Meet Katie Wagner

Today we’re excited to be connecting with Katie Wagner again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.

Katie, thanks for joining us again. Just to level set a bit for folks who may have missed our last interview together, can you briefly introduce yourself?
I spent 15 years as a TV and radio journalist before starting an agency in 2010. KWSM is a full-service digital marketing agency that specializes in lead generation. We use brand journalism to position our clients as market leaders, so they get in front of a wider audience, build warmer connections, and convert more leads. Our services include Websites & SEO, content creation, videography and digital advertising.
I’m proud to lead a team of almost 40 marketing professionals across 4 offices (Orange County, CA, San Diego, CA, Atlanta, GA & Las Vegas, NV.)

Awesome, so we reached out because we wanted to hear all about what you have been up to since we last connected.
Being in the digital marketing space is never boring. The tools we use change frequently and sometimes it feels like a new job every 6 months! With the rise of AI, the industry is evolving and it’s been exciting being on the forefront of that – but it’s also a time of great change and uncertainty, which can increase the pressure. We’re testing a lot of new AI tools at the agency, with the goal of making our work more efficient. We’re not using AI for content creation currently, but we are streamlining processes so that we can spend more time on strategic work for clients.

We have now arrived at one of our favorite parts of the interview – the lightning round. We’ll ask you a few quick questions to give us all some fun insights about you.

Favorite Movie: Out of Africa

Favorite Book: Wellness by Nathan Hill

Favorite TV Show: Nobody Wants This

Favorite Band or Artist: Vertical Horizon

Sweet or Savory: savory

Mountains or Beach: mountains

Favorite Sport (to watch): Baseball

Favorite Sport (to play): Horseback riding

Did you play sports growing up (if so which ones): Softball, horseback riding

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: President

French Fries or Onion Rings: french fries

Chuck Rhodes or Bobby Axelrod: Bobby?

Favorite Cartoon growing up: Mighty Mouse

Favorite Childhood movie: Mary Poppins

Favorite Breakfast Food: Oatmeal

What do you want people to remember about you and your brand? What are some of things that you feel are most important, unique, special, etc?
I’m really proud of the way we approach digital marketing differently. As brand journalists, we focus on storytelling and positioning our clients as thought leaders. We also lean into Nearbound lead generation, which relies on building and leveraging strategic partnerships. Relationships are really important in every aspect of our work, so it’s not just about data.
Personally, I am passionate about empowering the next generation of strong women leaders. KWSM is a women-led agency, and I am excited about the future and the leaders who will come after me.

Website: https://www.kwsmdigital.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kwsmteam

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiewagnerkwsm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kwsmteam

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kwsm-a-digital-marketing-agency-aliso-viejo

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KWSMTeam

Image Credits
We took all these photos ourselves