Elkhorn Ridge is a resort, golf course and real estate development on a historically registered 5,000-acre ranch. Their heart and mission is to preserve the history of the Frawley Ranch and carry on its legacy through strategic and responsible development of living and recreational spaces. All aspects of the business have seen steady growth since its beginning in 2005.
Their team sought our help when they needed a new online marketing partner. Digital Designs partnered with Elkhorn Ridge to update their logo and define brand guidelines, allowing them to bring their website and other marketing efforts into clearer and more potent expression.
After moving their resort website onto a secure hosting environment, we kicked off a Discovery project to assess the efficiency of their current marketing efforts. Our collaboration got started in a pickup truck, as we toured the ranch, marveled at the historic sites, and simultaneously conducted a brand audit. This revealed that over time their logo and other visual brand expressions had become too varied which had contributed to a diluted brand message. It was time to bring clarity and consistency to their branding.
Through a series of discovery sessions and insightful interactions with stakeholders and staff, we developed stylescapes and defined Elkhorn Ridge's brand character as Refined Rustic. Inspired by the iconic barn red that many of the historic structures on the ranch share in common, we zeroed in on "oxblood" as a refined hue of that color and the accent of the new color scheme.
To complete the branding project, we developed a new logo for Elkhorn Ridge. Understanding that one of their core objectives was to overcome the fragmented perception of their various business entities, this new logo would be consistently used for all marketing from golf and resort to weddings and real estate. With the help of our in-house wild game experts, our designers sketched and developed a new iconic elk that is both anatomically accurate and versatile in all applications. Equipped with accompanying brand guidelines, Elkhorn Ridge's marketing director is now able to ensure their brand is expressed consistently in all channels.
With their branding redefined and released, it became time to develop a new responsive, SEO-friendly, editable website to reach more customers. Previously, Desktop had the most engagement with mobile as a distant second. Since the launch of their new website, Mobile has taken over as the prevalent device and their mobile traffic has grown by almost 100%! The site’s custom design, engaging photography, and ease of use gives locals and travelers from near or far a taste of the unforgettable experience that awaits them at Elkhorn Ridge.
Since previous marketing efforts had been fragmented, many were unaware of the connection between the RV Resort, Golf Course, and Real Estate Opportunities nor the Historic Significance and Conservation Philosophy of the business. The new website now unifies all of that into one clear message.
With a new Content Management System, the Elkhorn Ridge team can now edit their site with ease and publish new blog posts to stay in touch with their growing audience. The flexibility of the CMS together with the layout options positions them perfectly for future growth and feature expansion.
Digital Designs runs like a well-oiled machine.
They have helped us grow and promote our business by taking the time to examine every single facet and execute a plan to best present each one to our audience. Their attention to every detail is outstanding, and their process is efficient and organized. The team provides us with world-class marketing tools and exceptional customer service. We've created a lasting business relationship with Digital Designs and will be working with them for years to come.Maggie SchneiderMarketing Director, Elkhorn Ridge
