Testimonials
“Cydne worked with my team at Best Buy. I was impressed with Cydne's ability to think creatively to help concept and share ideas and stories we could tell our customers.”
- Mark H.
“I have had the opportunity to work with Cydne in various professional environments over the years and one thing that is consistent is that she and her teams always deliver! I consider Cydne a critical strategic partner in our endeavors!”
- Frank C.
“I urge you to consult with Ms. Washington. Her experience and mental acuity will help you better understand your strengths and challenges and create your own original strategies. After working with her, you will see your environment from a fresh, productive perspective.”
- Tracy E
“Cydne is the best at what she does. She can do it all from writing and editing to interviewing and video production. Thoroughly familiar with all forms of social media, Cydne can help you conceptualize, plan and implement.”
- Osborne S.
Case Studies
Case Study 1: Boosting Community Engagement for City of Lakes Community Land Trust
Introduction:
City of Lakes Community Land Trust (CLCLT) is a nonprofit organization in Minneapolis, Minnesota, dedicated to providing affordable housing solutions through community land trusts. The challenge was to enhance community engagement and increase visibility to support their mission.
Objectives:
Increase community engagement and awareness.
Enhance social media presence.
Drive traffic to the CLCLT website.
Approach/Strategy:
Understanding the power of storytelling, we crafted compelling narratives that highlighted the personal stories of individuals and families positively impacted by CLCLT. We integrated these stories into brand websites, social media channels, and newsletters to create a deep emotional connection with the audience.
Implementation:
Curated and maintained a comprehensive Product Content Library filled with stories and testimonials.
Streamlined asset resizing and optimization processes to improve efficiency.
Executed targeted social media campaigns featuring success stories, community events, and educational content.
Designed and built a B2C newsletter that shared impactful stories of transformation and hope.
Results:
Increased social media engagement by 40%.
Boosted website traffic by 30%.
Improved newsletter open rates to 25% above industry average.
Impact: These efforts contributed to securing a $10M gift, significantly enhancing the organization's ability to provide affordable housing.
Conclusion:
By placing storytelling at the heart of our strategy, we significantly increased visibility and engagement with CLCLT’s mission. The personal stories resonated deeply with the community, leading to a substantial financial gift and fostering greater support and involvement.
Case Study 2: Enhancing Brand Communication for The Save Mart Companies
Introduction:
The Save Mart Companies, a grocery store chain in California, needed to improve its brand communication and consistency across multiple brands. They sought to connect more meaningfully with their audience through effective storytelling.
Objectives:
Improve content quality and consistency across four distinct brands.
Enhance SEO to increase online visibility.
Meet tight deadlines for content delivery.
Approach/Strategy:
We developed a storytelling approach that personalized each brand’s message, making the content relatable and engaging. By focusing on the stories of customers and employees, we created a narrative that was consistent yet unique to each brand.
Implementation:
Conducted thorough audits of existing content and identified areas for improvement.
Created high-quality, SEO-optimized content for websites, blogs, and social media, each piece telling a unique story.
Employed project management techniques to ensure timely delivery of content.
Results:
Increased organic search traffic by 25%.
Improved brand consistency and recognition across all four brands.
Met and exceeded content delivery deadlines, leading to increased client satisfaction.
Impact: The effective copy was so well-received that it was used for internal training purposes, demonstrating the high quality and relevance of the content produced.
Conclusion:
By embedding storytelling into the content strategy, we significantly enhanced The Save Mart Companies’ brand communication. The compelling narratives not only boosted online visibility but were also used for training, highlighting their effectiveness and impact.
Case Study 3: Streamlining Advertising Programs for Best Buy
Introduction:
Best Buy, a leading electronics retailer, needed to optimize its advertising programs to improve efficiency and customer experience. The goal was to influence the customer journey through strategic storytelling.
Objectives:
Conduct audits and research to identify areas for improvement in advertising programs.
Provide actionable recommendations to streamline processes.
Enhance overall customer experience through better advertising strategies.
Approach/Strategy:
We approached the challenge by focusing on the customer journey, using data-driven storytelling to identify key touchpoints. By understanding the customer’s story, we developed strategies to improve their experience through more personalized and effective advertising.
Implementation:
Analyzed data and identified key issues impacting advertising efficiency.
Developed detailed recommendations and an implementation plan to address these issues.
Worked closely with the advertising team to implement changes and monitor progress.
Results:
Improved advertising program efficiency by 30%.
Enhanced customer experience through more targeted and effective advertising.
Streamlined processes resulted in cost savings and better resource allocation.
Impact: Brought a wealth of ad operations and marketing technical knowledge that influenced the customer journey and overall marketing strategies.
Conclusion:
By focusing on the customer’s story, we significantly improved Best Buy’s advertising programs. The strategic recommendations and implementations enhanced the customer journey, resulting in increased efficiency, cost savings, and a better overall experience.