I’ve spent most of my career in marketing, and nothing is more frustrating than hearing, “No more budget until you prove ROI.” When your reputation—or possibly even your job—is on the line, you have to find a way to deliver proof of value. That challenge set me on a journey that began with high school daydreams and built into data-driven systems that transform marketing efforts into real, measurable success.
Believe it or not, my search for ROI started back in high school. I wasn’t exactly a straight-A student—more like a C student who spent a lot of time daydreaming about the future. I imagined a life where my dog and I started our day on a front porch, coffee mug in hand, running our own bed and breakfast. I even wrote my senior paper on the business I would one day own. Those daydreams, though simple, planted the seeds of an entrepreneurial spirit that would carry me through my adult life.
As a young military mom, I learned to adapt to constant change—from frequent moves to juggling family life amid deployments. Even with the challenges, my entrepreneurial spark pushed me to launch a luxury wedding invitation business on Etsy. Despite my best efforts, the venture didn’t succeed, and I experienced the hard lessons of failure early on. Instead of letting that setback define me, I used it as a wake-up call. Determined to build a stronger future, I tapped into my GI Bill and returned to college to acquire the essential skills for running a successful business. That transformative decision reshaped my journey, fueling my passion for data-driven marketing and proving that every setback is just a setup for a greater comeback.
As I turned thirty, I was wrapping up my degree, when a unique opportunity presented itself. My kids were being tutored in piano by a kind gentleman from a local church, and through our chats, business inevitably came up. I learned that he was the CEO of a regional tech company breaking into the K-12 one-to-one market—a time when technology in education was just starting to reshape the landscape.
Leveraging our friendship, I quickly got my foot in the door and soon met the company’s owner. They were set to invest $15,000 in a radio ad, but he was intrigued by the promise of social media. When he asked, “What’s the ROI of this $15K going to be?” I felt both excitement and pressure—after all, in 2012, even top marketers couldn’t answer that question until that moment.
I pitched a creative experiment: a giveaway of a tablet for a student and teacher, along with connectivity that would enable one classroom to go one-to-one for free. Just like that, they took a chance on me. Over the course of a month, I built a landing page, set up tracking with Google Analytics, and created a submission form that revealed exactly which search terms led to a completed entry. I then started writing targeted blogs and posts to address those key phrases which were ultimately pain points, and I even joined technology discussions on Twitter under the company’s banner.
The results? Twenty leads for the sales team, and nine high-quality leads specifically interested in tech infrastructure—all potential quarter-million-dollar project. Although my contract ended before I could see the entire sales cycle, I walked away with solid proof of concept and a burning passion to help marketers everywhere prove their worth.
Since that pivotal moment, I’ve made it my mission to start every new role or contract by establishing systems that track marketing ROI from day one. If there isn’t already an infrastructure in place, I build it—always anticipating the ROI questions before they arise and preparing multiple answers when they do.
Fast forward nearly 15 years, and my approach has evolved. Today, I use custom dashboards and strategic trackers that not only prove ROI but recently transformed a $75,000 marketing budget into millions in sales. I’ve seen firsthand how a steady, data-driven system can change the game, empowering marketing teams to confidently demonstrate the value of every campaign.
If you’re a marketer who’s ever been challenged to prove ROI, you’re not alone. I understand the pressure and the stakes involved. Whether your team is struggling to quantify its efforts or you need a fresh, data-driven approach from day one, I’m here to help. I can fly in, train your staff, and share my secret weapon—my ultimate ROI tracking dashboard. Together, we can uncover quick wins and set up a system that showcases the real impact of your marketing.
Ready to take your marketing to the next level? Book a complimentary 15-minute call with me, and let’s explore how we can transform your efforts into measurable success. From my humble beginnings and daydreams to a proven career in data-driven marketing, I’m here to empower you to prove the real value behind every campaign.
Let’s make marketing magic happen!