Courtney Hurley and Kelly Evans: Revolutionizing Small Business Marketing with Clarity and Control
Small business marketing today is a maze. A decade ago, it was about print ads and word-of-mouth. Now, success hinges on mastering websites, data analytics, and digital campaigns. But despite these advancements, many entrepreneurs find themselves stuck in a frustrating cycle—locked into agency contracts that prioritize dependency over empowerment.
Courtney Hurley and Kelly Evans, founders of Screws + Stilettos, have spent decades witnessing this pattern. With their combined 30 years of experience, they understand the challenges small businesses face in keeping up with an ever-changing marketing landscape. That’s why they created the Market Like A CMO workshop, an 8-week workshop designed to help business owners take charge of their marketing while achieving peak performance. It’s not just about keeping pace—it’s about building a system that puts the power back in your hands.
Marketing Has Changed. Have You?
The way we market has shifted dramatically. In today’s fast-moving world, a great product or service is no longer enough. Success requires agility—a strategy rooted in real-time data, adaptability, and innovation. Yet many entrepreneurs remain tied to agencies that promise results while keeping their clients at arm’s length.
“Agencies often create systems they control,” Hurley explains. “This leaves businesses dependent on them for even the smallest changes. It’s inefficient, and it holds them back.”
Taking Back Control: From Dependency to Empowerment
Traditional agency models don’t just limit growth—they restrict creativity. Business owners feel stuck in reactive cycles, unable to pivot when markets change or new opportunities arise. Hurley and Evans built the Market Like A CMO workshop to dismantle this dynamic.
This 8-week workshop teaches business owners how to manage their marketing independently. From crafting campaigns to optimizing websites, participants gain actionable skills they can use immediately. But the workshop goes deeper, combining marketing strategies with neuroscience-backed techniques to help entrepreneurs operate at their best.
“Marketing isn’t just about strategies—it’s about how you approach your work,” Evans explains. “Our workshop shows you how to optimize your productivity while reducing stress and burnout.”
The Power of Flow: A Game-Changer for Entrepreneurs
A standout feature of the Market Like A CMO workshop is its focus on “flow.” This state of deep focus and creativity, backed by decades of neuroscience, has been shown to boost productivity by up to 500%. For small business owners, flow isn’t just a productivity hack—it’s a way to reclaim energy and creativity in their work.
Hurley and Evans guide participants through practices like time-blocking, single-tasking, and aligning tasks with purpose. These techniques help entrepreneurs get more done without the mental clutter, allowing them to stay ahead of the curve while maintaining balance.
A Roadmap for Sustainable Growth
The Market Like A CMO workshop isn’t a crash course—it’s a roadmap for sustainable, scalable success. Participants leave the workshop with more than marketing strategies; they gain the tools to:
- Build marketing systems that align with their business goals.
- Create customer-driven campaigns that deliver measurable results.
- Streamline workflows to stay focused and effective.
- Recognize burnout before it happens and incorporate recovery practices.
“Ultimately, we’re empowering entrepreneurs to make decisions confidently and act quickly,” Hurley says. “It’s about simplifying the process so they can focus on what matters most.”
Real Success, Real Transformation
One of the most compelling examples of this workshop’s impact involves a 30-year-old retailer on the verge of closure during the pandemic. With no online presence and declining revenue, the business faced enormous challenges. Hurley and Evans provided them with the tools to take control of their marketing and adapt.
The results were dramatic: a 55% increase in leads and a 51% rise in revenue. But beyond the numbers, the retailer gained something more important—a sense of independence and the ability to pivot without waiting for outside approval. This story reflects the broader mission of Hurley and Evans: equipping small businesses with the confidence and capability to thrive.
Why Marketing Should Work for You
For Hurley and Evans, marketing isn’t just a tool for growth—it’s a way to empower business owners. Their vision is clear: to create a future where entrepreneurs lead their marketing efforts with clarity, agility, and purpose.
“Marketing should simplify your business, not complicate it,” Hurley says. “We’re here to help businesses reclaim their autonomy and thrive in a way that feels manageable and impactful.”
Ready to Take Control of Your Marketing?
If you’re ready to move past outdated systems and build a marketing strategy that truly works for your business, the Market Like A CMO workshop offers a proven path forward. Visit their workshop page to discover how you can create a marketing system that works for you, not against you.
Because success in marketing isn’t just about keeping up—it’s about leading the way with clarity and confidence.
