Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Anderson.
Hi Kayla, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story into entrepreneurship isn’t the typical “I always wanted to own a business” path — because I didn’t. I never imagined running my own company. I just knew I loved marketing, I was good at it, and I cared deeply about helping businesses in a genuine and practical way.
In April 2024, I left a marketing agency role that pushed sales over substance. It was called a consultant position, but it was really just selling marketing work I wouldn’t even be the one performing. The disconnect created so much anxiety that one day I simply walked out. I knew I couldn’t stay in an environment that didn’t align with my values.
That moment is what sparked KRA Marketing Solutions.
I started taking on projects immediately — websites, social media, brand identities, and advertising campaigns. I even secured my first monthly retainer client, which showed me there was real demand for the type of transparent, straightforward marketing support I wanted to offer. But passion takes time to turn into income, and by September 2024, I had to return to full-time work simply to keep up with bills.
From September 2024 to August 2025, I worked in a role that had nothing to do with marketing. It was stable, but I was miserable. I knew I couldn’t stay in a job that went against everything I wanted my career to be. So I spent almost a year actively searching for something more aligned — something that felt like the right next step.
By September 2025, I finally found a marketing position that felt like it matched my skills and values. I started on September 15th, and I genuinely believed it would be long-term. But around that same time, my dad became seriously ill, and my entire world shifted. I took time to support him and my family, returned to work, and then — less than a month later — the company changed direction and let me go on October 31st.
That moment forced a kind of clarity I couldn’t ignore.
Every time life pushed me off one path, I ended up back with KRA.
So this time, I stopped fighting it.
I formed my LLC, rebuilt my entire brand, redesigned my website, clarified my services, and committed fully to the business I had been slowly building for over a year. It wasn’t the plan I expected, but it finally felt like the right one.
Today, KRA Marketing Solutions is the work I’m proud to stand behind: marketing that is honest, simple, and actually helpful — especially in eastern North Carolina, where marketing is often undervalued or misunderstood. My goal is to make it approachable, clear, and accessible for the local businesses that need it most.
I didn’t choose entrepreneurship because it was easy. I chose it because it was the only path that allowed me to do meaningful work in a way that aligned with who I am. This chapter is challenging and uncertain at times, but it’s also the first time my career has felt truly mine. I’m committed to building KRA Marketing Solutions into something lasting — not because it’s comfortable, but because I believe in the work and I’m ready to grow with it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the earliest challenges was realizing that several marketing roles I stepped into weren’t actually aligned with my values. A lot of positions prioritized sales and numbers over meaningful strategy, and navigating that disconnect was mentally and emotionally draining.
Starting my business before I felt fully ready came with its own difficulties. I took on projects while still dealing with financial instability, which forced me back into full-time work for almost a year in a role that didn’t inspire me. Trying to balance responsibility with a career that didn’t feel like mine was one of the hardest seasons of that period.
At the same time, life outside of work was shifting in ways I didn’t expect. My dad became seriously ill right as I was trying to regain momentum in my career. Managing personal stress, job transitions, and uncertainty all at once was overwhelming. And when I finally stepped into a marketing role that aligned with my skills, I lost it within a month due to an unexpected company shift.
While none of these challenges were easy, they all pushed me toward clarity. Each setback made me more certain of the type of work I wanted to do — and more determined to build a business that reflects my values.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
KRA Marketing Solutions, LLC is a marketing consultancy built around one core belief: small businesses deserve clarity. In many parts of eastern North Carolina, marketing is often seen as confusing, overwhelming, or simply not a priority — and that leaves a lot of business owners feeling stuck. My goal is to make marketing approachable by offering straightforward strategies, practical tools, and hands-on support that actually makes sense for real businesses in this region.
I specialize in website design, brand development, social media management, advertising, and ongoing marketing support. But what truly sets KRA apart is the way I work: with transparency, collaboration, and an emphasis on simplicity. I don’t believe in overcomplicating things or hiding the process behind buzzwords. My clients always know what’s being done, why it’s being done, and how it moves their business forward.
What I’m most proud of is the impact I’ve had on small, locally owned businesses who never felt seen or supported in the marketing space. Whether it’s redesigning a website to make it easier for customers to navigate, building a brand from the ground up, or creating ad campaigns that actually convert, my focus is on delivering results while making the entire process less intimidating for the business owner.
At its core, KRA Marketing Solutions exists to give local businesses the tools, confidence, and guidance they need to grow — without the confusion, pressure, or unnecessary complexity that often comes with traditional marketing approaches.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I definitely haven’t built this alone. One of the first people who deserves credit is actually my very first client. I was originally planning to work for him, but he was the one who stopped me and said that I could really create something out of this. That moment of encouragement, and someone seeing potential in me before I fully saw it in myself, played a major role in giving me the confidence to start KRA Marketing Solutions in the first place.
I also owe so much to my parents and my partner. When everything in my career felt uncertain, they were the ones reminding me to look at what had been consistent all along: my business. They grounded me, supported me, and helped me see that KRA was the one thing that was always there at the end of the day. It was something I created, something that worked, and something that deserved my full commitment. Their belief in me made it possible for me to finally believe in myself enough to go all in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kramarketingsolutions.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/kramarketingsolutions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kramarketingsolutions
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla1094/
