an introduction

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." — Mark Twain

When I joined Janice at The Janice Christopher Marketing Agency as a college senior, she was already an established marketing professional with dedicated creative teams. I was a fresh face to a list of loyal clients, waiting to prove myself. Eager to do so, I jumped right in.

In my first few weeks, I was given some projects: mocking up a website based off a pre-selected theme; designing a logo for a magnet school in New Haven; building a brand suite for a new construction company. Things were going well! I was enjoying my work- and so was my boss.

As the weeks flew by, I was handed project after project. Then, I was invited to meetings with our creative teams. And that serene, perfect freelance role suddenly came with a cold, harsh reality check.

I sat in meetings where designers with decades of experience argued with me. There’s no way to put that delicately or eloquently. They truly picked apart my work. They told me that the things I learned in the last 3 years were not possible. It was clearly their way or the highway. I was 21, and yes- it hurt. But it did not stop me.

Since the fateful phone call in 2021 that landed me this role, I have grown both professionally and personally. I am now a full-time employee, serving as the sole in-house digital media specialist. There is no more ‘impossible.’ I took over creating websites and we now work with dedicated developers who bring even our wildest dreams to life. I design full branding suites for clients looking to rebrand and new businesses looking to get their name in the game. I helped develop and design an array of original documents, templates, and forms to streamline agency processes and make life easier for not only our clients, but for us, too.

Many will say your first job out of college is just a stepping stone. Some will move from one company to the next to find the ‘perfect fit.’ Some struggle to find work at all. These were all very real realities for me as a senior. I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time with a presentable portfolio and a perfected elevator pitch.

I can easily say this role has been institutional in my professional development. After all, my college advisor did always say: “you’ll learn it on the job!” I sure did.

branding

“The best design tool is a long eraser with a pencil at one end.” — Marty Neumeier

Your brand is much more than your logo. In fact, it tells a story. For Janice Christopher, that story starts with her nickname as the ‘Queen Bee of Marketing.’

With over 30 years of experience, Janice has the know-how to help businesses WIN. Her competitive spirit, relationship-oriented approach, and intelligence are the driving forces behind her ability to listen to clients’ needs and develop winning strategies that help make their businesses flourish.

As an agency, we provide marketing and design services to our clients. However, we must provide those same services to ourselves to remain competitive, relevant, and trustworthy.

“Advertising brings in the customers, but it is your job to keep them buying from you.” — Chet Holmes

In addition to refreshing our agency logo, I have also implemented a brand style guide, designed physical and digital stationery, and created countless pieces of marketing materials, from social graphics and flyers to digital illustrations and branded swag. You can spot our work just about anywhere!

ux/ui design

A major part of my role at The Janice Christopher Marketing Agency is web design. For every website project, I conduct thorough research into our client and their target audience. I analyze their brand, values, and mission in order to create a powerful conversion tool for their business.

Good website design is responsive, functional, intuitive, and fast. Designing a website goes beyond looks! Even with the most compelling and eye-catching graphics, you need a secure connection and fast-loading pages that can be viewed on any device or screen size.

Each project begins with low fidelity wireframes and is turned into a high-fidelity, functioning prototype using Adobe XD. After reviewing with the client and making necessary changes, all content is sorted into a folder and delivered to our development team. Working together, we have successfully launched 30+ client websites using WordPress and provide regular maintenance on our secure hosting platform.

copywriting

Another key responsibility of my position is copywriting. For every piece of content we publish, there is a written component. Blog posts, social media posts, website pages, and company documents all require text to be effective.

My education at Quinnipiac University allowed me to explore the creative boundaries of writing. Aside from the typical essay, I was tasked with writing a screenplay, blogs about class projects, professional emails and letters, and more. As I grow, I learn more about composition and language and adapt my writing style.

At the JCMA, I turn mundane language into captivating reads. I craft templates for documents and emails that showcase our professionalism without confusing our clients. Our blogs are packed with valuable tips surrounded by waves of words that break down topics into bite-sized, digestible pieces. Our website contains SEO-rich content that lands us consistently on page one of Google search results. Our social posts speak directly to our audience, giving them exactly what they need- not more, and never less.