Victoria Prince is a marketing expert with passion. An entrepreneur herself she has set up a number of award-winning businesses and is passionate about using her skills to help others. A keen supporter of ambitious entrepreneurs she now helps businesses turn their dreams into reality while also supporting graduates to create the country’s next wave of innovative
Can you tell us a little about your background and the company?
Touchpoints Marketing is all about helping individuals achieve their ambitious goals in business. I work with entrepreneurs and graduates to offer marketing support which makes a real difference. A passion of mine, I have over 15 years of experience in the industry including 8 years spent in the Marketing Departments of British icons including chocolate brand Thorntons and former East Midlands airline BMI. I have also run a double award-winning coffee shop in Surrey and taken my idea for a UK’s first vegan healthy snack brand from Kickstarter launch to selling online in iconic British store Selfridges in under a year. This mixture of expertise means I really do know what a business needs and how to help them get there. I now work with innovative businesses that need help getting an effective marketing strategy as well as supporting the accountability of their ongoing plans.
How did the idea come to you for the company?
Having worked in the industry for a long time and also setting up a number of my own businesses I know the power that marketing can bring if done right. I also know the pitfalls and how to avoid them. Seeing how an email can get £100,000 worth of sales or carefully crafted messages can be rocket fuel for businesses really excites me. I am passionate about supporting businesses to grow and I love working with new innovative brands that are pushing boundaries and looking for rapid growth. It meant I saw a real need for someone to not only help entrepreneurs to market their business but also to learn from someone who has been in their shoes and is talking from experience. It was this passion to share my experience which saw Touchpoints Marketing formed.
How did you achieve awareness?
As with any project I use a mixture of marketing touchpoints across all my businesses. It is important to get the right mixture of support which showcases your message and reinforces your brand.
I have three distinct areas of the business supporting graduates, CEOs and small business owners. Each part has its own business and marketing plan which cover the website, SEO, networking, social media, PR, hosting events, public speaking, email marketing and social proof through testimonials. I continually evaluate and audit how the marketing is working in each sector to make sure that I maximise the messaging and touchpoints in the best possible way.
How have you been able to gain funding and grow?
The business has been 100% self-funded. I reinvest heavily every month as I think it is important to invest in marketing to help a business grow and develop a strong pipeline. For me growth has been achieved by building a strong client base and creating the right key messaging to make sure that all of my activity targets and drives support in the right way. By being clear in the support I offer and how I can help I have already helped over 4000 businesses with support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What are the key successes?
Having my vegan snack kit selling in Selfridges was a big day for me and was the accumulation of months of hard work and perseverance. It showed that with the right attitude and marketing skill anything is possible.
This determination is something I continue to put into everything I do and when the pandemic recently saw a steep downward turn in the market I was keen to not only pivot my own business but help others.
I could see graduates facing a very tough jobs market with graduate roles being cut and wanted to encourage graduates to take a role that might not otherwise have appealed to them – self-employment.
I am really proud to have supported so many young people to see that they can start their own business and use their skills to forge their own path. Entrepreneurship for me is key in creating innovation and the skills needed for the future so helping to build that resilience and confidence in young minds is one of my biggest achievements recently.
What were/are the challenges and how have you overcome these?
As with any business there are challenges and the recent pandemic and lockdown certainly saw my business as many others face that challenge. Overnight I lost my business and had to start again. Suddenly companies didn’t have the budget to focus on marketing but as always it is about rolling with the changes and seeing where the niche need is.
By refocusing and adapting my business it had now become even stronger and I am actually in a better position than I was pre-covid.
So, for me the challenge is always to keep moving and never stand still or get complacent as being an entrepreneur is all about adapting to your clients’ current needs.
What are your plans now/for the future?
I am really excited by what the future brings. Over the last year there have been so many changes in the market but I think it has enabled people to refocus and strengthen their businesses by being very specific and adapting to new demands. Within the next five years I hope to have supported 5,000 marketing graduates through my free online course to help inspire more young people to think about creating the start up businesses of the future. I also want to grow my Connecting Entrepreneurs Online Membership club to support small business growth.
What would you like to share with others to encourage them to start their own entrepreneurship journey?
Running your own business and being in charge of your own destiny is one of the most rewarding and exciting roles I have ever undertaken. It has given me the scope to test myself and grow as a person as well as meet so many fantastic people along the way.
I can’t ever imagine not being an entrepreneur now, not trying to innovate or adapt as I support others around me.
I would definitely say whatever business you are looking to start though to be prepared to work hard and step out of your comfort zone. Saying that if you do the rewards are definitely worth it.
Can you share you top 5-10 tips for entrepreneurial success?
The most important thing is to never give up. Determination and self believe will take you along way.
Continually grow, evaluate your business see what is working, where you can make changes and don’t be afraid to adapt.
Know your limits and ask for help. There are so many talented people out there willing to help and you cannot do it alone so be prepared to ask for help and delegate tasks which are taking you away from your main business.
Use automated technology as much as possible in the marketing process. There is no need to waste time doing things when there are so many clever automated tools available such as Hootesuite, Member Vault.
Finally don’t take no for an answer just imagine they are saying ‘just not today, thank you’
Who are the 5 people who inspire you the most?
The inspirational people I’d say are:
- My Grandma – as I grew up I spent all my spare time working in her Farmhouse B&B, and I saw first-hand what it’s like to run a business, to look after customers well, to manage finances and to work really hard to achieve success.
- Becky Murray (OnebyOne Missions) – I’ve been to the King’s Children’s Home in Kenya a couple of times with Becky and the mission teams, and seeing her in action is nothing short of amazing. The changes she’s made to so many thousands of children’s lives around the world is SO inspiring. Before my first trip in 2016, I started to sponsor a young girl named Scovia, who I’ve seen grow into a beautiful and very clever young woman, who calls me Mummy Victoria.
https://www.instagram.com/onebyonemissions/
- Claire Brumby – has been my high performance business coach for over a year and has challenged my mindset on growth and business. I love how Claire walks the walk; she built her own food brand from scratch, braved the Dragon’s Den and even swan the channel. Brave!
https://www.instagram.com/theclairebrumby/
- Emma Cossey (Freelance Lifestyle) – I’ve enjoyed listening to Emma’s podcast for a while, she’s always got practical tips on running a business as a freelancer. I enjoy her style and approach, she’s the kind of person you’d love to meet for a coffee one day!
https://www.instagram.com/emmacossey/
- Brene Brown – I watched her TED talk and instantly loved her approach to vulnerability and courage. She’s one of those people that you listen to and hang off every word!
https://www.instagram.com/brenebrown/
What are your favourite inspirational /motivational quotes?
“Live life as if everything is rigged in your favour.” Rumi 13th Century Poet
“If you don’t blow your own horn, there is no music.” Alan Weiss author and podcaster
What are your social handles and website links so our readers can connect with you?
www.touchpointsmarketing.co.uk
🚀 Victoria Prince – Marketing Consultant – Touchpoints Marketing UK | LinkedIn
Victoria Prince ~ Marketing (@touchpointsmarketing) • Instagram photos and videos
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