Katie Miller: Founder of KM Marketing Services, Helping Women-Led Businesses Grow Through Storytelling

Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business

Hi, I’m Katie Miller—owner of KM Marketing Services, where I help small and women-led businesses turn their story into their strongest marketing tool. I’m a storyteller at heart (I actually have a degree in theater), and over the last eight years, I’ve built a business that combines strategic thinking with heart-led messaging to help brands connect, convert, and grow. Whether it’s crafting a brand voice, planning content, or mapping out a full visibility strategy, I believe good marketing starts with human connection—and your story is the bridge. Outside of work, I’m usually acting as the unofficial Uber driver for my two tweens, shuttling between sports, school, and social lives. I serve on local business boards, partner with cities on community events, and show up wherever I can to help make our region more connected and collaborative—because giving back is core to who I am.

Who are your customers?

My customers are primarily small to medium-sized businesses—many of them women-owned—who are ready to show up more confidently and connect more deeply with their audience. They’re experts in their field—coaches, creatives, consultants, service providers—but often feel stuck when it comes to telling their story in a way that feels authentic and drives results. Most are in a season of growth, pivot, or launch, and they’re looking for marketing support that goes deeper than just pretty visuals or generic messaging. They want strategy with heart, storytelling with purpose, and a partner who understands how to balance clarity, connection, and conversion. They care about people, impact, and building something meaningful—and that’s exactly where I come in.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

With a background in theater, I’ve always been drawn to storytelling—understanding characters, crafting narratives, and creating emotional connection. That foundation translated surprisingly well when I found myself working in commercial real estate, helping to lease luxury apartment communities in Seattle.

It was the early days of Craigslist and Facebook, and digital marketing wasn’t yet the norm. I quickly realized that if I wanted to fill buildings, I needed to think outside the traditional flyer-and-foot-traffic box. So I taught myself how to write compelling listings, stage spaces for virtual tours, and build buzz online before social media strategy was even a thing. Without realizing it, I had stepped into the world of digital marketing—learning firsthand how to capture attention, build trust, and sell an experience through story. That’s where it all began, and I’ve been helping businesses do the same ever since.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I started my boutique marketing firm in the height of the pandemic, but the roots of it began earlier. After staying home with my kids for seven years, I took a marketing job at a local nonprofit in early 2020, eager to collaborate, contribute, and rediscover myself outside of motherhood. I craved connection—new ideas, creative energy, and conversations that didn’t involve peanut butter and Paw Patrol.

Then the world shut down due to the pandemic.

In that chaos, I realized I had bold, digital-first ideas that could help people adapt and thrive—but they didn’t land in the organization I was in. The disconnect between my vision and theirs made it clear: I wasn’t meant to fit into a space that didn’t value innovation or my lived experience as a working mom.

So I took the leap. I built a business rooted in storytelling and strategy, designed to help small businesses—especially women-led ones—find their voice, build their brand, and grow with intention. And it turns out, the connection I was craving? I’ve been building it ever since.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I didn’t always know I wanted to be an entrepreneur—but looking back, the signs were definitely there. The dozens of domain names I bought on impulse. The random Instagram handles I created for ideas I hadn’t fully fleshed out. I was always dreaming, always starting something—I just didn’t know exactly what I was building yet.

At my core, I’ve always felt called to create something meaningful, something that brings women together and helps them grow. I didn’t know what it would look like, or how it would take shape, but I knew I wanted to build a community that felt supportive, creative, and powerful.

Now, as I sit in the thick of running my own business and building exactly that, I can’t help but laugh a little. All those half-starts and “maybe this is it” moments were never wasted—they were the building blocks of what I’m doing now. Every domain, every handle, every idea was part of the path that brought me here.

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way so far and what have you learned from it?

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in my business was letting go of early clients who no longer aligned with the direction I was growing. These were people who had been with me from the beginning, but as my vision evolved, it became clear that we were no longer a fit. Restructuring my business to reflect that growth was terrifying—especially from a financial perspective.

After making the decision to let them go, I entered a six-month stretch that felt incredibly dark. The inquiries slowed, the work dried up, and I found myself rebuilding everything from the ground up. It was a hard season—one filled with doubt—but it was also necessary.

Looking back, that time taught me so much about alignment, trust, and holding space for the right opportunities. Letting go created room for the kind of clients I’m meant to serve—ones who truly align with my mission and who allow me to do my best, most impactful work.

What accomplishment are the most proud of to date in your business?

What I’m most proud of is the community of female founders I’ve unintentionally built on the Eastside of Seattle. It wasn’t part of my original business plan—but over time, through conversation, collaboration, and connection, it naturally formed. And now, it’s one of the most meaningful parts of what I do.

I’m honored that people see me as a thought leader—not just in marketing, but as a fellow woman in business. That recognition means the world to me, because it speaks to something deeper than strategy or content—it speaks to trust, shared values, and a collective desire to lift one another up.

Looking ahead, one of my biggest dreams is to create a physical space for women business owners to work, co-work, learn, and grow together. A space that fuels collaboration and creativity—and one that extends its reach to younger generations of women, helping to mentor and guide them as they step into their own potential. I don’t think I would’ve seen that vision so clearly if it weren’t for the community that’s already grown around me.

What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

In the next few years, I know that in order to grow, I’ll need to scale—and that likely means bringing on team members. For a long time, I didn’t think I wanted to build a team. But the more I envision the future of my business, the more I realize it’s not just a smart move—it’s essential.

Maybe part of me is a little nervous about stepping fully into that “boss” role, but I also know I’m ready for the challenge. Growth requires leadership, and I’m learning to embrace that.

Alongside that, I want to keep nurturing the vision I have for a physical space in Seattle—a hub for female entrepreneurs to connect, work, learn, and grow together. That dream keeps getting clearer, and I’m committed to making it real.

What is your top productivity tip? 

I’d have to say my top productivity tip is reminding myself that results don’t come immediately after the work is done. You can grind, hustle, and put everything into launching something new—but that doesn’t mean you’ll see instant results the next day.

I'm an instant gratification girly, and this has been one of my biggest challenges. It’s easy to feel like the effort didn’t pay off when nothing happens right away. But I’ve learned to trust that the impact of what I’ve done will show up—not right after the work, but in the days, weeks, and sometimes even months that follow.

On the flip side, how do you avoid burnout?

Still very much a work in progress, but one thing I’ve learned about myself is that I tend to be all or nothing. When I get into a zone of hyper-focus, it can easily lead to burnout. Strangely enough, binge-watching a good TV show helps pull me out of that mode. It gives my brain a break, helps me reset, and reminds me that rest can look like doing absolutely nothing—and that’s okay.

What is your approach to work-life balance / integration?

I’m parent A to my two kids—who are 12 and 9—and my husband works full-time at Amazon (he’s been there for 12 years), so honestly, I have to have work-life balance or my entire household would quite literally fall apart. It’s not optional. I’ve had to build a business that can flex around my life, not the other way around—and some days that looks like a perfectly planned schedule, and other days it looks like answering emails from the school pickup line.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

Growing a business intentionally takes time.

Are you a Mamaprenista? If so, please share your best advice for simultaneously managing a business and a family

It’s funny, I was just telling my husband the other day—good thing my escape from mom life is running my business, because at least I’m doing something productive and financially contributing to our family. But as my kids get older, I’m realizing I don’t need to be embedded in their lives the way I was when they were little.

Honestly, I think one of the reasons I started my business in the first place was to have something of my own to focus on. And now, when I’ve hit a wall or don’t know how to parent them because they’re throwing totally new things at me, I retreat into my business. It gives me a place to channel my energy and process things—and offers me an escape from the intensity of full-time parenting.

What is your favorite business tool or solution and why?

Instagram is where I connect with my people. It’s been a huge part of how I’ve grown my business—I close about 90% of my sales there. More than that, it’s where I feel supported, seen, and part of a real community that gets what I do and why I do it.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Dream big, but don’t get too far ahead of yourself. The future can feel overwhelming, but it’s built on a strong foundation—so focus on the building blocks. Keep your vision in mind, but stay present in the small, often unglamorous steps it takes to get there. Those day-to-day actions are what bring the big dream to life.

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