Marketing + Branding Foundation
Cookie-cutter marketing strategies don’t work for women-owned businesses (especially those of us who are the ‘face’ of our companies). When marketing feels off (or just isn’t working), it’s hard to land the right clients — and even harder to command premium prices.
In 30+ years of marketing and branding work, I’ve learned that when marketing feels awkward, it’s usually not a “you” problem. Your marketing just needs a better foundation.
When your marketing is built around your strengths, your communication style, and messaging that feels natural to you, everything changes.
If you’re ready for a fresh start, I can help.
We’ll build your positioning + message from real market research, then map a 90-day action plan so you know exactly what to say, where to show up, and what to do next. It’s the foundation that builds your business, and your confidence as a business owner.
The Foundation at a Glance
- You walk away with: a custom Marketing Strategy + 90-Day Action Plan
- 6 weeks | private weekly 1:1 strategy sessions over Zoom
- Built from guided market research (no guessing)
- Investment: $4,000 (payment plans available)
Led by me, Leslie Walters Smith
30+ years in marketing + branding • 200+ websites • 100+ brand packages • clients nationwide
One client landed two clients in one afternoon from research calls.
A rebrand contributed to a 300% revenue increase over four years.
See case studies below
Complete a 3-minute application. If it seems like we’re a good fit, you’ll be invited to a free 30-minute information call (no pressure) to talk next steps.
When you need clarity, not more noise…
Thank you for all of the work you have helped us with. You have provided me with an education I didn’t even know I needed and I appreciate it very much.
– Marj F, Business Consultant
When your brand should finally feel like you…
Loving the look you created for me, friend! Everyone agrees it fits me perfectly!
– Cheryl R, Stylist
When you want a trusted guide…
Leslie is a marketing genius. I know from first-hand experience; she helped me when I set up my private practice. She’s a small business owner trying to help other women thrive. Please check out her plan. I promise you will be glad you did.
– Hallie M., attorney
With Scripts + Bio/profile kit + 90-day prompt pack to make follow-through easier.
What’s Included
The Marketing + Branding Foundation is an intensive 6-week engagement with weekly 1:1 strategy sessions and guided work between sessions — designed to remove confusion and create a clear direction.
What we’ll do (and what you’ll walk away with each week):
Weeks 1-2: Positioning + Ideal Clients
We’ll clarify who you serve best, what they truly need, and how you want to be known.
Between sessions: you’ll complete guided ideal-client research (with clear prompts and direction from me).
Output: Positioning Snapshot + Best-Fit Prospect profile + research guidance
Week 3: Marketing Platforms (Aligned to You)
We’ll choose the best platform(s) to reach your ideal prospects, based on your strengths, communication style, and what feels sustainable for you.
Between sessions: you’ll continue your guided research and gather language you’re hearing directly from the people you want to attract.
Output: Platform recommendations + “how to show up” guidance
Week 4-5: Core Message + Brand Presence
We’ll analyze your research, using it to craft a core message that feels natural for you to say — and is instantly clear to the right people. Then we’ll define the brand presence you want to be known for.
Output: Core Message + key talking points + Brand Presence definition
Week 6: Visual Direction + Marketing Plan
I’ll bring recommendations for elements that match your brand presence (colors, fonts, and visual elements), then we’ll pull everything together into a marketing plan with clear next steps.
Output: Visual Direction recommendations + written Marketing Plan + prioritized implementation roadmap
By the end of our six weeks together, you’ll have a complete custom Marketing Strategy that includes:
- Positioning Snapshot (who you help + what you’re known for)
- Best-Fit Prospect Profile (so you stop attracting the wrong people)
- Messaging: core message + key talking points + “how to explain what you do”
- Platform plan (what to use + how to show up in a way you can sustain)
- Visual direction (so your presence matches your expertise)
- A written 90-day Action Plan + prioritized next steps
Your custom strategy and plan will be delivered as a polished PDF (and optional printed copy).
Plus Implementation Tools Included (to make follow-through easier)
No-Ick Outreach Script Vault
You’ll get my exact scripts for the research conversations that uncover what your best prospects actually care about — the language we’ll use to shape your message. You’ll also get warm outreach scripts that make it easy to start conversations naturally (without sounding salesy).
Authority Bio + Profile Kit
We’ll turn your expertise into a clear, confident online presence. You’ll leave with 2-3 bio versions (short, medium, long), a LinkedIn/About rewrite checklist, and credibility blurbs you can reuse across your website, social profiles, proposals, and outreach.
Content Pillars + 90-Day Prompt Pack
If your custom plan includes social media, we’ll define 3–5 content pillars that support your strategy, choose a posting rhythm you can sustain, and map prompts to each pillar so you’re never staring at a blank screen. You’ll leave with a simple 90-day starter schedule and a prompt pack that makes content faster to create.
During these six sessions, we’ll plan strategy and direction; this is not full brand or website design. If you want implementation afterward, we can discuss that after week six. You’ll leave with a custom Marketing Strategy that includes a Positioning Snapshot, Core Message + Talking Points, Brand Presence + Visual Direction, and a 90-Day Action Plan.
My Guarantee
Do the work, and you won’t be left stuck — that’s my guarantee.
If you attend our sessions and complete the guided between-session work, you’ll leave with a clear Marketing Strategy + 90-Day Action Plan.
If, at the end of Week 6, you still don’t feel your plan is clear and implementable, I’ll add two additional support sessions at no cost so you can leave with a plan you’re confident executing.
(Must be requested within 7 days of Week 6 and requires completion of assigned exercises.)
- Perfect for you if:
⇒ You’re ready for a marketing plan that fits your communication style — not a one-size-fits-all system
⇒ You have real expertise and you’re ready to step into a more visible, confident version of yourself
⇒ You’re committed to doing guided work between sessions (so we can build your message from real insight, not guesses)
⇒ You want clear direction before investing time or money into a website, brand design, or a bigger buildout
- This isn’t the right fit if:
⇏ You’re only exploring an idea and aren’t ready to take action in the next 30–60 days
⇏ You’re looking for quick fixes, viral tricks, or plug-and-play templates
⇏ You’re not willing to do the between-session work needed to create clarity and traction
Marketing Strategy + 90-Day Action Plan
Includes: Script Vault + Authority Bio Kit + 90-Day Content Prompts
6 weeks | Total Investment
$4,000
Payment plan available (details provided after acceptance)
Complete a 3-minute application. If it seems like we’re a good fit, you’ll be invited to a free 30-minute information call (no pressure) to talk next steps.
Because this is weekly 1:1 work, I only take 4 Foundation clients per month. If the next start window is full, you’ll be offered the next available date.
FAQs
Who is this for, exactly?
This is for expert-based business owners (consultants, coaches, service providers, etc.) who know they’re good at what they do — but marketing feels awkward, inconsistent, or unclear. You want a plan you can follow without becoming a totally different person online.
What kind of results can I expect?
The main result is clarity that translates into action: clear positioning, a message that clicks with the right people, and a marketing plan you can sustain. Some gain clients during the research phase because they start having the right conversations, but our main goal is to build a foundation that creates consistent momentum.
How much time will I need each week?
Plan on weekly sessions that last 60-90 minutes, plus dedicated time for the guided work between sessions (often a few hours per week). The better you do the between-session work, the better the outcomes.
Is this “done-for-you” or “done-with-you”?
It’s guided, done-with-you. I lead the process, give you structure and prompts, and bring strategy and recommendations. You’ll do the guided work that makes your message real and accurate (based on your market, not guesswork).
What if I get busy and fall behind on the between-session work?
We’ll adjust the pace and priorities, but this works best when you can protect time each week. If your season is unusually heavy, we’ll talk about timing before you start.
What if I already have a website and brand?
Perfect. We’ll work with what you have and clarify what’s working vs. what’s misaligned. Many clients come in with a brand/website that doesn’t reflect their expertise yet. This program helps you tighten the foundation before investing further.
What if I’m not ready to take action immediately?
Then it’s probably not the right time for this program. This works best when you’re ready to implement a plan over the next 30–60 days and you want traction, not just ideas.
What happens after the 6 weeks?
You’ll leave with clear deliverables and a prioritized implementation roadmap. If you want support implementing your plan, we can discuss options once your foundation is in place.
How does payment work?
If we decide during the Clarity Call that this is a good fit and you want to move forward, I’ll send you an invoice. You’ll be able to pay online by card or bank transfer. Payment plans are available. Payment is required before we schedule Week 1 and begin work.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. If you would like a payment plan, note that in your application. If we decide to work together, we’ll choose a payment option that fits your budget and timeline.
Do you offer a guarantee?
Yes. If you attend our sessions and complete the guided between-session work, you’ll leave with a clear Marketing Strategy + 90-Day Action Plan. If, at the end of Week 6, you still don’t feel your plan is clear and implementable, I’ll add two additional support sessions at no cost so you can leave with a plan you’re confident executing. (Must be requested within 7 days of Week 6 and requires completion of assigned exercises.)
What if we start and it turns out this isn’t the right fit?
Fit matters — especially with weekly one-on-one work. If, after we begin, either of us feels this isn’t the right fit, we’ll talk about it immediately. If we decide to stop within the first two sessions, I’ll refund any unused sessions (or cancel remaining invoices on a payment plan).
Do you guarantee clients or revenue?
No, I can’t ethically guarantee specific revenue or client results because execution, offer, market, and consistency matter. What I do guarantee is that if you show up and complete the guided work, you’ll leave with a clear Marketing Strategy + 90-Day Action Plan you can implement with confidence.
Case Studies
Two clients in one afternoon
Berry was starting a second career and felt stuck because marketing, to her, looked like “spamming friends on Facebook.” After we clarified her offer, pricing, and best-fit clients, we mapped a simple plan: 15 research conversations with ideal prospects using a script I provided. The calls weren’t sales calls, but the conversations gave her language, confidence, and clarity.
Halfway through, she called me and said, “I landed TWO clients today, just from my research calls!” We later used those insights to shape her core message and marketing.
A ‘top-to-bottom’ rebrand that supported 300% revenue growth
Bringing “Where Chattanooga Plays” to Life
Finley Stadium is one of Chattanooga’s most visible venues, home to major sporting and community events. As the stadium expanded beyond its original role and began welcoming broader audiences, the brand needed to do more than “look nice.” It needed to communicate a clear identity, unify every touchpoint, and support growth.
The goal
Create a cohesive brand presence that matched the stadium’s expanded role in the city and could scale across marketing, wayfinding, events, and digital.
The approach
We anchored the rebrand in a simple positioning concept: “Where Chattanooga Plays.” From there, we built a visual system designed to work everywhere — from the smallest social graphic to the biggest onsite signage — so the experience felt consistent and unmistakable.
What we delivered
- Brand positioning concept + creative direction (“Where Chattanooga Plays”)
- New logo + visual identity system
- Environmental branding + signage concepts across the complex
- Marketing collateral and event materials (including hospitality touchpoints)
- Website design aligned to the new brand presence
Outcome (as reported by Finley Stadium’s former Executive Director)
After the rebrand rollout, Finley Stadium set multiple records for events and attendance and secured high-profile games, including U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Team matches. Over the following four years, revenue increased significantly, an outcome leadership directly connected to the strength and consistency of the new brand.
We recreated everything from top to bottom, from the logo to the website to every sign in the facility, even the menus in our skyboxes. The rebrand was a tremendous success, and we relied on Leslie’s creativity and design and marketing skills throughout the project to make us look great.
In the four years after the rebrand, Finley Stadium set several records for events/productions and overall ‘butts-in-seats.’ Overall, our revenue increased by 300%. I believe our rebranding contributed greatly to that accomplishment.
– Paul Smith, former Executive Director, Finley Stadium
Next Steps
Ready to get started? Here’s what to do:
- Review the package details and investment above.
- Complete a brief application so I can learn about your business and goals.
- If your application looks like a fit, you’ll be invited to a 30-minute information call (no pitchy pressure). We’ll confirm your goals, timeline, and whether this is the right next step.
- If we both decide to move forward during the call, I’ll send an invoice (we can also discuss payment plan options if needed). Once payment is received, we’ll schedule your sessions and begin Week 1.
If you’re tired of being underestimated, feeling invisible, and leaving money on the table, that rarely fixes itself. You already have real expertise. The missing piece is a clear message and a simple plan for getting in front of the right people in a way that feels natural (not salesy), and converting interested prospects into clients without relying on luck.
Let’s change the way your ideal prospects see you — so your marketing feels confident, consistent, and aligned with who you are.
Complete a 3-minute application. If it seems like we’re a good fit, you’ll be invited to a free 30-minute information call (no pressure) to talk next steps.
I’ve worked with Leslie for nearly 10 years, involving several of our business entities: Chattanooga Magazine and Chattanooga Market. Her thorough understanding of design, branding and marketing allowed us to seamlessly move from project to project, no matter what the subject. And, her maturity and terrific communications skills drive the process effectively from beginning to end.
– Melissa Lail, Marketing Director
I still remember how uncomfortable it felt when I realized I had to look beyond word-of-mouth for new clients. Even with my marketing background, it took a minute (and a few hits to my confidence) to find a system that worked for me.
The way women over 40, especially those who offer expert/professional services, successfully market our companies is different. What works for internet ‘coaches / gurus / bro-marketers’ doesn’t generally work the same for us. But instead of trying to force our squarish shapes through round openings, we can create our own doors. We can use our talents, hard-won skillsets, and experiences to create something unique that works.
When we do that, we find the freedom that comes from owning a successful business.
It’s doable. And I’m happy to show you the way.
Complete a 3-minute application. If it seems like we’re a good fit, you’ll be invited to a free 30-minute information call (no pressure) to talk next steps.