Meet Barbara Jones of One2One Network and Word of Marketing Retreat Speaker

Someone I’m super excited to meet this week at our retreat, is Barbara Jones. We met this Summer via Fairy Godmother Wendy Piersall and already Barbara has been an incredible strength and support to Startup Princess. Talk about CONNECTED! She’s active all over the web, if you Twitter, look her up. She helps companies create word of mouth campaigns and looks for ways for them to reach new audiences. For example, she recently hooked us up with a sponsorship of an Artisan Epson 800 Printer for the winner of the Elevator Pitch Competition (Sarah Jane) and we’re also doing a review of one soon, so watch for that. She’s one of our newest Fairy Godmothers, specializing in Word of Mouth Marketing, the subject she will be speaking on this weekend at our event. Something I find absolutely fascinating is her 20-year career in the music industry, read below…It is my pleasure to introduce you to Barbara Jones, enjoy her interview!

Hometown: Grew up in Minneapolis & Chicago
Current Residence: Greenwich, CT
Education: BA from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
Professional Background: 20 years in marketing, sales and distribution in the music business working for record companies.
What you wanted to be when you grew up: In high school, I thought I wanted to be an anesthesiologist.  After doing a paper on anesthesiological malpractice, I thought it would be easier just to get into the entertainment business.
What you are: I am a true marketing person through and through.  I love the details of the product management side and the conceptualizing of the creative side.
I run my own marketing, PR, social media and consulting company called Intuition Marketing with a division called One2One Network.
Brief Summary of your Start Up: The idea for my start up came from my own needs as a record company marketing head.  I found there was a huge hole when it came to being able to find outsource companies to hire to work projects targeted to the adult female demographic on a grassroots level.   I would have gladly hired a company like One2One Network ten times over if I knew there was something like it.
One2One Network is a women’s word of mouth marketing company that helps clients reach women and moms using a more personal, non-traditional, one-to-one approach via social media tools and strategies.  Our members, ages 21-70+ have the opportunity to opt-in to fun projects with cool perks and interact with nice people.  They also get to flex their consumer power to help spread the word about products and services they enjoy and our clients reap the benefits.
Company Website: one2onenetwork.com
What inspired you? I was at a point in my life when my youngest child turned one year old and I was getting tired of commuting and going out to concerts for work 2-4 times per week.  The hours were long and some weeks, even though I was in town, I wouldn’t see my kids for a couple days at a time.  Plus the music business was going through some tough times and I knew that owning something and having control of my own destiny would be better for me and my family in the long run.  I was laid off due to restructuring but I knew that jumping back into the same job at a different company wasn’t the right thing for me.  I also knew in my gut, that the idea for my company was going to work.  I just had to build it but I felt really strongly about it (and still do!)
How long have you been in business? Intuition Marketing and One2One Network was started in January 2008.
How did you fund it? Since I was under contract with my former company and I was laid off due to corporate restructuring,  technically, I joke that my former employer was my main “investor” because fortunately, I was still earning a paycheck while I was building my new business.  I don’t think I would have been able to do it otherwise so I look at being laid off as a blessing.  For additional funds, I used my own money but since we’re a service based company and we began getting clients fairly quickly, we have had income to cover our startup costs.
Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? I don’t have one specific mentor although I appreciate the time and support I’ve been given by marketing to women maven and author Marti Barletta, Care.com CEO Shelia Marcelo, Golden Seeds’ Angel Investor Paula Bruno and TravelingMom.com Founder Kim Orlando.  Also, I’ve been energized generally by so many of the women in the startup and entrepreneur community who have been incredibly supportive and helpful.
Do you belong to any business organizations or Networking Groups? I don’t personally belong to any specific networking organizations however,  I belong to several networking groups on Linked In.  I would have to say thought, that my favorite and most effective business networking seems to be happening on Twitter these days.
Current Business Challenge? My current business challenge is prioritizing which ‘hats’ I need to wear more often to grow my business.  It’s easy to get caught up in the minutiae so I have to remind myself to take a step back to look at the big picture goals and how to attain them.
What are you doing about it? I’m setting aside parts of each week’s schedule for business development brainstorming and outreach.
Favorite Motivational Quote: I follow a combination of two related things:
The Golden Rule & Karma: You get what you give.
Family? I am married and have 3 children.

If so, how do you balance family and business? My husband and I have a good understanding of how to balance responsibilities around the house and with the kids.  I also make specific time each day when I ‘shut down’ and focus on being present with my family (especially for dinner, bathtime, bedtime routines.)

Favorite Book?
Geek Love
What do you do to relax? I wish I could tell you that I meditate or get massages or something but really, just spending time with my family on the weekends doing family activities is very relaxing and enjoyable for me.  Ok, so every now and then getting massages or getting my nails done helps a bit.   My favorite escape is snowboarding in UT or CO.
What do you want to change most about your world? For my business world, I’d love to work less hours and have more family time. For my personal world, I’d love to help find more activities and fun resources for young adults with Autism, like my stepson Dylan, who seem to be the forgotten ones as they age out of the school systems.
What are you most proud of? So far, in business, I’m proud that I am following my gut instincts (and that it’s working!)
What advice would you like to offer other startup princesses? A good piece of advice I received from author Marti Barletta was, as you’re building your business, don’t apologize for being a startup or new.  How ever you see yourself in 5 years, BE that person NOW.  Basically, that means have the confidence in your ideas and your business model and project that outwardly.  Success will be reflected back.
Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? Google and Twitter.
If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? My birthstone Garnets and Emeralds.