Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:
My entrepreneurial journey started in my teens as a classically-trained musician, when I began offering piano lessons.
Three decades later, I've owned multiple businesses in music education, web design, and networking.
A year ago, in evaluating my marketing strategy for Studio Rocket Web Design (the business I co-own with my husband), I stopped all of our broadcast activities. Social media, blogging, our email newsletter, and podcasting went on permanent hiatus.
The reason: I finally embraced the fact that all of our web design clients come from personal referrals. I decided to focus entirely on relationships as my marketing strategy.
I had 100 coffee chats last year. I met some incredible people - including some delightful Entreprenistas.
Midway through the year, I realized I had a coffee chat problem: I was making great connections but they weren't going anywhere. It occurred to me that I needed to deepen these referral partnerships if they were going to be meaningful.
I began a monthly referral partner newsletter, and each issue spotlighted one of my referral partners. I looked for opportunities to make valuable intros for them. And I started The Co-Promotion Club.
The Co-Promotion Club was a monthly group for my referral partners; we would get to know each other's work on a deeper level and offer support wherever we were able to do so.
VFrom the first month, I had to run two groups to accommodate everyone who wanted to join. The same people returned month after month. I'm now familiar with each referral partner's work and feel confident in identifying a right-fit client for them. It was a fantastic way for us to build meaningful relationships.
In December, I opened The Co-Pro Club to the public. For the first time in three decades of entrepreneurship, I experienced quick success. Founder pricing sold out early and I exceeded my initial goal by 50%.
In 2025, relationships are becoming a central priority. As we're burning out on content consumption and the isolation that comes from running a business, human connection is a felt need. Communities like Entreprenista, in-person events, and intentional networking are providing deep value to meet the need, and I'm excited to be part of this rising tide.
Who are your customers?
Experienced agency owners, consultants, fractionals, and freelancers
What made you take the leap to start your own business?
Starting a business was less of a conscious decision and more of an obvious next step. The few times I've worked for a boss, I was always counting the days until I could quit. The freedom that comes from working for myself is something that I can't imagine living without, regardless of how incredibly hard it is.
What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way so far and what have you learned from it?
It's taken most of my entrepreneurial life to place an appropriate value on data. While I may feel excited about an idea or potential direction, I finally know to take my time, experiment in a small way, and make decisions based on results rather than just my personal opinions.
Prioritizing data feels humbling because sometimes it means my direction needs changing, or my idea wasn't something people wanted - but data is a much shorter path to success than my hopes or feelings, and that gives me confidence.
What accomplishment are the most proud of to date in your business?
Still being in this entrepreneurial game after three decades is my proudest accomplishment. Along the way I've acquired the grit that's needed to be self-sufficient, and have also learned that self-sufficiency will only get me so far. My community is there for me if I'm willing to raise my hand when I need help.
What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?
I'm focused on growing The Co-Promotion Club in a sustainable, intentional way. I want it to remain a place of meaningful connection and quality referral partnerships, where people know they'll find support when they need it.
What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?
When I joined Entreprenista, I had a great time reading through the feed and supporting the people who were posting. After a couple of months, though, I started digging into the directory to find connections that were likely to be aligned with my business. The directory is a treasure trove of amazing people, and I've made some valuable connections by reaching out to people there.
What is your favorite business tool or solution and why?
In my effort to move from analog to digital planning, I discovered Things - thanks to my husband, who finds the coolest tech for whatever I need. It's revolutionized my planning and allows me to run two businesses in a [moderately] calm and focused way.
What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?
Relationships are EVERYTHING. Look for good people and invest in them when and where you can. Then, when you need help, they will remember you. Your network is the most valuable business support you have.
Learn more about the Entreprenista League and join today!
About the Author
Abby Pan
Abby Pan is the Email Marketing and Podcast Manager at Entreprenista, where she oversees the podcast production, curating engaging content and facilitating discussions that empower and inspire women founders in their entrepreneurial journeys.
