About Us
Award-winning brand designer and strategist with over 30 years of service helping businesses and organizations position and grow their brands.
The products and services we offer
Recommendations Received (1)
"Alvalyn is the gold standard for creative services. Her design talent and skill and her insights..."
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"Alvalyn is the gold standard for creative services. Her design talent and skill and her insights on influential communication will get you the results you seek and then some. Highly recommend!"
Products & Services
I create values-centered visual branding that anchors your message, helps grow your influence and builds your platform. A typical branding program ...
One of the best ways to grow your personal and professional brand and share your expertise is to write and publish a book. For independent authors ...
Brand strategy begins with an audit.
The brand audit is a discovery process and conversation designed to help you answer key questions necessary...
Recommendations Given (2)
"They create really good sauces with unique blends. They're like a craft brewery of hot sauces,..."
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"They create really good sauces with unique blends. They're like a craft brewery of hot sauces, better than store-shelf brands. Old Boney Mountain is a bona fide local business straight out of Newbury Park. "
Recent Activity
I launched my podcast in July. Part of my work is teaching business skills to freelance designers, illustrators, and photographers, and that’s what I talk about in the show.
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I launched my podcast in July. Part of my work is teaching business skills to freelance designers, illustrators, and photographers, and that’s what I talk about in the show.
Really, I would reconsider their status as my client. Insisting on something like drinking alcohol when you can easily converse and socialize on club soda is a show of disrespect. If they're overstepping that boundary, what else will they overstep in the working relationship?
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Really, I would reconsider their status as my client. Insisting on something like drinking alcohol when you can easily converse and socialize on club soda is a show of disrespect. If they're overstepping that boundary, what else will they overstep in the working relationship?
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I use a third option... value. The value of the work to the client. This requires a deep-dive, honest conversation with the client. What's it going to cost the client if they don't get the work done... if they don't increase their traffic... if they don't increase sales... if they don't generate...
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I use a third option... value. The value of the work to the client. This requires a deep-dive, honest conversation with the client. What's it going to cost the client if they don't get the work done... if they don't increase their traffic... if they don't increase sales... if they don't generate so many new leads... if they don't increase their customer value...?
What do they need to accomplish? What is accomplishing that worth to them? We agree on a fee range rather than a specific amount. It's usually a percentage of the value they apply.
The main issue with pricing from the client side is, "Will it be worth it?" I've found I can't compete on price. Someone will always be able to charge less. So I pivoted to compete on value, and I back it up with a deep dive creative process that reduces the client's risk.
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A bit of punctuation would help here. Are you asking which is better — word of mouth or social media? Or what's the best way to attract with both methods?
You need a mix of marketing. The best approach is to target and attract your best type of customer, rather than chase them down. WOM and...
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A bit of punctuation would help here. Are you asking which is better — word of mouth or social media? Or what's the best way to attract with both methods?
You need a mix of marketing. The best approach is to target and attract your best type of customer, rather than chase them down. WOM and social media can be used for both methods. In both cases you need to identify who you serve and show up where they show up. I've found clients in LinkedIn groups, and at face-to-face networking events, service club meetings, recommendations from current clients, and such. So, who do you serve? How do you help them? How will your product or service transform their lives? Research where these folk hang out online and in person, and go there.
I need more information in order to advise. There's no context in your question.
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I need more information in order to advise. There's no context in your question.
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No. I have my vision, mission, ideal client, story arc, goals, and branding all in place. But thanks.
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No. I have my vision, mission, ideal client, story arc, goals, and branding all in place. But thanks.
1] Understand WHY you are making the move to self-determination. Really... what's your driving motivator(s)? Your WHY is the foundation of your platform. Knowing why will help you to keep going when things get rough (and they will). 2} Set specific goals and get them on your calendar. Writing out...
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1] Understand WHY you are making the move to self-determination. Really... what's your driving motivator(s)? Your WHY is the foundation of your platform. Knowing why will help you to keep going when things get rough (and they will). 2} Set specific goals and get them on your calendar. Writing out your goals and steps to take to get them done makes you far more likely to achieve them. Scheduling them, and scheduling time each day or week to work on them, means you'll achieve them. What gets scheduled gets done. What would I have done differently? Be more selective about the kinds of clients I worked with starting out.
Building a Story Brand by Donald E. Miller This is Marketing by Seth Godin Influence by Robert Cialdini Start With Why by Simon Sinek These are not specifically about business, per se. They're more about mindset and creating a message that resonates with people.
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Building a Story Brand by Donald E. Miller This is Marketing by Seth Godin Influence by Robert Cialdini Start With Why by Simon Sinek These are not specifically about business, per se. They're more about mindset and creating a message that resonates with people.
1 Reply
If you are a business or organization, you DO need a website. They're not obsolete and they're not simply the equivalent of a printed catalog... Your website is the hub of your marketing mix. It's your home base. But really, every business and organization needs a brand strategy and related...
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If you are a business or organization, you DO need a website. They're not obsolete and they're not simply the equivalent of a printed catalog... Your website is the hub of your marketing mix. It's your home base. But really, every business and organization needs a brand strategy and related marketing mix. Website, social media, apps, direct mail, marketing funnels, email campaigns, online directories, signage, a printed catalog, even a presence on Alignable... are all part of a marketing mix. You don't need a website or marketing alone. You need to build a brand and have a message that the right people resonate with. Use all appropriate touch points to connect with folk.
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1) Visit the websites of a few design firms and look at their work and client list. Look at their about page. Based on your goals for design — what do you want the design to do for your business or org — select 2 or 3. 2) Contact those 2 – 3 firms to schedule an initial consultation. Most...
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1) Visit the websites of a few design firms and look at their work and client list. Look at their about page. Based on your goals for design — what do you want the design to do for your business or org — select 2 or 3. 2) Contact those 2 – 3 firms to schedule an initial consultation. Most designers and firms will not charge for an initial meeting. Be prepared to share your mission, current situation, and goals honestly. 3) Have the meeting or phone call. What you want to do hear is assess if you like the people enough to consider working with them. Can you trust them to carry your vision forward? Do they understand your situation and what the design needs to do? Do they talk in business language (things like risk, demographics, psychographics, ROI) or design language (things like balance, gestalt, color)? Do they understand who they're designing for (it's not really for you, it's for your customers)? Good designers and design firms are not order takers. They're strategists and they understand that design solves business problems. So you want to work with those who get that. 4) Do you like the people you talked with? Did they pick up your ball and carry it forward a step or two? Did they open up your thinking in a way that not just impresses you but that helps you see greater possibilities? How do you feel at the end of the meeting or the call? 5) Can they do it within your budget? Or, can you allot more money to the project? So essentially it comes down to trust and likability, as with any relationship. It's similar from my side as a designer. I don't work with everyone who contacts me about a project. I want to work with people I like and trust. It's a relationship.
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