One Woman Marketing’s Featured Women in Business offers a firsthand look at the marketing experiences of women entrepreneurs and small business owners around the globe. This week features Jordana Jaffe of Embarkability.

OWM: Describe how you entered your current position.

I started my first business when I was 24 years old, having absolutely no idea about anything related to entrepreneurship. I was an English major in college and never expected to start my own business soon after graduating.

After launching my first business, live ORGANIZED, a professional organizing company, and seeing that I could actually BE a business owner and succeed at it, I wanted to provide a resource for other ambitious twenty-something women who want to start their own businesses but just don’t know how.

OWM: How did you get started with marketing? Was it challenging, or did it come naturally?

It definitely didn’t come naturally. Are there actually people out there who naturally master marketing? As I said, I was an English major and never took one class related to entrepreneurship, so this included marketing, sales, or anything of the sort. I got started by reading a lot of books, and speaking to people who were already succeeding in their businesses to learn about what had worked for them.

OWM: What preconceptions about sales and marketing, if any, did you have when you started?

I definitely felt that marketing was near impossible. I had no idea how to do it “right” without seeming inauthentic and too salesy.

OWM: How important of a role does marketing play in your day-to-day business?

Marketing is extremely important in my day-to-day business. Marketing, as I see it, is just getting the word out there, and letting people know about what you do and how you can help them. So without doing that, you really don’t have a business since in order to have a successful business, you need clients.

OWM: What marketing methods have worked best for you? Which have been the most challenging?

I think the most successful marketing methods have probably been the simplest. For example, keeping in touch with potential clients, current clients, and former clients is so important and helpful in terms of receiving feedback and referrals. Providing your prospects and clients with freebies without compromising too much of your time, money, or energy is extremely beneficial as well, whether that’s in the form of a weekly newsletter, monthly teleseminars, or a free online mini-course.

OWM: Has your self-image changed since you started marketing?

Definitely. I’ve definitely become more confident in my ability to succeed as a business owner and to get the word out easily so that clients hear what I do, and know that I’m the right person to help them achieve their goals.

OWM: What do you wish you knew about marketing before you started?

That I wouldn’t only master it eventually, but that I would actually enjoy it as well.

OWM: What marketing advice would you give to other women in business?

Act from a place of authenticity. Approach prospects and clients with the perspective of how can you help them, and not will they sign up for your program. People like to buy, but they don’t like to be sold to.

OWM: To what do you attribute your success?

Unwavering faith in my success, persistence, asking for help, and doing whatever it takes to accomplish my goals.