Marketing guru helps small businesses

One might think Karen Hale has an identity crisis going on in her life, at least professionally.

For years, she has been known as the owner of While You’re Busy, which started in Arizona and later moved to Owatonna. However, she recently changed the name of the company to Mineral Springs Marketing.

Hale chuckles about how many people simply couldn’t remember the name of her company, forcing her to think about something more clever and easier for them to recall.

“Brad Meier (Owatonna Chamber president) once told me that there is something in the water from Mineral Springs that breeds entrepreneurialism in Owatonna,” said Hale, adding that comment led to her name change.

Call it just another day for a marketing whiz who helps small businesses and organizations with their identity and spreading the message about what they offer to people who don’t know them.

It’s kind of ironic that Hale, who helps others promote their identity through a variety of marketing venues, has struggled with her own. But Hale isn’t taking any chances. Until folks get totally used to her company, she is keeping business cards that feature the new company name on one side and the old name on the back side.

After working 35 years for Prudential USAA Insurance, Hale broke off on her own to become self employed by focusing on paying bills for people serving in the military.

“While they were deployed, I would take care of all the bills for them,” Hale said.

Her work even caused a breakup of a marriage with one spouse questioning why Hale would be put in charge of paying the bills.

The military bill-pay business led to website development for Hale. She found a niche with websites because “they were outlandishly overpriced” by many other companies.

As time went on, Hale switched over to digital marketing, which focuses on all facets of marketing. It was also a time where Hale discovered that her company name “While You’re Busy” didn’t really fit any longer with the new emphasis on marketing.

Because her work can be done remotely, Hale had no reason to stay in Arizona. She moved to Owatonna in late 2018 to be closer to her daughter, Jordan, who married Zach Olson of Owatonna and previously moved to the area.

“I waited a couple years to make sure they didn’t bounce back and Jordan could survive the cold,” Hale said with a smile.

Since coming to Owatonna, Hale has immersed herself in the community. She is involved with various organizations, including Business Network International (BNI), Center for Family Unity, Community Pathways, Alliance for Greater Equity, Open Arms Suicide, 761 Foundation, Engage Owatonna and the Moonlighter’s Exchange Club.

In December 2020, she became host of Straight Talk, a weekly interview show on Owatonna Live. The TV gig has allowed her to meet a lot of people and learn about their businesses.

“I joined everything,” she confessed.

And it has paid off in big ways.

“A lot of the business I have came through being involved in the community,” Hale said, noting she has about 40 active clients, most of which are local, but some are in other states.

She helps businesses with marketing strategies, digital marketing design and social media creation and management.

Though she doesn’t consider herself to be a creative person, Hale’s favorite aspect of her work is exploring the creative side of things.

“I like to figure out how to make clients stand out so they look different than their competitors,” she says.

She also finds herself in an industry that’s constantly changing and evolving. It forces her to keep learning new things, which she said she enjoys.

“It’s hard to keep up with it,” she said. “It’s crazy how fast things change.”
Hale said her goal with any client is “to get them seen differently or better than their competitors.”

Marketing, Hale said, is extremely important to the success of any business. “You can be really good at what you do, but if nobody knows about it, you are just spinning your wheels. Marketing is weaving your story and getting in front of people.”

Hale cautions business owners to be careful with marketing and to not post things that aren’t relevant to the business.

“If you post kittens and butterflies, you better be selling them,” she said.

Her advice is also for owners to always tell the truth and share the real story of their businesses.

“You have to tell the truth because consumers aren’t stupid,” she said.

Many business owners make the mistake of not understanding the value of marketing, according to Hale.

“They think of marketing as a line item budget. You cannot not market,” she said.

Hale takes her job seriously, wants businesses to succeed and holds herself to a high standard.

“Nobody wants to fail,” she said. “If they fail, I fail.”

Hale’s company may only be herself, but she’s quite content with it being that way.

“I like the smallness of my company so I can control everything,” she said. “It keeps you honest.”

While Hale appears to have figured out her identity, she now hopes to help other businesses find theirs and market the heck out of it.

Mineral Springs Marketing

Who: Owner Karen Hale

What: Marketing for small businesses

Where: 109 W. Rose St., Owatonna

When: Hours vary, call for appointment

Contact: 507-353-0300 or info@mineralspringsmarketing.com