Episode #70: Client Win: How Amelia Simmons is Getting More Leads from Churches with Ads

Introduction

In episode #70 of Marketing Matters with Ashley Brock, host Ashley Brock delves into the inspiring journey of Amelia Simmons, a brand and graphic designer who has successfully harnessed the power of paid advertising to generate meaningful leads from churches. This episode offers valuable insights into Amelia's transition from church communications to founding Blaze Studio, her strategic use of Google Ads, and the pivotal moments that fueled her business growth.

1. Amelia's Journey: From Church Communications to Blaze Studio

Amelia Simmons opens up about her professional evolution, detailing how her tenure in church communications laid the foundation for her current success.

• Starting Point: Amelia began her career in church communications after a serendipitous job offer post-graduation. “[...] within 24 hours, I had the job. And that was over 10 years ago. And that kind of started my trajectory in church communications and design.” (00:53)

• Transition to Freelancing: The birth of her son, Wilson, who was born with a rare genetic syndrome, prompted Amelia to reevaluate her 9-to-5 lifestyle. “Having my son that needed more of my time gave me the courage to start doing freelancing full-time.” (02:13)

• Formation of Blaze Studio: Initially named Open Hand Studio, Amelia realized the need to infuse more of her vibrant personality into her branding. A conversation at a Mastermind retreat led her to rebrand as Blaze Studio, reflecting her dynamic and bold approach. “I need to show more of this personality in my branding and decided I just need to etch a sketch. Shake this.” (04:29)

2. Branding and Messaging: Embracing Authenticity

Amelia discusses the critical importance of authentic branding and how it resonated with her audience.

• Shift in Branding: Encouraged by peers to display her true self, Amelia transformed her branding to better reflect her energetic and creative nature. “I need to show more of this personality in my branding...” (04:29)

• Visual Consistency: Drawing from her art school background, Amelia emphasizes the significance of clean, distraction-free designs. “If you can squint and you don't see it and can't read it, then it's. You can't be lukewarm. It’s gotta be either, like, it's a thing or it's not a thing.” (10:10)

• Impact on Client Perception: Amelia highlights how even minor visual distractions in ads can affect audience perception. “But subconsciously they're picking up on these cues and it's a little bitty subconscious red flag.” (11:50)

Notable Quote:

“You can be so playful and immensely intelligent. And that's something I was insecure about. I'm like, if I go on Instagram and say something funny, are they gonna... Is that gonna discredit me? And I think it actually just, like, shows our humanity.” – Amelia Simmons (04:58)

3. Leveraging Paid Ads for Business Growth

The core of the episode revolves around Amelia's strategic use of Google Ads and meta ads to attract church clients.

• Ad Strategy: Amelia shares her approach to paid advertising, focusing primarily on Google Ads for conversions. “So, she’s getting a lot of leads from Google. She’s staying top of mind with them through retargeting ads...” (21:13)

• Precision Targeting: By refining her keywords and utilizing negative keywords, Amelia ensures her ads reach the right audience without wasting budget. “I have five words that are my words. And just like we talked, we... I’ve gotten in so many negative keywords to have it be just what I need it to be.” (21:19)

• Client Success Stories: Amelia recounts significant client wins, including working with New Creation Church in Maryland, a Christian influencer in Pennsylvania with 200,000 followers, and a special project with Duke Divinity School. “I spent around $2,500 to $3,000 and gotten back around $10,000 in different clients.” (19:14)

Notable Quote:

“Every dollar that she's paying now we know is exactly the person who, with the intent to hire Amelia soon.” – Ashley Brock (21:55)

4. Overcoming Challenges: Persistence and Community Support

Amelia attributes her resilience and success to a strong support system and a willingness to embrace feedback.

• Embracing Feedback: Amelia highlights the importance of constructive criticism in refining her ads. “You only get better with feedback.” (07:49)

• Community Influence: Participation in Mastermind groups provided Amelia with the encouragement and insights needed to pivot her business strategy effectively. “And I was hungry for entrepreneurial community. And that is what I found in the Mastermind.” (16:24)

• Personal Motivation: Driven by a desire to balance her professional and personal life, Amelia emphasizes the significance of flexibility and forging her own path. “Sometimes you have to blaze your own trail. And that is what we have done with our son.” (23:10)

Notable Quote:

“Keep going. If the story's not good, the story's not over.” – Amelia Simmons (27:58)

5. Building a Supportive Team and Personal Growth

Amelia discusses how expanding her team and investing in her business has been pivotal to her growth.

• Hiring Strategically: Bringing on a head of operations allowed Amelia to delegate effectively and focus on her strengths. “I hired a head of operations and it's of someone I used to work with at another church.” (24:14)

• Personal Development: Both Amelia and Ashley reflect on their growth in confidence and expertise, underscoring the symbiotic relationship within their professional circles. “I've watched us both grow in our confidence. Yeah, it's been really cool.” – Ashley Brock (16:41)

Notable Quote:

“I invite [feedback]. Because, like, if it's not working, then we got to figure out how to make this work.” – Amelia Simmons (08:03)

Conclusion

Episode #70 serves as an empowering testament to the impact of authentic branding and strategic paid advertising. Amelia Simmons' story illustrates how aligning one's personal values with business practices can lead to substantial growth and meaningful client relationships. For entrepreneurs and business owners seeking to amplify their reach and resonate with the right audience, Amelia's journey provides both inspiration and actionable strategies.

Where to Find Amelia Simmons:

• Instagram: lasestudio.design
• Wilson’s Instagram: Chronicles life with disability advocacy @cdls

Final Thoughts:

Ashley Brock wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to engage with Amelia’s work and consider the transformative power of community and perseverance in business growth.

Timestamp References:

• <a id="timestamp001"></a>00:53
• <a id="timestamp002"></a>02:13
• <a id="timestamp004"></a>04:29
• <a id="timestamp010"></a>10:10
• <a id="timestamp011"></a>11:50
• <a id="timestamp019"></a>19:14
• <a id="timestamp021"></a>21:13
• <a id="timestamp007"></a>07:49
• <a id="timestamp016"></a>16:24
• <a id="timestamp023"></a>23:10
• <a id="timestamp024"></a>24:14
• <a id="timestamp008"></a>08:03
• <a id="timestamp027"></a>27:58
• <a id="timestamp028"></a>28:05

This summary captures the essence of episode #70, highlighting Amelia Simmons' strategic approach to paid advertising, her personal and professional growth, and the importance of authentic branding and community support in achieving business success.