After nearly two decades as an entrepreneur and a decade leading Brand Better, Nicole Harlow returns to the mic to share the real story behind the last nine months—why she evolved from “just branding” to launching Lead Better HQ, a HIPAA-compliant marketing + automation platform for functional medicine clinics. This candid episode covers the lessons from conference circuits, the hidden cost of disconnected tools, the power of recurring revenue, and why Human + AI is the future of patient acquisition. Nicole opens the curtain on building the platform, assembling a team, and choosing to stay devoted to the functional/alternative health niche she lives and breathes—even on weekends.

Episode Highlights

• Why branding alone wasn’t solving the core problem: predictable patient flow
• Simplicity > complexity: applying “light & water” thinking to business systems
• Behind the scenes of four conferences (and what was actually worth it)
• Moving from feast-or-famine projects to a recurring-revenue model
• Building Lead Better HQ: HIPAA-aligned CRM, automations, Voice/DM AI, and real human strategy
• The “try before you buy” philosophy and designing high-touch implementations
• Staying niche: why functional medicine remains home
• Leadership, introversion, and creating a business you actually enjoy running

Who It’s For

Functional and integrative medicine practitioners—solo or multi-provider—who want consistent patient flow, fewer manual tasks, and a modern, human + AI marketing system.

Get Started

Ready to see how Lead Better HQ can help you never miss another patient and streamline your growth? Book a free Growth Strategy Session at LeadBetterHQ.com.

Keywords

functional medicine marketing, AI front desk, HIPAA-compliant CRM, patient acquisition, marketing automation, Voice AI, medical practice growth, Lead Better HQ, Brand Better, Nicole Harlow

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