Our team at University Prep is incredibly excited by the work Stu and his team completed for our organization. The re-brand we launched including a fully redone website with new content and a fully revamped visual identity has landed beautifully with a wide range of stakeholders with many compliments coming our way from those who have explored the site. Further, Stu and his team were highly responsive to our needs at each step and timely in all correspondence. Their insight and expertise was a big help as we completed the project and we continue to work with the group on a variety of other efforts because they’re absolutely great.
Strategy FIRST: Your Complete Marketing Roadmap
Marketing is relationship-building at scale. And it’s awfully hard to deliver the right message to the right people at the right time if you don’t know where you’re going.
That’s why we always start with strategy. You wouldn’t head into the backcountry without a route, a map, and a plan for when the weather turns. Strategy FIRST gives your organization all three: a clear picture of who you serve, how they find and fall in love with you, and the step-by-step plan to get them there.
Sound Familiar?
- Your organization does incredible work, but too few people know about it
- You’re trying to talk to everyone, so you’re not really reaching anyone
- Every new idea (a podcast! TikTok! a gala!) feels urgent, and nothing gets finished
- Your website gets visits, but not donations, volunteers, sign-ups, or sales
- Your Board keeps asking for a marketing plan, and you keep promising one
None of these get solved by more content, more ads, or more social posts. They’re strategy problems, and they need a strategy solution.
What Changes
- You’ll know exactly who your ideal supporters, partners, or customers are, and what they need from you
- You’ll have a core message that makes you the obvious choice, not one of many
- You’ll stop chasing every shiny tactic and focus on the few that move your mission forward
- You’ll walk into Board meetings with a plan, a calendar, and the confidence to defend both
- Your team will finally be rowing in the same direction
The Kudos
We love our clients. Hear from people like you about their experience working with Relish
David Singer
Founder & Executive Director | University Prep School
As a small non-profit, we found Relish Studio to be a perfect fit! Stu understood what our needs were and crafted a marketing program that definitely moved the needle. His knowledge and expertise was invaluable during the on-boarding process for our new staff member-and ultimately Stu understands how to create powerful, meaningful marketing plans that center on stakeholder engagement and excellent storytelling. We highly recommend Relish Studio!
Dave Elmore
Executive Director, Paradox Sports
Our experience with Relish exceeded our expectations in every way. Stu helped us identify areas of improvement and develop a strategy to expand our reach. From beginning to end, the process was clear and thorough, and the final presentation/deliverable offered a roadmap for growing our business in a meaningful way. Stu was purpose driven, prompt with deadlines, and a joy to work with. We would highly recommend Relish to those looking for personal and intentional marketing solutions.
Two Alpha Gals
The final presentation/deliverable offered a roadmap for growing our business in a meaningful way.
I’ve worked with Stu from Relish Studio for many years and have confidently recommended him to others. Relish takes the time to truly understand your business, your mission, and your goals. Their strategies are focused, intentional, and always tied to the bigger vision of where you want to go. They help you not only create a strong marketing strategy but also build a clear marketing plan to guide your next steps.
Stu has a real talent for making complex marketing concepts simple, actionable, and easy to implement. He keeps you updated on new tools and trends without ever overwhelming you. Relish feels like a true extension of my team — thoughtful, kind, and genuinely committed to my success.
If your goal is to attract better leads, land ideal clients, and inspire your audience, Relish Studio is the team to trust.
Suzi Bahnsen
Founder
Relish Studio helped us create a beautiful, modern website that reflects who we are as a company. Bret and Stu were especially great to work with—responsive, thoughtful, and quick to communicate. Even when challenges came up, the team handled them professionally and worked hard to keep things moving in the right direction. We’re really pleased with the final result.
Wendy Smith
Director – People, Culture, Communications | Calibre Engineering
How Strategy FIRST Works
Every organization has overlapping marketing needs, but no two have the same roadmap. Strategy FIRST is how we find yours.
Find Where You Stand
We start with the Relish GPS: a full review of your website, messaging, competitors, search, and social presence. You’ll get benchmarks, the gaps holding you back, and the blue-sky opportunities you can act on right away.
Get Clear on Who You Serve
Next, we identify your ideal stakeholders, whether they’re donors, volunteers, partners, members, or customers. We interview the people who know you best to uncover your competitive edge, build stakeholder profiles, and craft a core message that speaks directly to them.
Map Your Audience Engagement Cycle
Then we map how people move from strangers to lifelong supporters across all four stages of the Audience Engagement Cycle: Attract, Connect, Bond, and Inspire. That includes a referral system that turns word of mouth from something you hope for into something you can count on.
Build Your Execution Plan
Finally, we deliver a step-by-step action plan and calendar that aligns your channels, content, cadence, and priorities. It’s built for the team you actually have, not the one you wish you had.
Timeline and Investment
Strategy FIRST takes about 45 to 60 days and includes three working sessions with you and your team. At the end, we present your complete strategy and roadmap, ready to execute on your own or with our help.
Curious what that looks like in practice? Strategy FIRST for Calibre Engineering led to a full site reorganization and a 65% jump in page-one Google rankings.
Nonprofit rate: $7,500 (for 501(c)(3) organizations)
Standard: $9,500
Already completed a Relish GPS? Your full GPS fee is credited toward Strategy FIRST within 30 days.
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
If, after we deliver your final presentation and recommendations, you don’t believe you can use them to meaningfully improve your marketing results, ask for a full refund.
Organizations We’ve Worked With
Work We're Proud Of
We help good people do great things online. Here are a few projects we are proud to share.
Common Questions About Strategy FIRST
What's the difference between marketing strategy and marketing tactics?
Strategy is the plan: who you serve, what makes you the right choice, and how people move from first hearing about you to becoming lifelong supporters. Tactics are the tools you use to carry out that plan, like your website, email, social media, events, and ads. Tactics without strategy is how organizations end up busy but not effective.
What do we get at the end?
Your complete GPS diagnostic, stakeholder profiles, a core marketing message, a full Audience Engagement Cycle map, and a step-by-step execution plan and calendar, presented live and delivered as a branded report you can share with your Board, partners, and team.
How much of our time does it take?
Three working sessions over 45 to 60 days, plus a few stakeholder interviews we’ll coordinate with you. We handle the research and the heavy lifting in between.
Can you help us carry out the plan?
Yes. Many clients bring us in for the website, content, or ongoing support. Others run with the plan themselves. Either way, the strategy is yours to keep.
Who qualifies for the nonprofit rate?
Registered 501(c)(3) organizations. B Corps and other purpose-driven organizations, ask us about options.
Take the Next Step
Ready to trade scattered marketing for a clear plan? Schedule a free, no-pressure conversation to see if we’re a good fit.