In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Nicolette Miller, founder of Strykur Content and brand messaging strategist, to talk about what it really takes to build a writing business from the ground up — and why your brand voice might be the most important asset you're overlooking right now.
Nicolette shares how she went from helping her dad's real estate office with marketing to launching Strykur Content, cold emailing agencies with the subject line "the content writer you didn't know you needed," and doubling her agency income by year two. We get into how AI is reshaping the content landscape, why generic ChatGPT copy is already losing its edge, and how Nicolette is helping businesses build messaging playbooks that keep their teams consistent and their voice authentic.
If you're a founder, marketer, or business owner trying to figure out how to stand out in a world flooded with AI-generated content, this one's for you.
🎙️ We dive into:
How Nicolette's love of handwritten cards and storytelling led to a career in brand messaging
Starting out in her dad's real estate office and getting her first real exposure to marketing
Why working in-house at a national office furniture company affirmed that writing was her thing
The catch-22 of needing agency experience to get an agency job — and the one that took a gamble on her
How a cold email campaign landed her a client she's still working with eight years later
The origin of the name Strykur — soccer, storytelling, and a childhood dog
Why she pushed back on repurposing the same blog content for different clients and what that taught her about quality
How AI has changed the content game and why brand voice is now your biggest differentiator
The brand messaging playbook she builds for clients — including AI prompt guides for internal teams
Why two salespeople using ChatGPT without a unified strategy creates a messaging mess
The importance of doing the research before you ever open an AI tool
How networking in Dallas pushed her past imposter syndrome all over again
Her upcoming children's book series and why she wants to bring authenticity to fiction
Walking without a phone, listening to classical music, and the creative power of boredom
Her goal to work with nonprofits and help overlooked organizations get their message heard
Nicolette brings a perspective that's equal parts disciplined athlete and empathetic storyteller — and it shows in how she approaches every brand she works with.
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🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey
📍 Fast Forward Podcast
#FastForwardPodcast #BrandMessaging #ContentStrategy #StrykurContent #Storytelling #BrandVoice #AIinMarketing #SmallBusiness #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #leadership
00:00 Nicolette's Journey to Striker Content
03:11 The Evolution of Brand Messaging
05:53 Navigating Challenges in Entrepreneurship
08:59 The Role of AI in Content Creation
12:05 Building Relationships and Networking
14:51 The Importance of Authenticity in Writing
18:00 Creative Processes and Inspiration
20:54 Future Aspirations and Giving Back
