
Sometimes, it’s best to have an expert alongside you. Someone who can show you how to think about and plan your marketing. Someone who takes the time to understand your business, working with you, but also who challenges your marketing ideas and beliefs.
In this short video, Rachel Dunford, The Impact Specialist, explains why she chose this route – and shares the incredible impact it’s had on her marketing and her business.
After 14 years of being self-employed, Rachel was confident in her expertise but unsure how to move her business forward. The market had shifted, and so had the way clients found and chose who to work with.
Despite years of experience, Rachel found herself stuck in a familiar pattern: working hard, but without a clear marketing strategy.
That’s when she found Kara and her 5-week “Design a Successful Marketing Pipeline” course.
I knew I was good at what I do, but I had a real gap in my marketing knowledge. I needed someone to skill me up, quickly and pragmatically.
Letting Go of the “Spaghetti at the Wall” Strategy
Before the course, Rachel described her marketing as “scattergun.” She was putting things out there without any real structure, hoping something would stick. There were no clear goals, no plan, and no sense of how to guide potential clients through a journey of getting to know and trust her.
That all changed with the course.
I learned how to think about outcomes first and work backwards. It gave me a way to nurture potential clients through each stage—from discovering who I am, to trusting me with their business.
The Power of Small Group Learning
One of the unexpected highlights for Rachel was learning alongside other business owners.
Working in a small cohort meant I could bounce ideas around, hear questions I wouldn’t have thought to ask, and even make real business connections.
In fact, one of those connections led to her first ever podcast appearance—an exciting and strategic step that aligned perfectly with her goal of becoming more visible and known for her expertise.
A Clear Shift in Confidence and Results
Now, a few months after completing the course, Rachel has completely transformed the way she markets her business.
I’m intentional. I’m consistent. I understand who I’m targeting, where to find them, and how to speak to them.
She’s seeing real, measurable results—attracting more of the right clients, selling the right services, and using her time more effectively.
I used to just hope someone would hear me. Now, I’m speaking directly to the people who need what I offer—and they’re responding.
Rachel’s Advice?
Simple: “Just do it.”
Whether you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or just unsure how to turn your skills into strategy, Rachel’s story is proof that the right course can shift everything.
