A web agency made for small business + nonprofits.
Embark is an award-winning digital marketing agency made for small businesses and nonprofits. We empower visionary leaders with technology, creativity, and storytelling. We specialize in building integrated experiences across web, email, and social to powerfully engage your audience.
We work closely and collaboratively with clients to immerse ourselves into their mission. Forming a strategy built on this relationship allows us to deliver unique, meaningful, and on-target results.
Our craftsmanship in digital enables clients to deliver experiences that are consistent, compelling, and effective. Work with Embark to pursue your digital potential and to make impact.
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Branding, Design & Digital Marketing for Religious Nonprofit
the project
“We know they’ll respond to all our needs. They solve our issues as soon as possible.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the communications manager for the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. We’re a membership-based organization that works all over the US with people and leaders that work with high school students. We focus more on training the adults that work with the teens.
What challenge were you trying to address with Embark?
We needed to focus on physical and digital marketing, social media, and event branding. We’d had the same branding since the 1980s.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We started by rebranding our organization as a whole, including a new website, logo, colors, letterhead, PowerPoint templates, social media templates, and anything else that fell into branding. Since then, Embark has brought on all social media evergreen content for the organization and the events we host. One of them is a national conference for high school students. We also have a membership meeting, and they’ve just rebranded and created a new logo for that specific event.
Additionally, Embark has rebranded a member platform we’ve been working on; it’s a platform where our members can go in, do a directory search on other members, and look for certain resources and webinars.
What is the team composition?
We work with four people: Conoon (Strategic Director), Dominick (Execution Director), Carolina (Marketing Director), and Melissa (Digital Coordinator). Dominick works on our website, backend, and coding, and Carolina does our social media and newsletter. Melissa comes here as needed depending on our needs, but she also works with the event aspects. Finally, Conoon and Dominick are our main contacts; they oversee all the projects from the organization.
How did you come to work with Embark?
Our executive director met Conoon from a previous employer about 10 years ago. Six years ago, when our executive director took on this position, he decided to bring on Embark for the original rebranding in 2019. Little by little, we started to give them more tasks.
How much have you invested in them?
We’ve spent about $250,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We began our relationship in 2019, and it’s ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
In 2020, we officially launched our new branding. We also launched a brand-new website for one of our main events in March 2022. Since the launch, we’ve had a total of 48,000 new visitors. We’re currently at an 82% engagement rate throughout the different pages, whether they’re blog posts, basic ticket information, or clicks to our social media pages. In the three years since they took over, we’ve seen a monthly engagement increase of about 43%, including Facebook and Instagram.
How did Embark perform from a project management standpoint?
Project management is excellent. They’re quick to respond, and the team is always willing to redraft and make edits to meet our needs. Moreover, we always reach our end goal with straight requirements and details.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their main strength is their responsiveness; we know they’ll respond to all our needs. They solve our issues as soon as possible; we never have delays. Moreover, if a member comes with a case versus a staff member, Embark can immediately find the problem and address it. If the issue might take longer, the team is transparent and lets us know it’ll take them more time to figure it out.
Overall, they have a grassroots mindset. They’re always willing to look at the user's point of view.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I don’t know; I can’t think of anything.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Come to them with ideas and share them. Also, give them some wiggle room to run with your ideas.
Focus
Portfolio
National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, Turn Therapeutics, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Archdiocese of Boston, Clergy Trust, Colorado Catholic Conference
Embark Highlight Reel
A quick video showcasing examples of our digital work and capabilities.
- Brand strategy
- Email marketing
- Logo design
- Social media marketing
- Video production
- Website design and development
Marketing the Nation's Largest Youth Ministry Org.
We first stepped in as consultants and facilitated a strategy sprint with their executive team, identifying their core purpose and vision for the future of youth ministry. Working together, we moved strategically to modernize their brand, rebuild their web presence, and advance their mission across all digital platforms. We overcame the challenges of getting approval from 20+ board of directors retained the integrity of the organization's 40-year history in the new brand.
- Brand sprint
- 28-page comprehensive brand guide
- Custom website with membership management system
- Social media management
- Video promotions
Promo Video Production for a National Youth Event
NCYC is the nation's largest Catholic youth event, but has historically been hosted in the Eastern US. Bringing the event to Southern California for the first time, the client needed a quick explainer video to build awareness about the event for a new audience. We complied highlights of the event with upbeat music to match the demographic vibe, and put together a narrative to quickly showcase the meaning and value of NCYC.
- 1 minute promo video
- Social-media friendly formats included
- Voiceover
- Animations
- Creative direction
- Post-production work
Website Design & Dev for Pharmaceutical Startup
Client had the challenge of showcasing multiple areas of the website serving different interests. We built the site from the ground-up, strategically crafting the user journey based on a storytelling experience. Combined with a straightforward homepage and intuitive navigation menu we were able to deliver a simple, yet robust website.
- Wordpress website
- Custom design and theme development
- Ongoing backend maintenance and content management
Website Design & Dev for the Bishops of Colorado
We consulted the client throughout their brand transformation process to help form a meaningful, relevant identity. The single-color choice of purple symbolized a more balanced reflection of their mission and opened the door for a clean, bold style. Our website design uplifted the spirit of unity and focused on minimizing clutter, simplifying navigation, and making a statement with their brand color.
- Brand consultation
- Wordpress website
- Custom design and theme development
Branding & Web Development for California Nonprofi
Due to the pandemic, CCEDA had to pivot their focus to better serve California’s communities. This non-profit hadn’t updated their logo and website for over 10 years so they wanted to use this opportunity to re-brand. We maintained the heritage of their previous logo and modernized the style in their new logo. We delivered a fresh brand and dynamic website that better represented their renewed energy and commitment to economic development.
- Brand strategy
- Logo, colors, and typography
- Wordpress website
- Custom web art
Website for Catholic Education Nonprofit in Boston
CCS is a unique organization that co-sponsors multiple Catholic school academies in Boston. They needed help in building a website that clearly communicates their 'why' in the mission. We crafted an interactive site that prioritized compelling visuals and bold use of colors to make an impactful impression.
- Wordpress website
- Custom design and theme development
- Copywriting
Reviews
the project
Branding, Design & Digital Marketing for Religious Nonprofit
“We know they’ll respond to all our needs. They solve our issues as soon as possible.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the communications manager for the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. We’re a membership-based organization that works all over the US with people and leaders that work with high school students. We focus more on training the adults that work with the teens.
What challenge were you trying to address with Embark?
We needed to focus on physical and digital marketing, social media, and event branding. We’d had the same branding since the 1980s.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We started by rebranding our organization as a whole, including a new website, logo, colors, letterhead, PowerPoint templates, social media templates, and anything else that fell into branding. Since then, Embark has brought on all social media evergreen content for the organization and the events we host. One of them is a national conference for high school students. We also have a membership meeting, and they’ve just rebranded and created a new logo for that specific event.
Additionally, Embark has rebranded a member platform we’ve been working on; it’s a platform where our members can go in, do a directory search on other members, and look for certain resources and webinars.
What is the team composition?
We work with four people: Conoon (Strategic Director), Dominick (Execution Director), Carolina (Marketing Director), and Melissa (Digital Coordinator). Dominick works on our website, backend, and coding, and Carolina does our social media and newsletter. Melissa comes here as needed depending on our needs, but she also works with the event aspects. Finally, Conoon and Dominick are our main contacts; they oversee all the projects from the organization.
How did you come to work with Embark?
Our executive director met Conoon from a previous employer about 10 years ago. Six years ago, when our executive director took on this position, he decided to bring on Embark for the original rebranding in 2019. Little by little, we started to give them more tasks.
How much have you invested in them?
We’ve spent about $250,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We began our relationship in 2019, and it’s ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
In 2020, we officially launched our new branding. We also launched a brand-new website for one of our main events in March 2022. Since the launch, we’ve had a total of 48,000 new visitors. We’re currently at an 82% engagement rate throughout the different pages, whether they’re blog posts, basic ticket information, or clicks to our social media pages. In the three years since they took over, we’ve seen a monthly engagement increase of about 43%, including Facebook and Instagram.
How did Embark perform from a project management standpoint?
Project management is excellent. They’re quick to respond, and the team is always willing to redraft and make edits to meet our needs. Moreover, we always reach our end goal with straight requirements and details.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their main strength is their responsiveness; we know they’ll respond to all our needs. They solve our issues as soon as possible; we never have delays. Moreover, if a member comes with a case versus a staff member, Embark can immediately find the problem and address it. If the issue might take longer, the team is transparent and lets us know it’ll take them more time to figure it out.
Overall, they have a grassroots mindset. They’re always willing to look at the user's point of view.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I don’t know; I can’t think of anything.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Come to them with ideas and share them. Also, give them some wiggle room to run with your ideas.
the project
Web Design, Dev & Maintenance for Financial Planning Company
“They’re very honest, and they deliver good work on time, so I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CEO of GDP, Inc., a financial and life planning firm.
What challenge were you trying to address with Embark?
We needed to update our site and improve its copy to communicate our message to our audience better.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Embark has redesigned and developed our website on WordPress to make it easier for us to use, and they’ve changed all its imagery. For the latter, they helped us take photos. They’ve also worked closely with us on its copy.
Now, Embark is in charge of maintaining our site and ensuring everything is working properly. Additionally, they constantly make sure our site’s information is updated, backed up, and protected.
What is the team composition?
I’ve worked closely with Conoon (Founder & Director of Strategy), who manages the project and his team. We also worked with a photographer, but I believe he outsourced them.
How did you come to work with Embark?
I found Conoon through a friend of a friend. We hit it off when I met him, and I felt he was honest, trustworthy, and knowledgeable. Thus, when we started getting bids for this project, I asked for a bid from them, and it was the most compelling one.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent around $7,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together around 2019, and our engagement is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Embark has provided us with good value for the money, and working with them has improved our website and its copy. Although they didn’t develop a custom site from scratch, they delivered the site we wanted, a site we’re now very proud of.
How did Embark perform from a project management standpoint?
Embark is a very clear communicator. From the start, they provided us with a development timeline, and they delivered on all those targets and milestones on time and on budget.
Moreover, Embark has always been responsive and helpful. We’ve run into a couple of glitches when things have changed, and they’ve always owned the issues and fixed them quickly.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Embark is very knowledgeable and honest, and they excel at problem-solving; I can’t recommend them enough. Another thing that we really like about them is that they’re a boutique shop, so their service is very tailored to our needs.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I don’t have any constructive feedback for Embark — doing business with them is a pleasure.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Hire them! They’re very honest, and they deliver good work on time, so I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.
the project
Re-Branding, Web Design & Dev for Religious Organization
"I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with them, and even now, post-launch, they’re receptive to our communication."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the executive director of the Colorado Catholic Conference. We’re the united voice of catholic bishops in Colorado and help determine public policy and government relations.
What challenge were you trying to address with Embark?
We needed someone to redesign our website and overhaul our branding. Our interface was very out of date and not user-friendly.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Their work was done in WordPress after meeting with our bishops several times to learn what they wanted out of the site. On our main page, we have a video that pops up immediately. It’s a reel of b-roll footage that you can click on to be taken to an informational video about our brand. Below the video is our mission statement.
Embark built a sliding scale on our website that people can slide through 1–10 and see our different policy priorities. Users can click on each stage and go to different pages to learn more about other topics.
We handled the general design in-house, but they implemented our design and advised us on our logo design as well. In terms of the branding, they advised us on our color scheme and logo placement on the website.
Embark was able to create the site in such a way that we can update the website on our own. We’re also able to contact them going forward if we encounter any technical issues.
What is the team composition?
We worked with their director of strategy and their director of execution.
How did you come to work with Embark?
I appreciated their background and success with past organizations. Additionally, I found them through my previous organization; we had a mutual connection with another religious organization. Their experience in the Catholic sphere really stood out to us.
How much have you invested with them?
The cost was around $25,000–$30,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together from March–June 2022.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We’ve seen a lot more traffic coming to the website thanks to its enhanced user-friendliness compared to our previous website. The site itself is very beautiful and easy to understand. Additionally, letters written by our bishops are much easier to find, as well as other types of information. Overall, the feedback we’ve received has been very positive.
How did Embark perform from a project management standpoint?
We had a very tight turnaround to be ready for a Supreme Court decision was coming down during the time period of the project. Embark had to have the content up on our site immediately after the decision, and they were actually a couple of days earlier. Not only were they able to launch the website in time, but they ensured that our email communication features were up and running. This not only met, but exceeded our expectations.
Regarding communication, we manage the project over email and regular Zoom meetings.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They invested time upfront to understand our mission and how it related to the broader community that we serve. Additionally, they’ve been able to strategize the best way that our website can meet our community’s needs. They combined this focus on functionality with beautiful aesthetics.
Moreover, they’re flexible and personable in their client relations. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with them, and even now, post-launch, they’re receptive to our communication.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, not that I can think of. I appreciate their work a lot.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Take the time to speak with their two directors about your organization’s mission and how it relates to your customer base, as well as your broader outreach goals.
the project
Web Dev & Design For National Advocacy Organization
"Embark was fantastic and easy to work with."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the president of Catholic Education Partners, a national advocacy organization working to get more school choice policies passed at a state level.
We’re a catholic organization working with churches, bishops, dioceses, Catholic conferences, and other community members.
What challenge were you trying to address with Embark?
We needed a vibrant and inviting website to attract and inform people about what we do.
What was the scope of their involvement?
Embark helped build our website from scratch and collaborated with us on its overall design. We mostly provided the platform’s content, but there was a lot of back and forth as they consulted on what to put and get rid of.
Some of the requirements they implemented include a blog page, a page where people can get information about our organization partners, a sign-up sheet, and a fundraising feature.
Moreover, they also led our email marketing campaign efforts.
What is the team composition?
We mainly worked with three people from their team.
How did you come to work with Embark?
My predecessor reached out to them before I took over the organization.
How much have you invested with them?
We invested around $30,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We worked together from August 2020–March 2021.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
I can’t provide any measurable statistics, but Embark was fantastic and easy to work with — they were very patient in dealing with our needs and timely with what they needed to deliver.
How did Embark perform from a project management standpoint?
They performed well from a project management perspective, specifically with how remarkably they trained one of our staff members.
What did you find most impressive about them?
We were impressed with their level of accommodation and understanding of our organization.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I don’t have any specific constructive feedback.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I’d like to highly recommend Embark to people seeking web development expertise.
the project
Marketing & Brand Consulting for Employer Services Company
“Move forward with Embark — they’re great to work with, and you’ll be happy with the results.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I am the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Vensure Employer Services. We’re a professional employer organization providing HR benefits, payroll, and insurance services based out of Chandler, AZ.
What challenge were you trying to address with Embark?
Vensure is positioned as the parent company for over 40 PEO brands. We needed an experienced marketing agency to assist in the development and strategy for a new brand peo.com
What was the scope of their involvement?
Embark initially facilitated meetings and collected all the information they needed from us. From there, they came up with a strategy and recommendations on how we could move forward. They assisted us with brand development and site messaging strategy.
What is the team composition?
We worked with Conoon (Director of Strategy), his senior partner, and a couple of other teammates.
How did you come to work with Embark?
We reviewed 10–20 agencies and decided to partner with Embark. We decided to move forward with them based on the level of attention to detail that they showed throughout our meetings. On top of that, they had several noteworthy clients with strong brands. As a result, we felt confident that we were partnering with the right agency.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent around $25,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project lasted from January–December 2021.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Our website traffic increased by 25% year over year, and we produced 15% more leads year over year. Our entire team was happy with Embark’s services. We were pleased with their efforts, recommendations, and the end product they provided.
How did Embark perform from a project management standpoint?
Embark communicated well and kept us well-informed on all the steps and things to come. In other words, they did a great job of managing expectations. To communicate, we used Zoom and emails.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their attention to detail was impressive. They were great communicators and had much experience across marketing channels and lanes.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, there weren’t any. They did a great job.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Move forward with Embark — they’re great to work with, and you’ll be happy with the results.
Since Embark’s involvement, the client has seen a monthly increase in engagement. Also, the website has received 48,000 visitors since its launch. The team excels for their grassroots mindset and responsiveness. They solve problems quickly and are willing to make changes to meet the requirements.