Julie Niehoff
Speaker, Author, Marketing Leader, Educator, Small Business & Nonprofit Advocate | Distance Learning Media, LLC
Austin, TX, UNITED STATES
Speaker, writer and marketing strategist with more than 20 years in small business & nonprofit education
Media
Publications:
Documents:
Videos:
Audio/Podcasts:
Biography
Julie Niehoff is a celebrated keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, often praised for an authentic, approachable presentation style. Julie finds the words to empower her audience with knowledge, building confidence - even if the discussion or topic is complicated, she breaks complicated topics down into easy-to-understand pieces, keeping participants motivated and inspired.
Julie has personally facilitated seminars and small discussion groups for more than 120K small business and nonprofit professionals across the US, in Canada and the UK. She speaks at major industry events as well as smaller conferences and workshops
Julie was named a top Small Business Influencer in 2011 by Small Business Trends and Small Biz Technology. Formerly Director of Education for email marketing giant Constant Contact for ten years, Julie not only understands the needs and challenges of smaller organizations, she also knows how to reach this elusive demographic and has helps larger, more established corporations reach, speak to and serve them.
She is a co-founder and CMO of Distance Learning Media in Austin, Texas, founded of Small Biz Camps, is Host of The Easy Marketing Guide with Julie Niehoff [podcast], a weekly mixed-format audio program featuring influencer interviews, success stories, practical, real-world marketing advice for small businesses, franchise and nonprofit organizations.
With more than 20 years both speaking and teaching, Julie has significant industry experience in a number of market segments; including small business, nonprofits, travel and tourism, the meetings industry, SaaS sales and business development, publishing, hospitality, travel and tourism, restaurant, franchise, education, municipalities, chambers of commerce, CVBs and SBDCs, real estate, financial planning, legal services, consulting and training, staffing, music and the arts.
Industry Expertise (10)
Direct Marketing
Music
Advertising/Marketing
Hotels and Resorts
Business Services
Hospitality
Social Media
Information Technology and Services
Public Relations and Communications
Non-Profit/Charitable
Areas of Expertise (10)
Online Marketing
Community Outreach
Marketing for Non-Profits
Social Media Marketing
Marketing Strategy
Tourism & Hospitality
Destination Marketing
Event Marketing
Meetings Industry
Association Management
Accomplishments (5)
Vice Chair, Membership, Outreach & Communications – Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations (professional)
The Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations (TANO) is the statewide association reflecting and promoting Texas’ growing nonprofit community in all its diversity. Envisioning a Texas Nonprofit Sector that works to be among the healthiest and most vibrant in the nation, TANO’s focus is every nonprofit entity within our state no matter its size or budget, urban or rural location. Our mission is to connect, strengthen and support the nonprofit community for the public good of Texas.
Marketing Communications Committee – Association of Fundraising Professionals (professional)
Julie is a member of the Marketing Communications Committee for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, which represents more than 30,000 members in 230 chapters throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs. The association fosters development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession.
Recipient – 2011 Small Business Influencer Award (professional)
In 2011, the Small Business Influencer Awards recognized the work of Julie with an Honorable Mention. The Small Business Influencer Awards honor companies, organizations, apps and people who have made a significant impact on the North American small business market.
Director of Education – Constant Contact (professional)
Constant Contact helps small businesses, associations, and nonprofits connect with their customers, clients, and members. Launched in 1998, Constant Contact champions the needs of small organizations and provides them with an easy and affordable way to build successful, lasting customer relationships. Today, more than 500,000 customers from all types of small businesses and organizations use Constant Contact for Email Marketing, Event Marketing, Online Surveys, and Social Media Marketing.
Creator of the Destination Business System for CVBs (professional)
2004-09-30
While with the Dallas CVB, Julie was responsible for a complete overhaul of the city's web presence. In the process, she designed a cloud-based on-demand marketing system that managed all website content, convention sales materials and data, destination marketing materials and managed email marketing, online survey and event registration. From there, Niehoff and partners worked with a local programming firm to install the system in more than a dozen Tier 1 destinations around the globe.
Education (2)
University of Texas at Austin : Vocal Performance, Music 1991
Harvard Extension School: Masters in Management, Marketing
Currently enrolled
Affiliations (7)
- Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations
- The Center for Nonprofit Studies at ACC
- Association of Fundraising Professionals
- Meeting Professionals International
- Boys and Girls Club of Austin Area
- Austin Independent Business Alliance
- Austin Chamber of Commerce
Links (2)
Testimonials (4)
Barry Silverberg, President & CEO | Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations
Julie is a clear speaking, to the point, enthusiastic, genuine and compelling presenter. Her ability to communicate her subject to people who may not know it's value, or fear social media, is nothing short of amazing. Her contagious spirit grabs the audience and relaxes the fears and leaves one fully engaged. To listen to and watch her is to be in the presence of a social media wizard. She makes it all seem effortless, even as she integrates her considerable knowledge of the nonprofit sector and nonprofit professionals' needs and interests with the seemingly magical tools she describes. To be in Julie's audience is to be caught up in the sense of possibilities; which she expertly helps one to transform into reality. The real deal!
Elijah May, Brand Strategist | SXSW Social Good Summit
I was taken aback the first time I heard Julie Niehoff speak. I had been in PR and marketing for over 10 years at the time, and it was the best presentation I had ever heard. I had only just begun my own public speaking career, but I knew immediately that I had a lot to learn and I would be lucky to learn it from Julie. I have since had the great fortune to call Julie and friend and mentor, but I am still in awe of her captivating authenticity and the ease with which she communicates the most complicated and often misunderstood aspects of small business and nonprofit marketing.
Kay Eynatten, Nonprofit Executive | Houston Community Foundation (retired)
“I have heard some of the best public speakers around, from politicians to motivational speakers to corporate leaders, and I have never heard anyone who has captured an audience as completely and effortlessly as Julie. She makes her points clear, she does it with humor and motivation, and she makes the time absolutely fly. If you’re looking for someone to stir a crowd, challenge their minds yet provide paths to the answers and get their creativity flowing, Julie can fill the bill better than anyone I know.”
Annissa Starnes, IOM, Nonprofit & Fundraising Professional | Institute for OrganizationManagement
“Julie is an entertaining public speaker that has the ability to share educational content while keeping every audience member engaged. She is an excellent content creator and is an expert on all things online marketing for businesses of all sizes.”
Event Appearances (9)
Authenticity Marketing & Social Media
Small Business Social Media Bootcamp Del Mar College, Corpus Christi
2014-12-14
Make Your Social Media Meaningful
Social Media Circus Collin College in Plano, Texas
2013-12-15
Scale Your Business - Start Now!
Small Biz Camp Austin, Texas
2012-08-24
The Role of Local Business in Austin's Rapid Growth
The Indy Awards hosted by Austin Independent Business Alliance Austin, Texas
2012-07-12
Negotiate Like A Boss
Women's Business Retreat Austin, Texas
2012-09-01
Social Media Marketing Made Simple
Small Business Development Event UT San Antonio
2015-03-12
Winning The Engagement Battle
Next Best Thing at SXSW Austin, Texas
2015-03-12
Email & Social Media for Small Organizations
Small Business Symposium University of Edinburgh, Scotland
2015-03-12
15 Bad Ideas at Networking Events
Network in Austin Speaker Series Austin, Texas
2014-01-08
Sample Talks (5)
Engagement Tools Aren't People: Authentic Relationships Still Matter
Building lasting relationships with existing customers and members drives business success. Making that happen is called “Engagement Marketing.” The session will feature models of how other small businesses, nonprofits, associations, and organizations combine email marketing and social media marketing to build authentic connections, monitor feedback, share interesting content and drive toward business success.
Embrace Facebook Changes - They're Actually Pretty Great!
This session will include strategies and practices for working Facebook into your marketing efforts. We will look at examples of how others are using Facebook to grow their businesses and organizations. We will talk about how to manage your messages and posts for maximum impact, what works and what doesn't. Participants will gain insight into the best way to manage a social campaign on Facebook, offering discounts, downloads and other content to generate real engagement with fans & customers.
Event Marketing Tactics for Higher Attendance, Increased Engagement and Greater Reach
This session provides guidance and insight into what works and what doesn't when you are trying to host successful events. Whether your events are large or small, you can follow some simple steps that help to drive attendance up, increase engagement of participants and improve the overall experience as an event planner. We will look at some successful event management plans and ways to incorporate social media tools to increase awareness and revenue as well.
Grow Your Business By Hosting Events (Without Headaches)
Events are an integral part of how you market your small business or organization. From sales meetings to fundraisers and online training seminars, events help you attract new customers and members. Events deepen existing relationships with customers and members, generating more revenue and long-term participation. In this seminar you’ll learn how online event marketing tools offer everything you need to set up online registration and promote your events easily, affordably and professionally.
Social Media Has Changed - Have You?
This information-packed seminar will review the essential strategies and best practices a business or organization should understand in order to successfully get started with social media marketing. You will learn what social media marketing really is and why it’s important, various social media networks and tools: how they interact, ways to leverage their strengths, and how to evaluate them for best use for your business or organization.
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Host/MC
- Corporate Training
Fees
Courses (1)
Certificate in Marketing & Promotion for Nonprofits
Created and facilitate this specialized curriculum for Austin Community College, Niehoff's The Easy Marketing Guide for Nonprofit serves as text book for the course, see website for syllabus. Online sessions available to support those unable to attend every session in person. 45 credit hours and 4.5 continuing education credits, tuition assistance is available through Americore and other services
Articles (3)
The Fear and Loathing of Yelp
Huffington Post2016-08-22
After years of listening to small business owners around the country lament about their love-hate relationship with Yelp, I decided to try and debunk the myth of unfair weighting of reviews, the rumor of a pay-to-play business model and to get my hands dirty in the world of seeming despair around one of the most used and most feared sites in all the land. Let’s talk about Yelp. ...use link provided to read more...
The New Rule of Thumb: Adjust Your Marketing for a Mobile World
Huffington Post2016-06-02
Our thumbs separate us from the rest of the animal kingdom. And never has that been more evident than today, with mobile technology in almost every hand. Clearly, the ways that customers, clients and donors interact with any organization have changed. It’s past time to adjust your marketing, but you’re not too late. Read on using the link provided.
What Should I Write About? 25 Quick Content Ideas for Social Media & Email Marketing
Huffington Post2015-02-25
It is the most common question I get when speaking about email marketing, social media or small business in general... “What should I write about?” In this world of short attention spans, mobile devices and text messages, engagement is the new word of mouth: that public yet meaningful back and forth you get with clients and customers by sending out a great email to your list or posting something insightful or shareable on social media. Read on using the link provided.
Social