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Fast Facts

Welcome to my absurd little corner of the Internet. Here are some fast facts about me and my personality:

I’m a 2w3 on the ennegram.

I’m an ESFJ.

I live in Kansas City, MO with my husband, son, and ~20 rescue pets ranging a variety of species.

I have a mild allergy to kiwi.

I’m at my best when I get to use both sides of my brain.

RESUME

Before I Fleetwood Mac’ed it and decided to “go [my] own way” I had a good run working for other people, while on the side still enjoying the clients and unique work associated with freelancing. Keep reading for more details on my winding path to .

Education

  • North Central College, Naperville, IL

  • Class of 2012

  • Bachelor of Arts in Interactive Media

  • I completed 6 internships during my 4 years at NCC

Kelly Stanze Consulting + Creative

Freelancer/Consultant

01/2024 onward

I’m back, baby! After that brief stint at Demiplane, I’m thrilled to be partnering with the world’s best clients once more, helping them be found online in nimble, cost-effective ways.

Demiplane

Marketing Manager

08/2023 - 12/2023

I said I’d step away from my business only for the right role. I thought this would be it, but the economy disagreed. I was among layoffs made at the end of 2023. During my brief time with TTRPG startup Demiplane, I touched pretty much all marketing. My emphasis was heavier in content strategy and email marketing, but unfortunately much of the work did not make it to fruition prior to the layoffs. Additional projects included convention presence and public interfacing, partner relationship management, and creating the foundation for technical SEO practices.

Robot Logic Marketing

Freelancer/Consultant

03/2022 - Current

A portion of my time as a contractor has been spent as the fractional SEO Director for Robot Logic Marketing. This boutique full-service agency serves small businesses that often see themselves underserved by marketing and advertising firms.

Kelly Stanze Consulting + Creative

Freelancer/Consultant

06/2020 - 08/2023

In this initial 3-year chapter, I did a little bit of everything. My main areas of focus: technical SEO, content optimization, content strategy, and overall website experience and strategy. I also peppered in paid search, organic and paid social, affiliate marketing, referral and loyalty programs, and…more. Much more. Ultimately, though, my goal was always this: how do I help small entities be found online in an agile and cost-effective way?

Nickel & Suede

eCommerce Manager

12/2019 - 05/2020

As a 1-person web team for a growing company with frequent product drops, I did it all. I was also the only marketing/digital employee for a stretch, meaning that I also assisted in social media, loyalty programs, and especially email marketing. I was also the only person with copywriting experience, so I did that, too.

Hallmark Cards

SEO Strategist

11/2015 - 11/2019

Whether it was technical SEO, content strategy consulting, assisting in the development of SEO-friendly style guides, or educating contributors and execs on the value of search optimization, I did it all. For several months I was also the in-house POC for our paid search agency, and was instrumental in bringing that practice in-house.

PlattForm

SEO & Content Marketing Strategist

11/2013 - 11/2015

AKA Keypath Education, AKA Thruline Marketing. I spent 2 years at PlattForm/Keypath Education serving higher education clients. Within the first 6 months had been moved from several small, low-profit accounts onto a dedicated account serving one large client, an assignment only offered to the top performing strategists on the team.

AdFarm

Digital Strategist

07/2012 - 10/2013

Specializing in social media, blogging, and content, I helped clients in the agriculture industry through B2B/B2C strategies and social media training for their customers, employees, and other stakeholders. I also spent a great deal of time on social listening, writing, outreach, influencer partnerships, and supporting industry events.

What People Are Saying

“I respect Kelly's ongoing strive to understand the changing landscape of the digital industry. She's a team player and always willing to step up to a new challenge.”

— Ashley Collins, Former Colleague (Hallmark)

“The passion and knowledge she brings to the table exponentially increase what a team can accomplish when she’s on it. And she is always willing to go above and beyond her job description.”

— Sean Bryan, Former Colleague (PlattForm)

More Trivia

I’ve Jumped Off Of A Perfectly Good Cliff

In a cave in Mexico, no less. As someone who’s afraid of heights and hates the feeling of falling, this is a BFD. (Big freaking deal.)

I Can Say The Alphabet Backwards

And I’ve proved it in almost every job interview I’ve ever done. Ask me about it if we ever have a call.

I’ve Hung Out With Celebrities

Saying “yes” to weird adventures sometimes means you get to be the personal assistant of Worf from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

I’ve Shaved Alpacas

Again, say “yes” to the weird stuff. As an alumnae of 4-H and FFA, it seemed like a great idea at the time. And it was. They’re wonderfully weird creatures that are softer than CLOUDS. They spit and they’re terrified of everything and they hum when they’re happy.

I’m In Recovery For An Eating Disorder

Not all “fun facts” are fun, but this one is a big part of who I am. I’ll occasionally share about it online, as well as my experiences with depression and anxiety.