2023 Climbbetty Business Review
Writing a business review is a new practice for me, as recommended by a colleague. It’s taken me a couple of weeks to pull everything together and an excellent opportunity to reflect on the past year—identifying key business areas, new client acquisitions, celebrating successes, and analyzing data and lessons learned. I hope you find value in this behind-the-scenes look at our operations.
Since 2020, Building Hope Summit County has been our principal client, engaging us for social media management, graphic and web design, and fundraising and campaign coordination. This nonprofit, dedicated to mental and emotional health support and de-stigmatizing mental health, holds a special place in my heart.
This year marked our most impactful yet, with significant achievements in local and stigma reduction campaigns, fundraising, and related initiatives.
Digital Campaigns
In 2023, our Building Hope Summit County digital campaigns introduced new strategies that significantly broadened our reach, reel engaging saw 847 non-followers on average per reel. Along with paid social media, display ads, and standard posts, we achieved a notable 9% increase in followers, adding 285 new supporters.
Our campaigns primarily target Summit County locals, aiming to reinforce the message that they are not alone and to boost donations. Our integrated marketing approach combines website management, social media, digital marketing, radio, and streaming to create cohesive and comprehensive campaigns with maximum impact.
Given that most of Building Hope’s funding is sourced from foundations, grants, and both small and large donors, it’s crucial that our campaigns resonate across a diverse audience spectrum.
We’re thrilled to announce that our annual Building Hope online fundraiser, Hope Rising, successfully raised $40,000 in just 40 days, reaching a campaign total of $53,500! This achievement is particularly remarkable given the competitive landscape of nonprofit fundraising and our involvement in a major community partnership with FIRC for the Sol Center project in Breckenridge.
The Booze Less Summit, a collaborative initiative between Building Hope Summit, Cactus of Denver, and Climbbetty, launched the campaign “Booze a little less. Do a lot more.” This effort aims to encourage community members to moderate their drinking, enhancing presence and productivity. The campaign’s website provides practical tips, events, and resources for those seeking to be more mindful about their alcohol consumption.
Climbbetty spearheaded the website design, communication, and coordination for the “Booze a little less. Do a lot more.” campaign, also handling the strategy and execution of a comprehensive marketing mix that included digital displays, social media, streaming services, street media (including bus panels), radio, and print.
The campaign has garnered significant traction, attracting nearly 1,000 monthly website visits and gaining 62 new Instagram followers in less than 40 days. Additionally, our Blue Run initiative, which rates local bars and restaurants, has successfully enlisted 7 new Partners and 7 Supporters. This two-tiered program aims to make our community spaces more inviting for those who wish to moderate their alcohol intake, benefiting both residents and visitors.
2023 Paradise Paradox Campaign Stats Report Cover for Building Hope’s Spring Campaign.
High Country Conservation Center’s (HC3) Climate Action Week was a pivotal collaboration that resonates deeply with me. HC3 focuses on recycling, home energy, and water conservation, promoting practical solutions for resource management. This event was a prime opportunity to highlight a week of engaging and educational activities. Climbbetty partnered with HC3’s marketing team to develop creative content and coordinate strategies across digital displays, Google ads, and paid social advertising.
During this campaign, we navigated Meta’s/Facebook’s stringent policies on issues, electoral, and political ads, which flagged terms like “climate” and “action.” After thoughtful brainstorming, HC3 approved an alternative approach that proved successful. This experience was a valuable lesson in adaptability and innovation.
Fidelity Charitable notes that charitable giving has been decreasing since 2022. In 2023, charitable giving was down 20-30% for the year. Some say that people plan to expand how they demonstrate generosity at year’s end, including volunteerism, faith-based community activities, and random acts of kindness.
Web Design
In 2023, I focused more on refreshing and updating existing websites rather than creating brand-new designs. I feel deeply grateful and honored that past clients continue to trust me with their projects, and their referrals are immensely valued. Working with nonprofits is especially rewarding, as many of their causes are close to my heart. What excites me most about web design is the diversity of clients and industries I get to work with.
The field of web design is ever-evolving, driven by advancements in technology, user experience improvements, and industry trends. Recently, AI has significantly transformed SEO practices, prompting us to dedicate considerable time to learning and adapting to these changes to stay at the forefront of the industry.
Marketing
Despite loving the workload, I must admit that Climbbetty’s marketing and advertising have taken a backseat. In fact, it’s been a full year since I’ve actively invested any energy or resources into promoting my own business. It sounds less than ideal, but as a small business owner, juggling my clients’ web design and campaign needs often leaves little room for my own marketing efforts. It’s been a valuable lesson in balancing priorities.
However, this is all set to change in 2024! I’m dedicating both time and resources to rejuvenate Climbbetty’s marketing strategy. Our goal is to evolve, continue thriving, and provide a wealth of industry knowledge and outstanding service to our clients.
Looking ahead, our marketing strategy will include blogging, boosting our social media presence, launching a new podcast focused on small business insights, and enhancing our community engagement through volunteering and networking. Here’s to a transformative year ahead for Climbbetty!
What do I see for Climbbetty in 2024?
We remain dedicated to providing top-notch website design for small businesses and nonprofits, taking on typically one or two clients per month. If you’re looking to refresh your website, enhance your online giving capabilities, or ensure your website aligns with your business objectives, please contact me as soon as possible to schedule a consultation.
Our social media and digital campaigns continue to be a priority for both small business and nonprofit clients. Moving forward, we aim to fine-tune our offerings to provide packages that meet various budgets and business goals effectively.
As mentioned, in 2024 we are committed to actively pursuing Climbbetty’s marketing initiatives, including networking and volunteering. That concludes our review for 2023. We are excited and optimistic about what 2024 holds!
Courtney