The Campfire with BrandCamp

You're Not the Hero

robert@solidcreative.media (Robert Frazier) — Mon, 22 May 2023 18:06:00 GMT

We are always telling a story.

Whether you're talking to your mom on the phone, or going for a run, or planning a business proposal, you're in the middle of the story of your life. We all know this–we imagine ourselves as the hero of our own story, because, of course, we are. It's our story, after all; we only see things from our perspective, permanently stuck in our own first person narrative with the people around us as side characters, which is why we as humans struggle with practices like empathy, listening, and noticing other people. We are naturally the hero of our own story.

Well that is, of course, except for when we aren't.

It can be tempting, as you market your new business, organization, church, or nonprofit out into the world to position yourself as the hero in a world of other heroes. It can be tempting to step into the limelight and say,

"Look at me! Look at what I've accomplished! Let me convince you why you need what I'm selling (and the answer is: because I'm the best)."

Maybe the thing you're trying to sell is the best, whether that be a new product, real estate services, flooring installation, or even church community. But if you come out positioning yourself as the hero in the story, as a character or entity who everyone else ought to worship, that strategy of self-promotion isn't going to work.

Why?

Because everyone else is the hero of their story. They don't want you to be the hero–that's competition. They want to be the hero, and you, necessarily, must pivot. But pivot to what?

To answer this question, we're going to look at The Hero's Journey. This is the story structure of every good book, play, or movie you've ever seen, because we don't get bored of it, because we see ourselves all over it. And it's true of your customers' as well.

The hero's journey starts with the said hero being called to some type of challenge , something better than the life they're living, whether it's to change their lifestyle, or begin a new relationship, or slay a dragon. They embark on the challenge and are met with external and internal resistance, faced with all the voices and worries telling them what a terrible mistake they've made trying to move towards a new path, with terrible dangers such as storms or monsters or mother-in-laws.

But there is good news. At the hero's lowest moment, they are met by a guide (think Dumbledore, Gandalf, the Fairy Godmother) who picks them up from their dismay, gives them the tools and skills they need to accomplish their destiny, and walks alongside them to the finish line.

That's you.

When you are interacting with your clients, congregation, or community, you must position yourself as the guide, not the hero. Your people need help. And, because you are good at paying attention, you've noticed. You have looked into the world and said:

"There is a problem here in the lives of the people in my community. And I know how to fix it."

The key is to focus on the heroes around you, and on their felt needs.

So rather than saying:

"We're the best option for real estate investing because of our massive portfolio and beautiful agents. Work with us and get rich quick!"

or, "We believe XYZ about God, and we meet in this brand new facility. We hope you choose to come worship with us,"

say,

"You're looking for someone to guide you through the real estate process from start to finish. That's why we started our company. Let's see what we can do for you."

Or, "It can feel so lonely in our city, but at our church, doing life together is a priority. Come check it out, and find a community that feels like home."

Which option makes you feel more welcome? Which option cultivates trust? As you take your skills into your world, don't center the story on you and what you can offer, but think about the everyday heroes in your community.

You are not begging them to enter into your story. You are getting on their level and entering into their story. It is imperative you do it with respect, dignity, empathy, and heart, asking about what they need rather than proclaiming what you offer.

This isn't an easy task, especially if these ideas are new to you! It can feel overwhelming to re-think through your strategies and language. But there's good news: you're not alone! At SolidCreative, our heart is to help you tell your story as you seek to change your world.

If you need a listening ear to talk through your current marketing strategy, are in need of new language to use in your marketing, or want a completely new brand refresh, we are ready to help in any capacity that you need.

Schedule a FREE 15 minute fit call today to see how we can join you in the good work you're already doing.

5 Resons Why You Should Probably Just Hire That Marketing Agency

robert@solidcreative.media (Robert Frazier) — Wed, 03 May 2023 17:03:00 GMT

Are you a small business owner or nonprofit founder who is trying to get your new endeavor off the ground?

Or are you an established business who feels like your sales have plateaued? Are you discouraged that you're just not getting the leads like you used to?

Or maybe you're trying to move to the next level of business, but are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of tasks that are starting to pile up as you progress.

It's hard to know when (or if!) you should even hire a marketing agency. Wouldn't it just be easier to do it all yourself? And doesn't it cost so much money?

Maybe.

And listen, we get it. Starting a business is hard, and maintaining a business is even harder.

But maybe you need a break from this endless slough of emails and social media and promotion and website maintenance, so you can get back to the work you actually love doing. We'd even venture to say you probably don't have those niche marketing skills and technical know-how you need to make your business or organization as successful as you hope, and why should you? That's not your job–that's ours.

And in the long run, maybe your business would thrive by spending just a little extra money up front.

Let us show you what we mean. Here are the 5 top reasons we think hiring a marketing company is a solution to the problems you might be facing in your own business.

1. You can get back to focusing on doing your job, not ours.

If you're a small business owner, real estate professional, non-profit manager, or even a church pastor, there are a lot of internal pressures demanding your time. You have a ton of responsibilities on your plate–responsibilities that you are designed and cut out for. You have a team of people around you who you hired to do those special skills you hired them for. You're not a marketing specialist, and neither are they. Instead of asking your team to help out in ways they weren't hired for, or burning yourself out because you're overworked and overloaded, hiring a marketing company will free up valuable margin in your life. Not only will it improve the mental health and energy of your team, you'll have access to people with a variety of skills, who are experts in their fields and approach marketing with a strategic confidence rather than frantic, sporadic instagram posts and an outdated website.

If you're a small business owner, real estate professional, non-profit manager, or even a church pastor, there are a lot of internal pressures demanding your time. You have a ton of responsibilities on your plate–responsibilities that you are designed and cut out for. You have a team of people around you who you hired to do those special skills you hired them for. You're not a marketing specialist, and neither are they. Instead of asking your team to help out in ways they weren't hired for, or burning yourself out because you're overworked and overloaded, hiring a marketing company will free up valuable margin in your life. Not only will it improve the mental health and energy of your team, you'll have access to people with a variety of skills, who are experts in their fields and approach marketing with a strategic confidence rather than frantic, sporadic instagram posts and an outdated website.

2. You s tay Up-to-Date. (speaking of outdated websites...)

Did you know that your website needs to be updated at least every 3-5 years? In this culture of technology, the landscape is constantly changing. To maintain an effective digital presence (absolutely vital in this day and age), you need a website that changes with the innovations, is mobile-friendly, and is aesthetically pleasing. Hiring a marketing agency will ensure that your content and website is both beautiful and cutting edge, as they are experts and artists with their fingers on the pulse of the latest trends. Take that off your plate, while entering the economy with the freshest content and form!

Did you know that your website needs to be updated at least every 3-5 years? In this culture of technology, the landscape is constantly changing. To maintain an effective digital presence (absolutely vital in this day and age), you need a website that changes with the innovations, is mobile-friendly, and is aesthetically pleasing. Hiring a marketing agency will ensure that your content and website is both beautiful and cutting edge, as they are experts and artists with their fingers on the pulse of the latest trends. Take that off your plate, while entering the economy with the freshest content and form!

3. You actually save money.

It might feel like doling out money for marketing is something you can't afford at this juncture. But we'd argue you can't afford to not hire a marketing agency. The reason for this is two-fold. First, if you decide to hire an in-house marketing person, you'll quickly find out: you need more than one person. It's a huge responsibility, and requires a variety of skill sets, so much so that you'd need to hire an entire marketing team (2-3 people at least). This would result in added internal costs, such as salaries, incentives, marketing campaigns, onboarding, training, recruiting costs, sick days, payroll taxes, health insurance… you catch our drift. Second, bluntly-speaking, you can't make it in the market if you don't, well, market. You won't make money or, in the case of non-profits, make the difference you're hoping to make in your city. However, when you outsource to a marketing agency, you don't have to worry about any of that. You pay one price and receive everything you need. You'll have access to reliable and result-driven agencies and experts who know what they're doing, and instead of using the money for internal costs, agencies will put any returns back into your business or organization, resulting in a sky-high ROI. So…

4. You get access to resources and tools.

Instead of making do with cheap CRM software, terrible SEO, and putting up with (or losing your temper at) Meta Business Suite, hiring an agency gives you access to top-notch software, resources, website hosting, design, SMS and email marketing, social media marketing and scheduling, and tools that you wouldn't be able to access otherwise. Plus, you'll say goodbye to those frustrated nights yelling at that expensive software you can't figure out how to use. You'll have a team of people who actually know how to utilize the resources as they're designed to function, so you don't need to worry about it!

5. You get an unbiased perspective and consulting.

Working on a business, nonprofit, church, or other organization can feel like working in a vacuum. There's a few things you know how to do, and you do them over and over, hoping they remain effective. Chances are, though, that they won't. When you hire an agency, the team can give you honest feedback that isn't influenced by your personal experience or emotion, and help you to get you back on track. They can offer new ideas and perspectives, and also make recommendations based on their observations.

The Moral of the Story

Quit doing our job.

Do your job.

You can't do the work you care about doing in the world the best way you want to do it if you're spending all your time doing things you're not cut out for. But we have some good news:

we happen to know a few people who are cut out for it.

At SCDM, we're prepared to help you through your marketing journey, no matter the stage of business or hesitations about marketing or branding. We're a full service creative agency built to systematically help you name your mission, clarify your brand, and change your world with your own authentic message.

Don't know where to start? Have qualms about what hiring us could look like? We'd love to chat. Schedule a 15 minute fit call today, and see how we can guide you through this next phase of your entrepreneurial journey!

What even is a brand?

robert@solidcreative.media (Robert Frazier) — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 06:00:00 GMT

When you hear the word brand, what pops into your head?

Is it that favorite pair of American Eagle jeans you splurged on, or a favorite snack from Trader Joe's? Do you think of other similar-quality-but-somehow-not-as-great products that you'd refer to as off-brand , such as Kirkland or Great Value?

In our hyper-consumer cultural moment, brand is a hot topic buzz word, almost to the extent that it's lost its meaning entirely, associated with anything from TikTok famous teenagers to makeup lines, from types of cereal to athletic wear.

However, the blurred lines and bad taste around the word doesn't mean your church doesn't need one. Before you panic or close out this article, let us walk you through the basics. Maybe you'll find out making one is not as scary as you thought.

What exactly is a brand?

Simply put, your brand is the way your organization is perceived by your community, the voice of your organization when you're not speaking, and the feelings your brand assets (the different parts of your brand) evoke.

Think of brands you particularly enjoy. What makes you return to them time and again? You don't return to them necessarily because you love the product or because they've done a great job marketing (even though they probably do.) You return to them because of the way they make you feel, and that's the brand:

a cohesive set of specifically designed assets that elicit a particular feeling in the group of people you hope to serve, and defines who you are rather than simply what you do with the purpose of connection between the organization and their target audience.

I'm a big fan of the grocery store Trader Joe's (and a former crew member), so we'll use them as an example.

Trader Joe's does next to no advertising. They don't offer promotions, memberships, or discounts. Most of their products are, in fact, the same products you'd buy in a different grocery store, but with their specific label. Sure, their products are cheaper than high end grocery stores, but they're very rarely the cheap est option.

The thing that makes people across America fiercely loyal to Trader Joe's is their powerful brand that says "You don't need to worry about anything. We take care of you, because here, grocery shopping is fun. " From their handmade signs and decor, to their colorful packaging, to their friendly employees, to their bright red logo and the beachy, local-market-by-the-sea vibe infused into every location in the country, Trader Joe's brand is laid back and happy , and makes their customers feel excited to do something as mundane as grocery shop. Therefore, their customers will talk them up in the marketplace, and often refuse to shop anywhere else.

So, brand isn't just our name?

Nope. A brand is not your name, your logo, your colors, your font, your messaging, your programming, or your description on your website. Those are your brand assets. Rather, it's the feeling that all these things evoke when combined with you into one cohesive unit.

Alright, so why does our church need a brand,

especially when the words marketing + church tend to feel icky together?

Remember, a brand is not a description of your services with the intent of making a sale. It's the way you present yourself to the community you seek to serve, and the way that your community perceives you, in order to cultivate relationships.

No matter the way your church words their mission statement, I'm going to guess that it boils down to becoming more like Jesus and sharing the good news of the kingdom with your neighborhood. In order to do this, as much as you might hate to admit it, you need people to know about you, and, more than that, how you are uniquely positioned to guide them into the answers their hearts are seeking, how you'll treat them, and why they need this good news.

Your church needs a brand because your community needs the good news of the kingdom.

However, especially in our digital age, they can't know about it (or how your heart for them) if you spend no time reflecting on who you are and how you're perceived, or crafting an environment that whispers of hospitality, graciousness, or love. If your brand is hidden away, cluttered, unfocused, inauthentic, inconsistent, or nonexistent, it's time to change that.

So where do you begin?

At SolidCreative.Media, we like to encourage churches to pause and set up camp. Take an honest look around at where you started, and where you are now. Change the questions you're asking , focusing them on the people you seek to serve (what do they want more than anything?) rather than yourself (how can we make ourselves look more appealing?) Who are you, and what feelings do you want to evoke in people when they come through your door?

Only from that posture should you take a look at your website , name, logo, design, communication, messaging, and social media engagement.

If this feels completely overwhelming, this is where SolidCreative.Media comes in.

We believe what you're doing matters. The world needs to hear about it.

Our small but mighty team at SolidCreative.Media wants to help your church bravely step into the wilderness of branding and come out of the other side confident, beautiful and empowered to do the work God has called you to do.

That's why we've created a program called BrandCamp.

BrandCamp is an intensive that takes just 1-2 days. You'll walk away with not only a new website, but a clarified message and brand, a new strategy for engaging with your specific community, and an entire brand identity package (including new logos and language). We'll start with an in-depth conversation about who you are and your unique passion for your community, and from there, provide you with a world-changing, cohesive brand in a matter of days.

We know this process can be vulnerable, painful, and honestly, terrifying, and we recognize what a leap of faith it is to consider rebranding your church (or branding for the first time!), so if this sounds like something that would help your church move forward into the next season of growth, we'll start slow.

The process begins with scheduling a free 15-minute fit call to see if we'd be a good fit to guide you into your next season, and to receive clarity and encouragement for how to move forward.

Remember, your brand is simply the way your organization is perceived.

Jesus is in you. Let's help your neighborhood discover that.

P.S. Want to try updating your website on your own? No problem. We've created a free guide to 10 Things Your Church Website Needs in 2022, so you can work through it at your own pace.

Take the Plunge

robert@solidcreative.media (Robert Frazier) — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 16:28:00 GMT

How do you know when it's time to move forward?

Making decisions remains one of the hardest necessities of both personal and professional growth. How do you know when it's time to quit thinking and go for it?

Maybe you're unsure. You've waited, spent hours researching, writing, reading other people's success stories, and staring into the river as you hope that the silt in the water will settle. You're waiting for certainty– for the rapids to stop flowing over the rocks so you can see the pebbles on the riverbed clearly.

The thing is, the river is never going to stop flowing.

Perhaps the only way to know which way to go is to jump in, and trust that the river will take you where you want to go. You can pause and reflect, considering who you serve, who you are, and why you started out in the first place. You can tell your story, honing in on the places where you felt sure of your calling, and your first successes. You can name your roadblocks, the different obstacles you have had to overcome as you've walked down the road of leading an organization. You can research how to climb out of the pit you've fallen into, or how to press on when you've plateaued. You can meet with a team who will tell you how to do that.

But at some point, you have to trust your reflection, your plans, your research, your meetings, and your team, and take the plunge.

The next step is to jump in.

Every day, you are losing your ideal clients because your problems are persisting, even though you know what it takes to fix them. Each time someone doesn't stick around because of your website or lack of follow-through, this costs you and your organization. And, as you know better than anyone, it also costs your customers, because you could have helped them and they didn't know it.

Don't let your hesitancy get in the way of your target audience's success.

To put it another way, you hold the answers to the questions they're asking. Don't make them wait another day. Let's make space for everyone to flourish, both you and your customers.

Are you ready to build a brand that gets you where you want to go?

At SolidCreative.Media, you have a team with years of expertise at the ready, prepared to propel you into this next chapter of changing your world. Once you give us the signal, we will create a clarified message and brand, a new strategy for engaging with your specific community, and a brand identity package. In a matter of days, you'll be handed a world-changing, cohesive brand, from language and description all the way to logo and full-site design.

The best part?

You don't have to travel this trail alone. We will walk with you the whole way, from initial planning to the implementation and launch of your new brand, and even stick around through the next year, making ourselves available for consultation, advice, and website upkeep.

Let's get you out of the weeds of marketing and (re)branding. We know you are doing important work.

It's time your ideal clients hear about it!

We need you!

robert@solidcreative.media (Robert Frazier) — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 18:14:00 GMT

Would you help us?

We need your help!
We believe that your influence starts with a solid brand.
The problem? Marketing is hard.
We want to be your guides, in order to enact and embody the important work of changing your world and impacting your community for the better.
Because our SolidCreative.Media team believes in you and the work happening in your community, we are thrilled to share that we have shifted our business from a more traditional marketing company to a creative digital and communications studio that specializes in creating cohesive, world-changing brands for passionate organizations in a matter of days. We know your time is precious, so we build solid brands that make a lasting impact in their market and on their customers through a two-step, two-day intensive we call BrandCamp .
We'll offer you full creative services in packages that make sense .
This includes strategy, messaging, logo creation, and web design, which gets you back out there connecting with your ideal clients right away, which, after all, is why we are in this business.
We love working with nonprofits, churches, and real estate teams that are feeling the call to refresh their brand, connect (or re-connect) with their audience, or launch a new organization.
But we can't help you if we don't know you!
If you or someone you know needs a guide through the weeds of rebranding, leave a comment below, or send us a message ! We'd love to connect, because we think you're doing important work.
It's time your ideal clients hear about it!
Schedule a stress-free, 15-minute fit call to reach your community today.

Everyone needs a camp counselor, consider us yours.

robert@solidcreative.media (Robert Frazier) — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 15:52:00 GMT

A camp counselor is a lot of things to a lot of people...

Growing up in Idaho, some of my sweetest memories were made at summer camps. At summer camp, you leave the stress of your busy life behind for beautiful scenery, endless adventure, and deep conversation. And no summer camp would be complete without a trusted camp counselor to guide you through it all!

A camp counselor is a lot of things to a lot of people—they’re there to be a friend, a teacher, a listening ear, and above all, your go-to-guide for the short time you get to spend together. At this point in my life, I’ve been to camp and been a camp counselor dozens of times.The camp counselor experience is never long enough, and I've never regretted it.

In fact, I love being a camp guide so much that I made it my job, though not in the way you might think. Instead of wrangling children, I have the opportunity to guide clients through the wilderness of marketing, crafting and curating beautiful brands for their businesses.

Working in the creative side of marketing over the last ten years has given me a tool belt of strategies to help clients see themselves clearly and to help their customers see them even clearer. I’ve sold hundreds of logos, built more websites than I can remember, and consulted on projects I had no business consulting on. My business plan has always been “if I let people know what I can do, then they’ll pay for me to do it.” Essentially, I listed skills on my website that allowed my own clients to choose the services they needed, and fit their selections into my busy schedule. I love working this way, and look forward to keeping that rhythm for years to come.

Once you do something long enough, you start to notice recurring patterns and problems. These days, you can tell if something is a common struggle by doing a quick meme search to see who else can relate to your own frustration. What I began to notice about my clients was that almost every single one of them was coming to me with an idea they already had in mind. They wanted to fix a problem that they didn’t have the time to fix and if they didn’t they’d run out of time and lose out on profit or worse, their business. Sure, in the business world, finances are scarce, but time is even more rare. Everyone is so busy keeping their plates spinning that often, they fail to take the time to consider if what they’re spending their time on is actually leading to their goals.

Over the last year at SCdM we’ve been working on solutions to the problems most of our clients didn’t even know they had…and we’ve struck gold. Thinking back to our shared experiences of the outdoors, we took the concept of summer camp and applied it to a branding experience that refuses to steal your valuable time, and, instead, gifts you with a break from all that noise. We found a place to get the answers, do the research, and discover the best way forward.

All that being said, I’d like to invite you to BrandCamp! BrandCamp is an experience where you’ll take a step back while being challenged to push yourself forward. Just like at summer camp, you’ll have a camp counselor at your side as well—actually, you’ll have a team of them! At BrandCamp, we’ll help you figure out who you are and who your customer is, navigating everything from why you should use a Google font, to deciding on a logo between a group that can’t seem to agree with each other.

It all starts with a call. Click here t o schedule your 15-minute fit call today, or check out solidcreative.media/BrandCamp to learn more about the process. Either way, we can't wait to be your guides. Let's set up camp!

Your Mission Drives Your Message

robert@solidcreative.media (Robert Frazier) — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 17:52:00 GMT

Are you frustrated by a lack of comm unity engagement with your organization? Do you feel like you’re working as hard as you can, but still not seeing the results you hope for?

Sure, maybe your website could use a refresh, and maybe you need to breathe some life back into your social media. But that’s not necessarily the problem.

It could be that you’re not asking the right questions.

In today’s culture, people are afraid, confused, and exhausted. Your customers and community aren’t looking for someone to save them or belittle them, but someone to guide them through parts of life that feel risky and treacherous, from managing their money and finding a home, to being an successful adult and participating in the community, and everything in between.

If you know your people (and we believe you do!) you are probably thinking, “our services can do just that!” So what’s the problem?

It’s all the about the questions you are (not) asking.

It’s an easy mistake to make. If your organization has plateaued, chances are, you haven’t positioned yourself in a way that keeps the focus on the community. Instead you’ve focused on your own organization, on the incredible services you offer, and on setting yourself up as a trustworthy source of help. But your people don’t need someone telling them how great you are, and, if we are being honest, they probably don’t care.

That is, they don’t care unless they know (right away) where they fit in the story you are telling. More than anything, they want to know how you can provide their basic needs of survival. They want to know that they are seen, understood, and accompanied as they navigate our quickly changing world. They want a guide.

So, how do we make this change? How do we get your organization out into the world to do the good work you believe in so much?

We start by learning to ask the right questions. Replace questions of “Who are we?” and “What makes our organization great?” with questions that focus on the people you’re trying to serve.

What do the people you serve want more than anything? How are you helping them survive and thrive in the world? How are you uniquely positioned to guide them into success?

Then, take a moment to ask yourself: Why did you start your organization in the first place? Why does that matter to the people you are seeking to serve?

This shift in focus can uncover a whole world of potential in the future of your organization. Not only will you begin to see your customers as people to love rather than assets to collect, you will also see an increase in engagement with your brand, if you put in the work.

It’s a big project, relearning how to present yourself to the world. But don’t worry—that’s where we come in.

At Solidcreative.media , we believe that your mission—your unique passion to serve your community in a specific way—drives your message. That’s why we started our design and communications studio, to help passionate organizations like yours ask the right questions, through building world-changing brands with our 1-2 day BrandCamp Intensives.

Starting with hearing your story, we will come alongside you as we help you ask different questions, create a clarified message and brand, and create a new strategy for engaging with your specific community. You'll be left with a world-changing, cohesive brand in a matter of days, from language and description all the way to logo and full-site design.

Schedule a 15-min Fit Call to see if we can help your mission drive your message. Let us help you ask the questions that will serve your community, and learn alongside you in your mission to change your world.

Start with the Sidewalk: How Your Website Cultivates Hospitality

robert@solidcreative.media (Robert Frazier) — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 11:00:00 GMT

What if your community had a simple website about the people you're trying to reach?

We've all been there.

Looking for churches is the worst. Endless scrolling through busy websites that all seem to say the same thing. Visiting churches that say one thing online and exhibit an entirely different culture in-person. That deep loneliness that sets in on the way out the door, knowing it's another week of not finding the home you've been looking for.

As much as you may hate to admit it, in today's culture, your church's website is your front door. What do you have on the front porch? Is your sidewalk covered with a family of garden gnomes, your bicycle, and the rototiller you forgot to put away? Is your flashy website getting in the way of people joining your community? Or is it a well-marked, transparent introduction to the good news your community is looking for?

What if your community had a simple website about the people you're trying to reach?

Your church–the safe place you've made for your people–is a beautiful community of Jesus followers who are seeking to bring his kingdom to life in your city. You know your people better than anyone. You know who they are and what they hope for, what good news sounds like to their particular experience in the context of your city. But those persistent questions remain: can the people you aim to love find you? Is there a pathway for your people to travel along, carrying the Spirit out into their neighborhoods? And does your front walk cultivate a spirit of understanding, hospitality and gracious invitation?

Now, gnomes, bicycles, and lawn mowers are not necessarily bad things. They only become so when they transform from useful pieces of equipment into hindrances that prevent easy access into your house, or when they form a barricade that keeps the people inside the safety of the house from going beyond the front porch.

At SCDM, we want to help you clear the trail. We want to help you examine the vibrant heart of both your community and the people you are called to serve. We want to come alongside you as you come alongside your community, helping you create a simple website that strips away the excess, organizes the important information, hones in on connection with Jesus, and, rather than focusing on your church as the main character, brings the people you’re trying to reach to the forefront. Try a Solid Creative BrandCamp and walk away with a clarified message and brand, a new strategy for engaging with your specific community, and a brand identity package. We'll have an in-depth conversation about who you are and your unique passion for your community, and from there, provide you with a world-changing, cohesive brand in a matter of days, from language and description all the way to logo and full-site design.

When you're ready to move forward and clear the sidewalk (and, hopefully, move those garden gnomes), we'll be your partner every step of the way.

Schedule a 15-minute Fit Call now to see if SCDM is right for you.

Around the Campfire: A Place to Share Your Story

robert@solidcreative.media (Robert Frazier) — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 11:00:00 GMT

Do you ever find yourself wishing there was somewhere for you to rest among like-minded friends and process your journey?

The middle can be terrifying.

You've made the move. Your organization is off the ground, but it doesn't seem to be moving forward. In this quiet in-between moment, do you ever find yourself forgetting why you started out in the first place?

Do you know that every part of your story, even this slow-moving middle, matters?

Join us at the Campfire.

BrandCamp is that safe space for you to sit around the fire and share your story with our small team. We want to hear it all. We want to hear about your origins and what has shaped you into the brave person you've become. We want to hear about your call to form your organization, and about that specific moment you felt you had no choice but to move forward with your big idea. We want to know which memories you hold onto, and why they've become core memories in your journey. We want to hear about your passions, those ordinary and extraordinary parts of life that get you out of bed in the morning, and we want to hear about the roadblocks and detours.

How have you changed since the beginning of your journey? And how do you hope to change?

We want to guide you into the next chapter of your story.

Whether you seek to infuse vigor into an old story or begin a new one all together, we want to help you tell it in the language you know best–the language of your people. As we learn about you and your clientele, we will make space for you to breathe new life into your familiar passion, in order to serve your community in the best way possible. Because, as you know better than anyone, your people are worth it.

So, where do we go from here?

We started our design and communications studio Solidcreative.media to help passionate organizations like yours tell their important stories through building world-changing brands with our 1-2 day BrandCamp Intensives. From a launching posture of listening to your unique journey, we will come alongside you as we create a clarified message and brand and a new strategy for engaging with your specific community. You'll be left with a world-changing, cohesive brand in a matter of days, from language and description all the way to logo and full-site design.

Schedule a 15-min Fit Call to see if we can help you reach your community. Let us help you tell the stories that matter, and come alongside you in your mission to change your world.

No One Cares About Your Church

robert@solidcreative.media (Robert Frazier) — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 05:14:00 GMT

It's a tough pill to swallow, but an important lesson to learn. It's not about your organization, it's about the people you serve. What if your website spoke about them, instead of about you?

Nobody cares about your church.

Man, that is tough to write and tough to hear, but we all know in our hearts that the people we are trying to reach most likely don’t care that we exist.

That sounds bad enough, but there is yet another layer: even if they know we exist and still remain apathetic, they are also probably resistant to joining organizations and communities that provide what we provide.

But we can’t just give it all up and throw in the towel. The local church is God’s plan to reconcile creation to himself. God’s kingdom is breaking in and God wants us to participate.

What if it’s not about your church?

There was a moment in the late 90’s and early 00’s when people were searching for a different kind of church, a "cool" church with interesting design and culturally relevant messaging…then something changed. People quit looking for churches, so it no longer mattered how hip or interesting your sermons, or designs, or videos were. No one rushed to the church for help in living their lives.

Maybe it’s time to rethink our passion for ‘cool’ and ‘new,' and start moving in a different direction.

People are looking for transcendent connection with God, authentic relationships, and opportunities to serve their community.

When we examine most church websites, the messaging centers around the church, not the people we hope to reach. It is about what the specific church offers and how it functions. How the organization offers the perfect antidote to what ails their neighbors.

This isn’t what people are looking for. They are hoping to find a reason to hope again. A reason to believe that church could help them find their way towards meaning in an even more difficult world.

What if your church brand was about Jesus instead of about your organization?

We started our design and communications studio ( Solidcreative.media) to help passionate organizations like yours build world-changing brands through our BrandCamp Intensives. Most churches need to rethink how they engage with the world through their front door (their website), and in the process discover honest, authentic ways to connect with people searching for God.

Schedule a Fit Call Today to see in 15 mins if we’re a good fit to help you make a change.

The Campfire with BrandCamp

You're Not the Hero

We are always telling a story.

5 Resons Why You Should Probably Just Hire That Marketing Agency

Are you a small business owner or nonprofit founder who is trying to get your new endeavor off the ground?

Or are you an established business who feels like your sales have plateaued? Are you discouraged that you're just not getting the leads like you used to?

Or maybe you're trying to move to the next level of business, but are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of tasks that are starting to pile up as you progress.

It's hard to know when (or if!) you should even hire a marketing agency. Wouldn't it just be easier to do it all yourself? And doesn't it cost so much money?

Maybe.

And listen, we get it. Starting a business is hard, and maintaining a business is even harder.

And in the long run, maybe your business would thrive by spending just a little extra money up front.

Let us show you what we mean. Here are the 5 top reasons we think hiring a marketing company is a solution to the problems you might be facing in your own business.

1. You can get back to focusing on doing your job, not ours.

2. You s tay Up-to-Date. (speaking of outdated websites...)

3. You actually save money.

4. You get access to resources and tools.

What even is a brand?

When you hear the word brand, what pops into your head?

Is it that favorite pair of American Eagle jeans you splurged on, or a favorite snack from Trader Joe's? Do you think of other similar-quality-but-somehow-not-as-great products that you'd refer to as off-brand , such as Kirkland or Great Value?

What exactly is a brand?

a cohesive set of specifically designed assets that elicit a particular feeling in the group of people you hope to serve, and defines who you are rather than simply what you do with the purpose of connection between the organization and their target audience.

So, brand isn't just our name?

Alright, so why does our church need a brand,

Your church needs a brand because your community needs the good news of the kingdom.

So where do you begin?

We believe what you're doing matters. The world needs to hear about it.

That's why we've created a program called BrandCamp.

Jesus is in you. Let's help your neighborhood discover that. ﻿

Take the Plunge

How do you know when it's time to move forward?

We need you!

Would you help us?

Everyone needs a camp counselor, consider us yours.

A camp counselor is a lot of things to a lot of people... ﻿

Your Mission Drives Your Message

Are you frustrated by a lack of comm unity engagement with your organization? Do you feel like you’re working as hard as you can, but still not seeing the results you hope for?

Start with the Sidewalk: How Your Website Cultivates Hospitality

What if your community had a simple website about the people you're trying to reach?

Around the Campfire: A Place to Share Your Story

Do you ever find yourself wishing there was somewhere for you to rest among like-minded friends and process your journey?

The middle can be terrifying.

Join us at the Campfire.

We want to guide you into the next chapter of your story.

So, where do we go from here?

No One Cares About Your Church

It's a tough pill to swallow, but an important lesson to learn. It's not about your organization, it's about the people you serve. What if your website spoke about them, instead of about you?

Jesus is in you. Let's help your neighborhood discover that.

A camp counselor is a lot of things to a lot of people...