Orange County Outdoors Ministry (OCOM), a small local nonprofit organization, is devoted to combating hunger in the community and bringing together outdoors enthusiasts in an environment that fosters spiritual growth and fellowship.
When founder Rob Gray needed a website to help the organization grow its outreach, I was honored that he called on me. I created a beautiful, user-friendly WordPress site that he is able to easily keep updated on his own. After the new site was completed, I trained him on how to use it.
In addition to designing the website, I also created a new logo for OCOM.
New logo
Rob previously had the OCOM site and domain name hosted with Squarespace, but found this platform limiting and sometimes difficult to use.
So the first thing we did is set up a hosting account on SiteGround (a hosting company I use and highly recommend, especially for self-hosted WordPress sites), and we transferred his domain name to to this new account. I have found SiteGround to be fast and highly reliable, and with excellent tech support. By hosting with SiteGround, Rob is also able to set up email accounts that use his domain name, at no additional charge.
Then, after meeting with him to learn what wanted in his new site, I got to work building it. The new website contains his wish list of features, including:
Mobile responsive design
Created and integrated an email list system, so people can easily subscribe on the website
Photo galleries
A new blog, to post news updates
Information on how to partner with the organization
A “Donate” button in the sidebar
Links to social media accounts
Testimonials
Attractive new graphics that draw the reader in, and help tell the OCOM story
Here is what Rob had to say about his new website and branding:
“I knew what I wanted in a website but I also had to accept the fact that I did not have the knowledge and time to make it happen. Doing this on my own would have taken energy away from the other work I needed to do and the results would not have been nearly as good. Working with Michelle was so easy. I provided a vision and a few examples, and in a few weeks I was presented with a website design that exceeded my expectations. I would trust Michelle with any of my marketing and communication needs.”
Features of the website include information on how to partner with the organization, a “Donate” button in the sidebar, and a form to subscribe to the mailing list.
A blog on the website enables Rob to post news updates regularly. These posts are then shared on social media and in the newsletter.
Could your organization benefit from a new, easy-to-use WordPress website or a branding makeover? Please contact me today and let’s talk!
I use and highly recommend SiteGround for web hosting.
Brochure for a newly-established investment firm. Services provided: Logo design, writing, graphic design and printing.
Does your organization have a brochure? Or perhaps you do, but it’s outdated?
A professionally designed, high quality brochure is one of the best ways to effectively promote your organization and to connect with prospects. Your brochure is a salesperson that markets your products and services 24/7; or, helps a nonprofit tell its story and raise funds.
And with the web and social media becoming more crowded by the day, a top-notch printed piece truly stands out. A brochure that you can hand out or mail is the perfect complement to your online efforts. But unlike online, a printed piece that you present is guaranteed to be seen.
Your brochure also gives you the opportunity to market to your existing clients and constituents. Chances are, there are products and services you offer that they aren’t aware of. With a beautiful new brochure, you can begin promoting those for a strong fiscal year.
Save yourself valuable time and money by working with me
Perhaps you are aware of the value of promoting your organization with a professionally-produced publication and have wanted to, but the question you’ve always asked yourself is: How are we going to do this, and more importantly, WHO is going to do it?
If you’ve ever tried to create a brochure yourself or thought about it, then you are aware of what a complex job it can be. Writing, editing, photography, graphic design, printing, distribution…what busy professional has the time, expertise or budget to manage all of that?
The good news is, you don’t have to! I am an experienced brochure editor and an award-winning graphic designer. I can handle the entire process from A to Z so you don’t have to. My services are tailored to your needs and budget.
In addition, location is no barrier to working with me. I work with organizations and business professionals locally, as well as across the country. Your printed brochures will be shipped directly to you. When you work with me to produce your project, you won’t even have to leave your office.
So save yourself valuable time and money, and eliminate frustration, by contracting with me for your marketing materials. Contact me today, and let’s get started!
Take advantage of our special brochure package for small businesses and nonprofits
Right now is the perfect time to prepare your organization for success with professionally-produced marketing materials!
Photo shoot – One local photo shoot by our in-house photographer, to include photos of your building exterior and/or staff, for your brochure (available for clients in North Carolina’s Triangle/Triad area).
Digital version of brochure – A web-ready digital version of your new brochure (PDF), so you can email your brochure to prospects and customers or post as a download on your website.
Social media post – We’ll create a special graphic and text that you can post on your Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram pages to promote your new brochure.
Credit cards accepted • All of our work and printed products are produced in the USA
Two brochures and a postcard for an insurance firm. Services provided: Graphic design, photography of building exterior, printing.Two brochures for an insurance agency, in English and Spanish. Services provided: Graphic design, logo design, translation, printing.Promotional materials (pocket folder, booklet, response card) for a library’s capital campaign. Services included: Logo design, graphic design and printing.Two brochures for an outpatient counseling center, English and Spanish. Services provided: Writing, translation, graphic design and printing.
What clients say…
The team at the Center for Maternal and Infant Health highly recommends working with Michelle Rogers. Not only did Michelle quickly understand our message and what we were trying to achieve with our materials, she executed all the designs and edits quickly and professionally. We were under considerable pressure and tight timelines and Michelle’s quality work allowed us to meet all our conference design goals. It was also truly a pleasure to work with her. Her creative work was the icing on the cake for our Symposium! It is without question that hers will be the first number we dial the next time we need design and creative services! — Dr. Sarah Verbiest, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
When Sarah Verbiest, DrPH, executive director of the UNC Center for Maternal and Infant Health, and her team were launching a new medical conference, they knew the value of branding a high-profile event like this. They also knew who to entrust with such an important, time-sensitive task — yours truly!
I created a special logo for the Symposium, an 8-page 8.5″x 11″ full-color program booklet, a banner, and a Powerpoint template that speakers could use for their individual presentations. The new branding was carried throughout all of the conference materials. I also designed a 5.5″ x 8.5″ full-color postcard promoting their new website, to be handed out at this event and others.
Dr. Verbiest said this of my work on the project:
“The team at the Center for Maternal and Infant Health highly recommends working with Michelle Rogers. Not only did Michelle quickly understand our message and what we were trying to achieve with our materials, she executed all the designs and edits quickly and professionally. We were under considerable pressure and tight timelines and Michelle’s quality work allowed us to meet all our conference design goals. It was also truly a pleasure to work with her. Her creative work was the icing on the cake for our Symposium! It is without question that hers will be the first number we dial the next time we need design and creative services!”
Logo created for the Symposium. The client requested that their existing circle icon be incorporated in a graphic of the state of North Carolina, so that they have the option of using the state/circle graphic without the symposium wording for other Center uses.Postcard/handout promoting the Center’s new website.Powerpoint presentation using the Symposium template I created.
It’s not every day that an NFL team changes its logo. And it’s not every day that a font generates conflict.
Yesterday the Carolina Panthers caught fans by surprise by unveiling their new logo on Facebook.
Many of their Facebook fans did not take kindly to it. The vast majority of the hundreds of comments that I saw were negative — angry even.
Resistance to change? Sure. Some of that is to be expected.
But anger? I wonder if the Panthers organization anticipated the emotional reaction they were about to get.
Here’s my take on the new logo. From a design-professional perspective, I like the new one much better. On the Panther icon itself, the changes are subtle and I don’t think most would notice the slight differences. The major change, and seemingly the cause of the uprising, is with the typestyle. The old Baywatch-style font, trendy in the early 90’s, is now dated. But fans were attached to it. As a group they’ve bought millions of dollars worth of merchandise emblazoned with that logo.
For many businesses, a logo update can be a great thing. But there’s your average business and then there are institutions people hold sacred — like sports teams.
When it comes to sacred institutions, fans love them just as they are. They’ve bought into the brand, quite literally. For years they’ve put on their favorite jersey from their well-worn collection, and cheered their team to victory and cursed the losses in it. Dated font and all. And the sudden change left them feeling betrayed.
Will the fans come around? Yes, of course. But not before some clawing and growling.
