Building on Brand Voice

February 2026, I was hired to work as a marketing coordinator for a custom home builder. Still in school but eager to start my journey into my career field, the team took a chance on a recent graduate, and in this position, I have expanded my knowledge ten fold.

Social Media Management & Research

After carefully considering and familiarizing myself on the company's brand guidelines, I began implementing these guidelines into social media posts on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn keeping in mind that 4 Forty Four focuses on an organic marketing strategy. At a time where these platforms were also expanding their definition of how a brand is recognized, there was no playbook on the new way to show up online. However, by sticking to the brand voice, the business accounts, and keeping up with news for updates to these platforms and marketing trends, 4 Forty Four has flourished on these platforms.

Graphic Communications Management

My first marketing communications task was to source a print operator who could recreate the desired design of a logo-adorned champagne napkin. After many weeks of deliberation and thanks to my graphic communications knowledge, it was determined that the previous form of print on the napkins was not widely available, as many print shops had moved away from a letterpress technique and migrated to digital prints. Sourcing a printer with letterpress capabilities was difficult, however, a letterpress print shop was sourced and the task was completed.

UI/UX and Web Design

One of my on-going responsibilities as marketing coordinator, is to maintain and update the company website. Research was required to better understand the desired design of a home builder's website for the target audience. The research found that usability and transparency were the top attributes desired of a successful website in the home building market. I began optimizing the website by combing the site and taking note of what was working and what was not. I attached the website domain to metric-tracking software to track user behavior and retention, which found that many pages were operating differently from others. After many meetings and approvals from the website strategic team, the website is now nearly completely optimized for mobile use on many sizes of screens, SEO is updated, textual hierarchy is implemented and the site is now easily accessible across channels. You can see the changes here at: https://www.4fortyfour.com/.

SEO & Keyword Research

4 Forty Four's commitment to community is reflected in their partnership with local chambers as well. SEO & Keyword optimization for the affiliate chamber sites as well as the 4 Forty Four digital properties continues to be a responsibility I adjust based on metrics gathered from metric-tracking software. I am proud to report that visibility has grown steadily by tracking and delivering on SEO & keyword research.

Advertising and marketing deliverables

Art in the Park

Something that is unique about 4 Forty Four is the commitment to community and relationships therein. Many ways that the company utilizes community outreach is by sponsoring events and handing our complimentary items for the public. I have attended and coordinated many of these events as of February 2026 and the public reaction to this team is familiar and warm. Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce presents Art in the Park for the past 64 years. As Sponsors of the event, 4 Forty Four attends every second week of the month from May to October when the event is held in downtown Blowing Rock. So far, I have attended every one, coordinating handouts, speaking with potential clients, and feeling, at least for a moment, the warmth of belonging to a community like Blowing Rock. Advertising for the event, I have designed a-frame posters, and stickers for logo'd candy boxes, while continuing to reshare social media posts for the event. Developing and learning the flow of the event makes the next event even smoother as coordination of our booth is up to me. The turn out has been incredible and a huge success for maintaining community relationships.

Our State magazine

Another opportunity for visual design as advertisement was for a page in the magazine, Our State, where I designed an ad for 4 Forty Four. The magazine is widely recognized and distributed in the high country of North Carolina and has attended Art in the Park.

Antlers & Acorns Festival

Continuing community outreach, 4 Forty Four also sponsored The Antlers & Acorns Songwriter's Festival in downtown Boone, NC for the 2026 year. This event occurs in September from the 24th to the 26th and has a star-studded cast of artists performing at different times and locations. One advertisement, specifically for the event was my pleasure to design, and that is the AppalCart bus ad for the festival. The ad was developed using Adobe software and required knowledge of dimensions and print pre-press to make a success. After carefully researching the festival and its attendants, the bus ad was sent to a local print shop and reaches potential festival goers for the 2026 festival.

Photography & Content Strategy

Some projects do not require hiring an outside photographer, so visiting a site to take photographs is sometimes up to me. Using my understanding of Adobe Creative Cloud software, some photos and videos seen on the company website and various social media platforms have been taken by me. Visiting active and completed job sites and collecting content from BuilderTrend, a depth of care is added to making sure brand guidelines are considered before creating a post or web page. Content strategy focuses on attention to detail and authentic representation of the company's values. I have completed months of market research, audience research, customer persona, pains and gains, market opportunity, and more before developing a content strategy and schedule that represents 4 Forty Four.

Marketing Coordinator: 4 Forty Four