I am so honored you are here—a stop on your journey through business. Over my years working in the Advertising and Marketing world, I’ve found that so often we’re bombarded with “tips and tricks” and tons of sales jargon that are just throwing caution to the wind. But I believe you’re here because you really care about impacting lives for the better. You care about the environment, communities, and individual lives.
That’s why I’ve created The Cultivator. So I can share my design and marketing expertise to help you continue touching lives + moving mountains. Every other week you will receive a field guide directly to your inbox that will help prompt you to think about how you’re sowing seeds in your business and the lives around you. If you want to read back on previous newsletters, you can always come back here and you’ll see the latest!
Sending my love + best fertilizer for your soil! I can’t wait to see how you grow.
All my best,
— Esther Knox-Dekoning, Founder + Creative Director at Sereth Design
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We often see language and storytelling tropes that we believe to be damaging for communities, individuals, and the work of nonprofits as a whole. It’s time to change the narrative.
When we say “cost of design” we don’t mean these literal costs like your transactional expenses. We mean what you’re not getting due to poor or less-than-adequate design.
Capturing the attention of your audience is more crucial than ever. While having a good idea or mission is the foundation of your business, without effective communication and a strong visual presentation of your offerings, your brand can fall short. In this newsletter, we'll explore the relationship between design and copywriting, and how leveraging this dynamic duo can not only enhance the immediate impact of your brand but also contribute to its longevity.
Consumers are not just looking for products or services; they are seeking brands that align with their values and contribute positively to society. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to effectively connect with your target audience and convey your commitment to social responsibility.
When it comes to fundraising for non-profits, having a donor-friendly website can make all the difference. A website that is easy to navigate, visually appealing and provides donors with the information they need can increase donations and engagement. Here are some tips to create a donor-friendly website.
One of the foundational elements of a successful online presence is selecting the right website hosting platform. With numerous options available, it can be overwhelming to decide which one is best suited for your nonprofit's needs. Here’s some tips on how to decide.
Not everyone experiences the web in the same way. To ensure that the digital landscape is truly inclusive, we have to prioritize accessibility.
Non-profit organizations have an essential role in our communities, and photography plays a significant role in telling their stories. A well-planned photoshoot can help non-profit organizations to showcase their work, raise awareness, and even attract donations. In this blog post, we’ll share some of the type of photos we see as we’re designing websites, campaigns, and marketing that every nonprofit needs to have!
In recent years, there has been a growing movement toward more sustainable packaging design. As consumers become more aware of the environmental impact of packaging, companies are starting to respond with innovative and eco-friendly alternatives. One of the most important steps companies can take is to reduce or eliminate the use of plastic in their packaging.
If you're starting a nonprofit organization, creating a website is a crucial step in establishing your online presence and reaching potential donors and volunteers. Here are the steps to take to launch a nonprofit website from scratch:
As your business grows and evolves, it's important to regularly assess your brand and website to ensure they are properly aligned with your mission and vision. Here are some steps to help you prune your brand and website for maximum impact.
Communicating impact is key to gaining support and building trust with your audience. A website is a powerful tool to showcase your impact and engage with your community. So it's super important to know how to effectively communicate to viewers through your website. Here are some tips on how to effectively communicate impact through your website.
As I talk to nonprofit owners, a recurring theme is the struggle to retain donors for long periods of time. People often opt for a one-time donation, or cancel their recurring subscription a few months in. Why is that? The short answer: they don’t feel connected anymore.
It is crucial to define the "who, what, when, where, and why" of your business. In this field guide, we share questions to ask yourself to help define your WWWH’s to strengthen your foundation.
If you run a non-profit organization, then you know that donations are a huge part of keeping your organization running. However, just having a donation page on your website isn't enough to attract donors. You need to actively drive conversions to your Donate page. But how exactly do you get people to GO to your Donate page and actually hit support?
By utilizing a variety of touchpoints, you can create a buzz and generate excitement around your cause AND make sure that you’re getting new eyes on your work through various venues. The key is to find the right mix of touchpoints that work for your organization and your audience.
Even the most well-designed systems can become outdated or ineffective over time, especially as audience expectations and preferences evolve.
In the digital age, it’s super important to maintain a professional and consistent image at all times. Yes, even when you’re in the process of developing a new website or revitalizing your branding! Here are our best tips to maintaining a consistent brand through the changes.
Think about how you can better love on people, which in turn will make them fall madly in love with your mission.
There’s no better time than now to take another stab at the new year and breathe new life into your business and brand. You don’t actually need a date or a New Year to tell you when to refresh your brand; you just need to know when it’s time to.
The second that someone new stumbles on your page, you want to make sure they are immersed into your world for the moments you share—to help them get a glimpse of the system you live in, and the universe you occupy. Here are a few tips to ensure that when they do, your story, vision, and mission, shine so bright they couldn’t miss it.