Case Study #1
“Road-warrior speaker” puts all our skills to the test when redirecting his business
John Hall had a plan. He wanted to take his successful workshop-based business in a new direction – keynoting and authoring a series of books – based on the new book he was in the process of writing, Do What You Can!
Challenge
Develop John’s brand, accompanying marketing materials, corporate ID package, book cover design and interior layout design, CD packaging and website launch. A significant undertaking, this project required the expertise and talents of 10 team members over the course of several months.
Process
We began with our branding expert to help John clarify his brand, target market, core message, tagline and elevator pitch. This set the stage for the creation of multiple marketing tools: website, speaker one-sheet, stationery package, and more.
Meanwhile, I managed the development of John’s book, which included content editing, book cover design, interior page design, and the production of an audiobook clamshell and CD labels. We proofread the book and converted it into Kindle and epub formats. Next, our social media strategist coached John on how to leverage social media marketing.
Result
John’s book was picked up by Balboa Press, a self-publishing division of Hay House. This gives him the opportunity to tap into Hay House’s marketing machine, with access to over 800,000 Hay House subscribers and 25,000 bookstores. John travels all over the world delivering his “Do What You Can!” message.
My team’s contributions:
- Project management
- Creative design
- Small-business branding
- Logo design
- Stationery package design: business card, letterhead, #10 envelope
- Website copywriting
- Custom website design and development
- Speaker one-sheet copywriting and design
- Manuscript editing and proofreading
- Book cover design
- Book interior page layout design
- Custom photography
- CD packaging design
- ebook conversion
- Social media marketing coaching
- Support from our team’s Certified Author Assistant
John’s reaction
“Karen and her team of experts are the perfect partners on any book or branding project. Karen personally guided me through the challenging process of producing, editing, designing and publishing my first book, and I will definitely engage her on my future projects. As a self-employed business consultant and speaker, I place high value on engaging reliable business partners – and Karen is one of the best I have ever encountered. On time, on budget, and no surprises. ”
Case Study #2
Author and speaker seeks our services to clarify her brand and create a website and speaker one-sheet
Challenge
In 2011 we designed Julia Spencer’s award-winning book, Looking Through a Keyhole, a memoir about her challenges with severe and progressive vision loss. The popularity of Julia’s self-published memoir had a direct and positive impact on her speaking business. She sought our help to clarify her brand and update her marketing materials.
Process
Julia first teamed with our branding expert to focus her brand, target audience, and top-level messaging. Armed with this branding and messaging, our copywriter wrote new website content and the copy for her speaker one-sheet. Our website developer designed and created Julia’s custom website. Next, we designed her speaker one-sheet to complement the website design.
Result
A cohesive, clear, rebranding of Julia’s business to take full advantage of her self-published book and the speaking opportunities it generated.
My team’s contributions:
- Project management
- Creative design
- Small-business branding
- Logo design
- Website copywriting
- Custom website design and development
- Speaker one-sheet design
- Book design and production
- ebook conversion
- Audiobook production
- Social media marketing coaching
- Support from our team’s certified author assistant
Julia’s reaction
“I came back to Karen Saunders and her talented team because their work on my book design conveyed the professional and elegant look I sought. I knew her excellent team could help me redefine my brand and build my business to take full advantage of new business opportunities.”
Case Study #3
Fueled by the vision of a new owner, Lifestyle Hearing Solutions hires our team to clarify its brand and create its first website
Challenge
Bryon Patton, the new owner of Lifestyle Hearing Solutions in Tucson, Arizona, required a professional image for his business. For his new business, Byron needed branding, logo, stationery package including business cards and letterhead. Plus, his company needed a presence on the Internet!
Process
Our branding expert met with Byron and his team to determine his target market, the value his company provides, and the results his clients’ can expect. From this in-depth process, the top messages emerged: “Tucson’s locally owned hearing center since 1989” and “Enjoy the sounds of life!”
Next, our branding expert prepared a strategic document outlining the essential elements of Byron’s brand. This foundation drove the development of all other marketing elements including logo, website, business card, and more.
Result
A streamlined process and cohesive brand identity incorporating the logo, colors, fonts and messaging throughout all marketing tools. By starting with a strategic branding meeting, Byron gained clarity about his business, target market, and the key benefits his company provides. Now, all his marketing pieces and advertising campaigns have a united purpose.
My team’s contributions:
- Project management
- Creative direction
- Small-business branding
- Logo design
- Website copywriting
- Custom website design and development
- Stationery package design: business card, letterhead, #10 envelope
The reaction of Byron L. Patton, Owner, Lifestyle Hearing Solutions
“As the new owner of a hearing center in Tucson, Arizona, I knew we needed a fresh image and an effective website. Several firms were interviewed, however, one stood out above the rest. This was Karen and her team. What a great choice we made. Karen’s team was creative, fully engaged, timely, and communicated well throughout the process. My company had their undivided attention, as if we were their only client (even though I knew this was not the case). We were in for the complete makeover. We needed design, branding, and a website. Honestly, I can say that the final version of everything they produced was top shelf, with no exceptions. The production of our logo was an incredible experience. We viewed many different versions as Karen’s team dug deeper and deeper into their creative reservoir. The finalist, the one we selected, knocked our socks off the moment we saw it. Even today, two years later, I couldn’t be happier with our logo. We have a logo suitable for a national company – we can grow for years and maintain a consistent image in the marketplace. Finally, allow me to address the website. Wow, did we get value for the dollar! Our website is attractive and appealing. Moreover, it is highly functional and easy to navigate. Our website brings new business through our front door. If I had it to do all over again, I would definitely choose Karen Saunders and her team of creative professionals.”
Case Study #4
New author relies on our team approach to publish her 1st book and marketing website – and returns for her 2nd project
Challenge
Kitty Migaki brought us an intriguing project: Alphabet Denver, a full-color book, designed to be a teaching tool that represents the alphabet through her playful photos of architecture in downtown Denver. Her photos are accompanied by her lighthearted poetry “clues,” along with the longitude and latitude of each location so the letter can be located using a GPS. Kitty needed our help with branding, book cover design, book interior design, and the creation of a website to support her book sales.
Process
This unique, whimsical book required a design that matched the content. Our book designer captured Kitty’s vision for this educational book that also offers hours of family fun.
Once the book design was well in hand, our branding expert worked with Kitty to clarify her business objectives, identify her target markets, visualize the many ways buyers could enjoy the book, and create her top benefit messages.
As with many of our projects, the branding process opens the floodgates to create other marketing tools, including website design and development. Our website designer collaborated with Kitty to design the colorful, whimsical websites for her two books.
Results
An award-winning book, Alphabet Denver is enjoying brisk sales. Alphabet Chicago is the second in this series and sure to grow.
My team’s contributions:
- Project management
- Book cover design
- Book interior page layout design
- Small-business branding
- Website copywriting
- Custom website design and development
Kitty’s reaction
“The entire team heard my goals for the project and made sure that every element was in keeping with the theme and overall look I wanted. And the two websites look very professional!”
Case Study #5
Professional musician makes a BIG pivot in her career – launches new speaking career – and needs website and speaker one-sheet
Challenge
Professional musician and author Blair Tindall needed a new website, speaker one-sheets, and other marketing tools to launch her new professional speaking business: Flair For Genius. In addition, the website need to support her other pursuits including a potential television show exploring the world of music. Blair’s instruction to the team: “Don’t box me in!”
Process
Our branding specialist and copywriter worked with Blair to develop her new tagline, which distills the top benefit message for her speaking business: “Find where you shine & discover your genius.” We then created a logo that beautifully complements her new tagline.
Next, came the marketing pieces. First, we concentrated on the website – the hardest working component of any marketing toolkit. Using the website messaging as a foundation, we wrote and designed 3 speaker one-sheets for Blair, targeting each of her 3 target audiences. In addition, we created a stationery package – business card, letterhead and envelope – that reflects her brand.
Results
A clear brand with marketing messages that capture Blair’s essence! Blair’s professional speaking business is taking off with flair! She’s booking international keynote presentations while pursuing other creative endeavors. Plus, Blair’s book, Mozart in the Jungle was made into a pilot for an Amazon Originals video series!
My team’s contributions:
- Project management
- Logo design
- Develop tagline
- Website copywriting
- Speaker one-sheet copywriting and design
- Custom website design and development
- Stationery package design: business cards, letterhead, #10 envelope
Case Study #6
Spiritual life coach enlists our team to create a logo, brochure, and stationery package to market a women’s luxury retreat to Sicily
Challenge
After 20 years as an ordained minister and spiritual guide, Tara Johansson felt the time was right to provide an exclusive spiritual retreat for women. She needed a powerful company name and logo, along with a sophisticated, compelling brochure to market the retreat.
Process
Tara had already named her retreat “Love, the Awakening,” so we suggested the company name Awakenings. Next, we wrote the copy for her brochure. During the logo design process we were inspired by mosaic tiles, which are so prevalent in Italy. We artistically arranged the tiny tiles in the shape of a sunrise.
I designed a large-format, full-color brochure to showcase the stunning beauty of the 5-star resort and mystical, ancient landscape. I carried the mosaic look throughout the design of the stationery package.
Results
Tara is busy booking guests for her upcoming retreat! She is mailing packets of the brochures, along with the matching business cards and envelopes designed for her.
My team’s contributions:
- Project management
- Logo design
- Brochure copywriting
- Brochure design
- Stationery package design: business card, letterhead, mailing label
Tara’s reaction
“Karen is an exceptional woman. She is a master at her art (graphic design). She is committed to taking an emotion, intention, goal, and presenting it in a way to capture the market to its fullest extent. The quality of her work is top-of-the-line. (I was actually moved to tears when I saw how beautifully she had manifested my vision into my custom brochure!) I have been in business for 30 years, and am thoroughly impressed with her professionalism and promptness, while creating a personal, one-on-one relationship with me. I have NO doubt that I shall commission her again for my future marketing materials.”