Melissa Bailey with Hurstbourne Living

In this episode of The Brand Herald, Landon Wade chats with Melissa Bailey about her leap from corporate marketing to independent publishing with Hurstbourne Living, a part of the Best Version Media family. Melissa’s story blends classic entrepreneurial grit with a modern, people-first approach — all rooted in her deep belief in community, consistency, and the long game.She unpacks what it really takes to build trust in business: showing up, sticking to your word, and yes, sometimes learning the hard way on how to delegate. From sharpening her sales skills to refining a multi-channel marketing strategy, Melissa shares the behind-the-scenes work that’s gone into growing her publication, Hurstbourne Living, and her brand.This isn’t a fairy tale about quitting your job and finding instant success — it’s a grounded look at what it takes to build something that lasts. Whether you’re leading a team or launching your own venture, this conversation is full of insights, a few hard truths, and more than a little encouragement to stay the course. Enjoy!Chapters:00:00 From Corporate to Entrepreneur: A Journey Begins03:09 Building a Community Magazine: The Best Version Media Model05:57 The Power of Local Publications: Relevance in a Digital Age09:00 Navigating the Transition: Challenges and Strategies11:57 Sales Training and the Road to Success15:01 The Multi-Channel Approach: Beyond Print18:03 Hitting Baseline: The Reality of Entrepreneurship21:01 Looking Ahead: Growth and Future Opportunities25:30 Client Care and Business Growth26:56 Nurturing Client Relationships28:29 Learning to Delegate and Sell30:02 Overcoming Sales Objections32:58 Building Trust Through Consistency35:01 Brand Building Strategies39:00 Expanding into New Markets41:00 Advice for Aspiring PublishersResources:Instagram (Best Version Media)LinkedIn (Melissa Bailey)Best Version Media