What is the problem that I’m trying to solve?
Sonoma County, has a lot of businesses that have not kept up appearances over the years, have done things quickly and inexpensively without thinking about the repercussions to their company image. Right now, the county is seeing a huge influx of younger generations as the prices for rent are lower here, so there is a pressure to start keeping up appearances. Sonoma County is not alone in this. The rise of instagram, Yelp and other services puts a huge amount of pressure on older businesses that are struggling to keep up. Businesses that do keep up appearances are showing that they can do better and make rent even in tough times, and the value of their business becomes higher, and sales increase. Keeping up appearances doesn't mean "be trendy", it just means keep invested in your business and what people think about it.
What is the purpose of working with me?
What I do differently, is the fact that I love stories. Since I was a little kid, I was set on becoming a storyteller. It took me a while to get there, but when I did, everything just latched itself together when I learned that I could help businesses focus on the story that they told the world. By creating a great story, you can pull out aspects of that story to create the brand, the marketing, and everything, as it all fits into one singular anecdote.
How did my business come about?
I started in web design because I found it interesting, and I liked how I could build a website and put it on the web for people to see. This was back in 2012, so the tools available at the time for building websites quickly were next to none. As time went on, I realized that there was an actual need for website upgrades in Sonoma County since the dawn of time, and I thought, “I could help these businesses”. In 2017, I started putting together a business and learned exactly how little I knew about design, branding, and channeling creativity, so I binge watched Luke Cage, and it all made sense. Okay, Luke Cage may not have had a huge impact on what I was doing, but it sure helped pass the time. Always forward, never backward.
By 2018, I started the year working for The Engine is Red, and learned how little I knew about copywriting, and that I didn’t have much of a strategy, so I got back to work learning about writing marketing copy, and developed a strategy for capturing feelings in words. At the same time I was building websites, coding games as a pastime, and learning about writing sales letters, making up concepts for businesses so I could practice building brands. Later that year, I took up Dr. Senn’s which was a huge project, but small in comparison to projects I work on now. Through all of this, I learned the skills required for helping business owners gain a compassion for their business so they can anticipate its needs.
Who do I hope to work with in the coming years?
At the moment, I would like to say “everyone” but as my work becomes more complex, I’m finding myself being more selective of my clients. I really hope to work with people who have already worked with agencies and hold a standard for how things get done.
If I were to choose one niche, it would be real estate. I nerded out on real estate for two years straight, and know the ins and the outs of what marketing dollars can be put where and the returns of doing so. Also, I have a little strategy booklet for my paying clients that helps them to understand the different ways a home can be sold just through good photography.
What goes into making a website?
It can be broken down into 3 parts.
#1) research, research, research
This is where I dig into the brand, the possible vectors for ideation and narrow a wealth, nay, a foggy cloud of ideas, into one single message.
#2) discovery
Once the message is clear, it’s okay to start moving forward on coming up how that message looks, how it feels, how it sounds. Sometimes it takes a 15 minute focused session, sometimes weeks, sometimes months. It all boils down to identifying what is being presented, and what it can, and can’t be. About 90% of time is spent staring at a screen or a wall. The other 10% is spent deciding which font to use and how much spacing should be placed between elements.
#3) execution and feedback
At this stage, this is where you are most involved. Is the project headed in the right direction? Does the color of X look better next to Y image? How much text should I show for this section? Where is that image I told you to add? (don’t worry, I’ll add it.)
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How much do you charge?
If money really matters, it’s important that you ask yourself this: what has gotten you to this point where you are scrambling for money? If in dire straights, it’s important in business to get back to your roots, and your first minimally viable market. That said, outside of absolute charity work, there is no value for my services below $10,000 per project. Because of the complexity and the amount of time and research that goes into creating a great website, marketing material or brand, the end result is worth every penny. However, if need be, I can adjust my rate at the expense of quality, which for some businesses is the best solution.