Portfolio: Website Copy & Content Audit | High Street Homes

Intro

I love working with visionary entrepreneurs that lead with their values. I especially love it when said visionaries are longtime friends. Such is the case with Brett and Kara Phillips, owners of boutique real estate company High Street Homes.

Based in the Greater Fort Worth community of Aledo, Texas, High Street Homes provides real estate and construction services for clients who want to build "home," not just invest in property. Family, community, hospitality, and connectedness are just some of the values that drive the Phillips as they partner with clients to find and create fresh, inviting spaces that enhance the relational life of a family.

The Brief

With an impressive track record of building projects, the Phillips entered 2015 with a desire to put an emphasis on the real estate brokerage side of their business.  With this goal in mind, they would be investing more time and energy into Hight Street Homes' digital presence

My brief was simple: to provide guidance and solutions on how to make the company's website and social media channels more integrated, emotive, and effective in conveying the uniquely personal nature of the High Street Homes real estate experience.

The Work

The work began with a consult to learn more about Brett and Kara's short and long-term goals for High Street Homes.  With an intrinsic sense for brand-building, the two had already taken the time to think, strategize, and write down some of their core brand messaging and values, which were great tools for me to use throughout the project.

With brand messaging in place, my next step was to do a full content audit of High Street Homes' digital channels, keeping an eye out for opportunities to optimize the brand values and messaging through written and visual elements.  This included a review of the couple's adorable lifestyle blog, Silverfox + Goldilocks.

My last step was to apply my editing and writing skills to make the existing website copy and downloadable content more reflective of this awesome team's passion and expertise.

The Deliverables

• Refreshed and rewritten website copy including the home, brokerage, and about pages.
• Newly edited [downloadable] brokerage services content
• A multi-page content audit report with detailed recommendations for how to use all digital channels to raise traffic to the High Street Homes website and further enhance the brand

The Results

Stark & Splendor loves working with small businesses because of the unique opportunity we have to become "part of the team."  After our first collaboration with High Street Homes, we look forward to supporting their communication objectives every step of the way.  Here's Brett Phillips with some thoughts on our collaboration:

"We were in a transition in our businesses and needed the expertise of a professional to help us clarify our online presence and digital marketing strategy. Stephanie provided us with consistency of voice, edited all of our electronic copy, and streamlined our next steps for elevating our brands online. As a small team of three with two real estate businesses, we have to utilize the expertise of others. Stephanie is the expert we will turn to as our own 'in house' support moving forward for any communication strategy needs."

For more information on High Street Homes, visit HighStreetHomes.com and connect with them on Instagram, Pinterest or their blog.

Portfolio: Web & Product Copy | Karin Gentry

Intro:

Karin Gentry is a contemporary lifestyle brand of fabulous fashion accouterments for women who embrace a casual-glam aesthetic.

Founded and designed by savvy California businesswoman Karin Gentry, the introductory line of gold-plated jewelry debuted in late 2014.

Prior to launch, Stark & Splendor worked with the brand on a web copy project to ready KarinGentry.com for launch.

The Brief:

When Karin Gentry approached me to write the web and product copy for her eponymous brand she had a very developed sense of what her company was all about and how that translated visually - she is a designer after all!  Interestingly though, Karin had very little articulated about her brand in writing, which made it tricky for her to DIY her own copy.  This was particularly relevant when it came time to write her bio and she found herself staring at a blank computer screen for far too long.

She needed a brand translator.  Someone who could get inside her brain and tease out the essence of Karin Gentry to produce web copy that echoed the fun-loving, glamourous, and relaxed brand that she had always envisioned.

The Work:

In addition to writing new and revised copy for KarinGentry.com, I consulted with Karin herself about some of the fundamental messaging that she could use to begin talking about her aesthetic, her products, and the way her brand is linked to a cause dear to her heart, human trafficking.

Conducted over two video calls and two rounds of edits, the project was completed in two weeks.

The Deliverables:

•  "About" page copy
• "Philanthropy" page copy
• Revised product copy describing 45 pieces in the introductory Karin Gentry collection

Web product descriptions for Karin Gentry

The Results:

After collaborating on her site launch, Karin is one of Stark & Splendor's most ardent fans.  She says,

"As someone who hold the reins tight, I was hesitant getting an 'outsider' to help communicate my brand's voice. After our initial call, I was completely at ease that Stephanie would communicate my brand perfectly. She is thorough, insightful, and meets every tight deadline - there is never having to ask 'is it done?'  I was beyond pleased with the final product of our first project. It was a pleasure working with Stark & Splendor and I look forward to collaborating again in the future."

For more information on Karin Gentry, visit KarinGentry.com or connect with the brand on Facebook and Instagram.

Portfolio: Articulation Intensive | Teach To Lead

Intro:

Developed as a signature service, the Stark & Splendor Articulation Intensive is a  monthlong brand key messaging workshop.  Leadership developer and Founder of Teach To Lead (T2L) Shayna Hammond recently went through the process.  Here is a snapshot of how clearly defined communications have helped her move her brand and business forward .

The Brief:

Shayna approached me in November 2014 with the need to get clear on who T2L was and how to convey that message in a clear, concise, and memorable way.

Established in 2012, T2L was already successfully helping charter school principals develop into more effective leaders but, ever the visionary, Shayna's sights were set on impacting leaders well-beyond the education sector.  She needed to establish brand key messaging that would prime T2L for growth.

The Work:

In January 2015 Shayna and I embarked on a bespoke, monthlong Articulation Intensive that not only addressed T2L's pressing communication challenges but also how to differentiate the organization from its current and future competitive set.

The Deliverables:

• New, clearly defined brand essence
• New internal positioning language
• New mission and vision statements
• Refreshed value statements & brand pillars
• New brand tagline - "Leading with the lights on."
• New brand key messages
• New service key messages

After the Articulation Intensive, Stark & Splendor then collaborated with T2L on a number of writing projects including sales proposals, print collateral, course descriptions, and most recently e-marketing campaigns.

The Results:

Stark & Splendor continues to work with Teach To Lead but the deliverables of our first phase of collaboration are already having a positive impact on the organization.  In Shayna's own words:

"The Articulation Intensive was incredibly invaluable for me and my organization. The process invited me to journey back to the genesis of Teach To Lead in a deliberate, compelling, and surprisingly succinct way. In a very short period of time, Stephanie was able to thoroughly understand and synthesize the distance between where our organization is and where we want it to be 25 years from now. As a result, we have powerful messaging that authentically speaks to both who we are and what we're here to accomplish. I have better clarity about our unique positioning power and can better articulate it to my team and clients. I highly recommend this process for early stage entrepreneurs who are preparing to grow!"