Often referred to as the female version of Tony Stark, Kristin Degioia says “You’ll either be motivated or intimated by me”. She founded WTF Multimedia and CSI Awareness as a way to get her life back after being the victim of the biggest federal cyberstalking case in U.S. history. She was awarded Top 10 Digital Marketing Strategist by Forbes, however despite her achievements, she is first and foremost a mother and believes that to be her most important job! Kristin is also a country girl at heart.
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
It’s public knowledge that I am the victim of the biggest federal cyberstalking case in U.S. history. The true reason I started WTF was a way to get my life back. Not too many people that survive what I went through even get back on social media much less own a social media marketing firm – it was one more way to get back what he took from me.
I did the corporate world for 10 years, the trophy wife for 8 years. After I had my son, I decided I was going to be just me for a change. You either get the full force me or “mommy mode” which are two totally different people. I’ve always been known for my out-of-the-box methods, an example would be the name my company. Being yourself, which is someone far from average, is an amazing thing to be at your job. I cuss like a sailor (which my clients love) and I don’t sugar coat anything. I’m way too brutally honest and I honestly do not care what anyone thinks of me. Once you actually hit that point in life, the saying is true “that is the day your life changes”.
Tell us about your business.
WTF Multimedia is a full service marketing firm with over 800 clients worldwide. We met our 5 year goal in 8 months. Starting out with only 34 clients, within almost 3 years we have grown at an insane rate. We have never once lost a client, unless they were dropped by us. Interesting tidbit: Every single new client has come from LinkedIn.
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
We actually don’t do any marketing, unless you want to count our bold posts on social media.
List awards/certifications/accomplishments.
- Women of Influence
- Women to Watch
- Top 40 under 40
- Top Social Media Strategist
- Top 10 Digital Marketer
Where is your business based?
Nashville TN, Manhattan NY, and Chicago IL.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
I was lucky I had 34 clients from google that refused to let anyone else do their marketing. So I started right off the rip with high end clients. Then after a month, I opened my first office in Nashville and started hiring people.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
Network your ass off. I’m not kidding. I network everywhere I go. Hell, I even networked at a funeral last year. The Vice President of the United States was there so networking had to be done. The more you network, the more you don’t have to introduce yourself, and the clients come to you – not the other way around.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
I’m a woman in the tech world – we are a dying breed. People think that because I’m a woman that I don’t know how to do marketing. Being a woman in the tech world has always been the biggest challenge in my industry.
How did you overcome these challenges?
I’ll be the first to tell any client the raw truth. Even if they don’t want to hear it. I have become friends with all of my clients. I’m the god mother to 8 of my clients’ kids. That is almost unheard of, to have that close of a relationship to one’s clients.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I always remind myself that there might be 1 million people that do the same job that I do, but there is not one person on this planet that does my job the way I do it. Not one. I remind myself of everything I have and how lucky I am.
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
By posting boldly. Last time I checked, there’s not another marketer that pushes the limits or even posts anything close to what I post about!
What is the best advice you have received recently?
Get off Pinterest and let me do my job.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
Hustle. Go out of your comfort zone and surround yourself with successful people.
What is your favorite business tool or resource?
The watermark logo app. Not kidding I don’t think I could’ve lived without it.
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
I wrote a book about my cyberstalking case that’s sold over 3 million copies.
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Websites www.wtfmm.com, www.thecsiawareness.com
Twitter @kris_
Instagram @kris_
Facebook @
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/