EXPERTISE

Story-Based Strategy

“Myth is much more important and true than history.” ― Joseph Campbell

SmartMeme’s work with narrative and memes is the foundation of our story-based strategy – a narrative framework for linking people’s actions with the narrative power that places storytelling at the center of your strategy. Story-based strategy links social movement strategies with narrative communication practices - like values-based messaging, framing, advertising and branding - to give you the tools to hone your story, create new narratives, and deliver messages that achieve your goals.

Change Agents

“You cannot buy the revolution. You cannot make the revolution. You can only be the revolution. It is in your spirit, or it is nowhere.” ― Ursula K. Le Guin

As change agents and visual storytellers, we believe your story should also transform the way that your audience sees and understands ideas and issues. The stories that transport an audience, that challenges or deepens their point of view, those are the stories that people want to share with the world. We work with you to help frame and tell your story so that it does more than just convey information; it moves your strategy. SmartMeme Studios will help you reach your goals through the power of strategic storytelling with over a decade’s worth of hard-won campaign experience to ensure that your project succeeds.

Memes

“The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.” ― Muriel Rukeyser

Memes are more than internet clichés, or just viral infographics. Memes are units of information that evolve through the transmission of ideas, behavior and style. Memes have tremendous potential -and power- to harm or help causes, build brands, businesses, organizations and political platforms. This is why memes have become part of mainstream communications strategy. Since SmartMeme was founded in 2002, we have created memes for clients that have spread to every continent (some before the age of social media). Memes we create are viral containers for your story, specific to your strategy, and targeted to your audience to get results.

OUR SERVICES

Branding & Messaging

Your brand is no longer what you say it is, your brand is now what “they” say it is… We have helped successfully brand organizations, campaigns, products and services for over a decade. Our services provide: Communications Audit, Identity Development, Campaign Platforms & Planning, Talking Points, Integrated Marketing, Media Networking, Branding & Re-branding, Message Development, and many other strategic tools that prove critical to retaining support for your brand.

Campaigns

At SmartMeme Studios we help tell your story so that it becomes the centerpiece of your campaign strategy, foreshadowing victory in the first step. We’re seasoned campaigners, familiar with both rural and urban organizing strategies. We have worked on campaigns at the international, multi-state, statewide, county-wide, and local grass-roots levels. Some of our campaign consulting services include: Strategic Planning, Meeting Facilitation, Political Campaigns, Electoral Campaigns, Ballot Initiatives, Environmental Campaigns, Social Justice Organizing, and Movement Building.

SmartPlacement

SmartMeme Studios offers SmartPlacement: precision ad placement that utilizes the very latest in advertising and mass communication strategy. Our approach includes targeted digital tactics, print, radio, television and more. Your story should not only be told, but it should be heard by the right audience.

Graphic Design

At SmartMeme Studios, we visualize your story’s full potential to maneuver your audience toward action. Our creative team offers the latest in graphic design, to include print, web/video, info-graphics and more.

Transmedia Storytelling

Transmedia storytelling, applied to a film release, is all about promoting the story, not the ’launch date of such and such movie starring…’ Just like Antoine de Saint-Exupery knew, if you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. From an advocacy communications standpoint it’s about how you deliver the story of your solution, instead of data about the problem. This involves creativity that engages people by permeating their daily lives using new digital delivery methods, traditional media and organizing tactics. SmartMeme has been helping to build people-powered movements for over a decade and we bring that experience to new media be it online or outside, we can help you choose and develop the paths to growing a movement from the grassroots up.

Video Production

Film and animation are staples for reaching audiences across different digital mediums. Now more than ever, engaging the public requires content that can quickly andconcisely deliver compelling stories. SmartMeme Studios will bring decades of experience scripting, shooting, and editing film and video to your story. Our story-based strategy is informed by years of creating video content for major network news (ABC), and producing commercials for network television (Nickelodeon), as well as filming foundation-funded advocacy documentaries. SmartMeme Studios’ video production process will take your project from concept to distribution, because your story should not only be seen but also shared.

Web Development

Our team is experienced with Wordpress, Squarespace, Ecommerce, Responsive design practices, and Search Engine Optimization. We can rapidly develop websites which work seamlessly between phones, tablets, and dekstop computers. We also have experience integrating with social media platforms and payment processors; either through plugins or custom solutions.

Workshops

We offer presentations, workshops and group training in our story-based strategy tool-set for nonprofit organizations, environmental and social justice conferences, and political networks and associations. We have provided 30-90 minute training in story-based strategy via tele-conference and in-person. We also offer a limited number of these in-kind to nonprofits in the Pacific Northwest (or globally via teleconference) as schedules permit each year, please contact us about your event or communication need.


Portfolio

Changing the story changes the world