My entire Discovery Process, from start to finish, is free of charge. This process is relatively intensive: it's meant to do two things. First, it allows me to understand your organization fully. Second, it educates you about how I can help. While we accomplish these two goals, we'll learn if we're a good fit for each other.
Start by completing my questionnaire. Then, we'll schedule a time to meet over the phone or on Zoom. After I have all the information I need, I will write up my recommendations and send them your way.
It's important to me that you receive value from completing my Discovery Process, even if you do not end up working with me. Click through each step to learn a bit more.
Introduction
Discovery Process
Get started by completing my questionnaire. Maybe you've seen other professionals' questionnaires and you've noticed: they're different than mine. Typically, you'll see a glorified contact form that asks you what you want done and what you're looking to spend. My questionnaire is intentionally different. Instead, it's an in-depth self-evaluation. I'll ask you questions like, "Describe those whom your organization serves" and "What are 2-3 ways you are meeting their unique needs?". These answers are foundational; you must be clear on your mission before we can market. Get a hot cup of coffee and plan to sit down with my questionnaire for a little bit.
After you submit your questionnaire, you'll immediately receive a follow-up email. In it you will find a link to my booking page where you can choose a time for our Zoom call. During this Zoom call, we'll get to know each other a little bit "face-to-face." I'll ask you some clarifying questions after reviewing your submission. Additionally, if applicable, we'll run an SEO audit of your website to see how you're performing on Google compared to other organizations in the area. Finally, I'll wrap by explaining next steps and leaving time for questions.
After learning about you and your organization, I'll be ready to share my formal recommendations. You'll receive this document usually within 2 weeks of our Zoom call. You'll also receive a video that walks through each portion of the project as a means of more clearly explaining why I'm recommending each piece. You can share this video with anyone who has a vested interest in the project (a council or committee). I'll give you a few weeks to decide if you'd like to move forward with the project. If you do, then I'll send over the formal contract for us both to sign.
When you book a project with me, it's usually divided into a few phases that span over a few months. When we first kick off our work together, you'll get an important onboarding email. In it, you'll find a link to a shared Google Drive folder. If there are any files I need from you, you can drop them in there. As I complete your deliverables, I'll place them in there as well. Throughout our project, we'll meet every-other week over Zoom for about 30 minutes. During these calls, I'll review my work over the previous two weeks, ask for feedback if needed, and preview what the next two weeks will look like.
Overview
Project Overview
Since I build custom websites, this is a really fun process. We're not just picking a template! Instead, I start by gathering a ton of inspiration: bits of websites from Pinterest and Dribbble. After collecting bits and pieces from across the web, I'll sketch out some wireframes. This is what I'll present to you first. With your approval, I'll build out digital wireframes with filler text. This is what you'll be able to click and scroll through; things start to feel real. If all looks good, I'll fill it with your images, copy, and finishing touches.
Many of my deliverables for social media and print come from determining your "Buyer's" Journey. Obviously, as a non-profit, you don't have true buyers. Still, this is a common scaffolding used in marketing and a lot of the same ideas prove valuable. I'll give you some "homework" to complete before we sit down for this consulting session. If possible, we'll do this in-person. If not, plan for a longer Zoom meeting. We'll walk through each step from Unawareness to Advocacy and determine 1) what's on the mind on an individual in each stage and 2) what value we can intentionally provide in each stage. Read more here.
I do not offer retainers after a project is complete. Instead, I choose tools that are easy for you to use and I teach you to use them. As a part of my offboarding process, we'll schedule a few 30-minute Zoom training sessions during which I'll teach you how to make changes to your new site or send an email newsletter. Not to worry, even my self-proclaimed "tech challenged" clients have caught on to the tools I set up for them. Of course, I'll never leave you stranded: all clients of mine get lifetime access to book a live Open Office at their convenience.
Before our project wraps, I make sure you and your team are comfortable with new tools, like your website builder or email service (see Offboarding above). Maybe you're comfortable making seasonal changes to your site or sending an occasional email announcement, but you don't have the time or interest to complete regular "heavy lift" tasks like posting to social media, editing sermons, or running event campaigns. If that's the case, I offer two solutions. Click through to learn more.
General Maintainence
General Maintenance
In the Spring of 2025, I'm running my first training program to teach people how to manage a church or school's digital landscape in about 5 hours/week. The group will include a few individuals who are interested in pursuing remote part-time work for a congregation or school. If you'd like to be connected to one of these qualified individuals, I'll be happy to share their information.
Hire a Part-Time Assistant
If you already have an individual in mind who is capable of carrying out these ongoing tasks, but they could use a little guidance, encourage them to do two things: 1) Subscribe to my educational newsletter and 2) Join my free training in Spring 2025. See more details about spring training here.