Case Studies

In this digital age, it's easy to forget that "business" really means people. These stories highlight the personal context that drives creative problem solving.

And please scroll till the end for more examples from my portfolio.

Post-Pandemic Question: Will They Return?

Tiya Adé knows jazz. She's been a star of the local jazz scene in Washington, DC for decades. What she didn't know was whether audiences would return to her monthly jazz program after the Pandemic of 2022. Tiya turned to Beisel Communications for help. Beth assessed the situation and took action with a multi-pronged approach.

Beth decided to rebrand the entire program and create excitement for the nonprofit jazz series, called Jazz@Wesley. She upgraded the look and feel of its website, marketing materials, and venue decorations, giving them a sleek and sophisticated look. She also wrote press releases and placed articles in hyperlocal news and community outlets to get the word out that the concerts were starting up again.

When the concerts began, she filled Jazz@Wesley's social media channels with video clips and dynamic photos, showing that people were attending the shows and having fun.

The result? A triumphant return of live jazz! Attendance climbed steadily, from 35 at the first show in April to over 100 by the summer of 2022. Now Tiya can focus on what she does best: bringing great DC jazz to an appreciative audience.

Little Falls Village: Spreading the Word

The Executive Director of Little Falls Village (LFV) was frustrated. Doran and his staff had spent years building a vibrant nonprofit that was making a real difference for the lives of seniors in their community. However, he often encountered people in the neighborhood who had never heard of them. He was eager to find a way to get the word out without it coming off like an "ad."

LFV contacted Beth to design a newsletter that would highlight the best that the Village had to offer. In coordination with a volunteer editor, Beth helped to create a fun and lively piece. The strategy was to present engaging stories that focused on the people of the Village. It was packaged in a fun, page-turning layout.

She also created website, email, and social media components to get the newsletter out as broadly as possible. A prominent spot on their website homepage sent the same message.

Delivered in a PDF format, which older adults find accessible, each monthly newsletter accumulates over 1,000 downloads — a number that far exceeds the nonprofit's membership. Doran is thrilled with the response, and seniors are able to get a glimpse into the support and fun that awaits at LFV.

A Fresh Look for a Timeless Message

Attendance at traditional "mainline" Protestant churches has been falling for decades. Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church felt that its combination of traditional roots and modern sensibility could buck that trend.

Beth revitalized the church's brand by pairing a traditional, but vibrant typography with fresh, bold colors. She integrated this look across their website, posters, flyers, and social media. The brand concept was flexible enough to meet the needs of its diverse ministries, including active children and youth programs.

Beth also created and revived social media accounts to amplify the new brand. She wrote short, on-message stories focusing on church members. She filled feeds with engaging photos, videos, and reels that highlighted both members and upcoming events. She targeted other hyperlocal channels for outreach, sending out press releases for major events and completing standard digital must-haves (like a Google Business Profile).

The results? A year later, the church's Sunday school classes are bursting, new website visitors have increased 35 percent, and membership is growing at a steady pace.

Condo Fee Crisis? No Sweat!

Wayne P. doesn't like to be yelled at. As president of his condo association, he was bracing for a whopping 10 percent jump in condo fees due to a huge rise in the cost of electricity.

That meant angry unit owners. With the association's annual meeting fast approaching, Wayne asked Beisel Communications for help. Within days, Beth crafted a plan.

She wrote and designed a newsletter called "Energy Tips." It was a friendly, two-pager with eye-catching graphics, a folksy tone, and easy-to-read tips for energy efficiency. Distributed onsite and by email, this newsletter fostered a sense of shared responsibility for energy use in the building.

When the 10 percent increase was announced, there wasn't a single complaint. Unit owners even thanked Wayne for his efforts during the annual meeting.

From my portfolio...

Social media graphics

Print: Brochures, Handouts, Ads

Logos

One Pagers