How to Become the Authority in the Media and Gain Influence, Founders Story with Kristin Marquet

Kristin Marquet has been a publicist and business owner for more than 14 years. As the owner and creative director of Marquet Media, LLC, Kristin oversees the daily operations of the business while executing client campaigns. Throughout her career as a publicist, Kristin has developed partnerships with leading brands and entrepreneurs. She and her clients have been featured in Inc.com, Forbes.com, Fortune.com, Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur.com, and so many more. 

With an academic background and advanced studies in data science, business, and public relations, Kristin has attended Boston University, New York University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Kristin is also a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council.  http://www.marquet.company

Tell us about your childhood and where you grew up?

I grew up in New Jersey and as a child, I loved to spend time reading about planetary science and astronautics. This hobby has carried over to adulthood.

How did you get started as an entrepreneur?

Shortly after I graduated from college, I had worked as a PR and marketing manager for a law firm for a year because I was considering applying to law school. Yet after a year, I realized that I didn’t enjoy it, so I started in management consulting for four years. But during the financial crisis, my office in the Northeast shut down and I was laid off from my position. At that point, I had to make a tough decision: “Do I look for a job in this down economy, or Do I start a business?” After a few days of weighing the pros and cons of getting a job or starting a business, I decided to take the risk and launch my first business—a PR firm that works with female entrepreneurs and fashion brands. I never looked back after that. And in my early thirties, I returned to school and obtained a graduate degree from New York University.

Throughout the last 14 years, I’ve worked with many high-profile personalities and brands. But the most exciting story of my career was when I was planning a large-scale fashion show for one of today’s well-known fashion designers. Although I had been involved with smaller NYFW presentations, this event was different because of the scale — 600+ media, influencers, and celebrities. It was truly a career-changing event. I met so many celebrities and influencers who I would not have met ordinarily.

Additionally, my team and I continue to work on building the FemFounder.co-brand which is exciting. Recently, we added a new section that focuses on wellness, health, and fitness, and we will continue to grow that side of the brand.

I’m also getting ready to release my third book “From Nameless to Notable: How to Gain Influence, Establish Authority, and Reach Expert Status in Your Niche or Industry–The Ultimate Guide to Generating Media Coverage for Your Startup and Leveraging It to Increase Website Traffic, Email Subscribers, and Sales” in the spring. It’s a condensed version of my online course, From Nameless to Notable. And I am also working on the ultimate PR resource with Michelle Lewis ThePublicityPlace.com.

What is one business lesson you would tell a startup founder?

About 14 years ago, I thought I had to discount my prices to compete but quickly learned that perception is reality, meaning that you get what you pay for. When I started out, I quoted a potential client a low monthly fee but was asked why my prices were so cheap in contrast to the competition. That company hired a different firm because I was considered “too cheap” and so I doubled my prices and never had a problem selling them since then. My best piece of advice is to never compete on price.