Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Kline.
Hi Rachel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Rachel Kline, marketing professional, writer, blogger and mother. I founded Rachel Kline Marketing & Creative in 2014, offering social media marketing services for small businesses, but I quickly realized many of my clients needed more than social media to reach the right customers. My clients needed new websites, professional photography, and branding design. My marketing background had given me experience in many of these areas – copy writing for various agencies over the years, and learning SEO strategy while working for a local firm.
I joined a women’s business mastermind and began taking online classes to learn more about the ins and outs of website design. Soon, my husband’s company hired me to handle their marketing and I had the opportunity to redesign their website – my first custom build – and it brought me more website design clients. Word of mouth referrals began coming in regularly, and over time my own website became its own lead magnet.
In my personal life, our family was growing – we had two little ones and loved the idea of working for myself and working from home when possible. I began leasing a space in downtown Lancaster and by 2019 I knew it was time to expand my team in order to better serve my clients. With the addition of Susan Mariscal and Bethany Ballantyne, I was able to bring brand photography and graphic design in-house, offering a complete brand experience.
Fast forward to today… my team and I have designed over 100 websites, countless brands and logos, and my family has nearly doubled in size. I love what I do, and I love spending time with my husband and our four kids, ages 3-11.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Growing a small business certainly hasn’t been without its challenges. Like many women entrepreneurs, and especially as a mom of four, one of my biggest challenges has been learning to balance the demands of running a business with being present for my family. There have been seasons where that balance felt nearly impossible, and I’ve had to constantly reevaluate what success looks like—not just professionally, but personally as well.
Another challenge has been overcoming my own limiting beliefs. There were many times I questioned whether I was ready to grow, hire help, raise my prices, or pursue larger opportunities. Looking back, I can see that those internal barriers were often more limiting than any external obstacle. Working with business coaches, surrounding myself with other entrepreneurs, and being willing to learn from people who had already walked the path gave me the confidence to make smarter decisions about growing my team, outsourcing tasks that weren’t in my zone of genius, and building a business that could thrive without depending solely on me.
Pricing was another hurdle. As creatives, and I think especially as women, it can feel uncomfortable to talk about money or confidently charge what your expertise is worth. Early on, I often undervalued my time because I genuinely wanted to help people. I’m an Enneagram 3 with a 2 wing, so serving others comes naturally to me. That also meant I had to learn that providing exceptional service doesn’t mean saying yes to everything. Setting healthy boundaries, clearly defining project scopes, and charging appropriately for my time have been some of the most valuable lessons in building a sustainable business.
Managing a team has brought its own learning curve as well. While my photographer and graphic designer are local, much of our collaboration happens remotely, and as all of our families have grown, coordinating schedules has become more complex. It has challenged me to become a better communicator, create stronger systems, and trust my team rather than trying to do everything myself.
Looking back, I’m actually grateful for all of those challenges. They’ve stretched me in ways I never expected and made me a better business owner, a better leader, and honestly, a better mom. Running a business has taught me resilience, communication, and the importance of building a life and business that supports one another instead of constantly competing for my attention.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Rachel Kline Creative, we specialize in custom websites for small-medium sized businesses, especially female owned businesses. Many of our clients seek us out because they are looking for an agency that is able to really tell their story – through photos, visuals and in writing.
Outside of making things look beautiful, we work with many local businesses who need SEO support, or are ready to redesign a website they’ve had for years. Companies trust us to preserve their brand value and messaging, while adding a fresh look or new spin on things.
Because of my close relationship with my husband’s company, (a septic business), we also have a unique familiarity with the service industry and how to help “not so glamorous” businesses position themselves to reach new customers. We’ve done photo shoots for plumbers, plastic injection molding companies, beekeepers and painters. We love an opportunity to sell the final result and showcase the process. Some of these brands have become longtime clients of ours who trust us with ongoing SEO support, social media marketing and more.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love Lancaster because it’s so diverse – you have an amazing food scene, great downtown shopping and restaurants, music and theater – yet in a 15 minute drive you can be in the country, buy some fresh picked flowers or produce from a road side stand, and see an Amish horse and buggy. Lancaster is absolutely beautiful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rachelklinecreative.com
- Instagram: @rachelklinecreative
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/rachelklinecreative
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelhighley/
