Brand refresh: evolving a family business.

A new modern voice and identity for a 40-year-old HR consulting icon sets the stage for the future.

Client: A.J. O’Connor Associates (AJO)

Industry: Human Resources Consulting (specializing in Executive Coaching, Coaching Education, Talent Development, and Career Transition Services)

Branding & Messaging

Content & Creative

Thought Leadership

Social Media

LinkedIn Impressions

Average Domain Authority

Increase in Website Engagement Time

CHALLENGE

Mapping a brand evolution.

A.J. O’Connor (AJO) is a human resources consulting firm that has a tradition of long-lasting partnerships and impactful results over its 40-year history as a family-owned business. As the company prepared for a leadership transition to its third-generation owner, it needed to mark the future by evolving both the AJO brand and message. A new, modern variation of its logo had already been designed, and it was time to extend the new look across its digital and social platforms to set the stage for future growth.

SOLUTION

Build for the future, with a nod to the past.

AJO turned to Avista to build the company’s digital platforms for the future leveraging the new brand concept. Capturing the essence of what sets AJO apart – its family culture of integrity, relationships, reputation and results – Avista built out the AJO storyboard and worked to express it both verbally and creatively across the new website and supporting social media channels. Close attention was given to capturing the long-curated culture of AJO, while crystallizing a modern, sleek look that shows how the company is evolving for the future. It was a carefully designed strategy that has been expressed beautifully in a new corporate website and creative look and feel.

RESULTS

A valued brand, evolved.

After launching the new AJO website (which continues to show double-digit increases in site engagement time) and supporting social media strategy (which has seen record LinkedIn impressions), Avista has helped AJO further evolve its digital presence, extending content development to thought leadership media placements in high domain authority news sites, an ongoing blog cadence and microsites for AJO’s affiliated executive coach education program and career transition web portal. Each continues to carry the essence of the new AJO brand identity (via content, visuals and message) for marketing elegance that positions AJO for the future.

See the A.J. O’Connor website here.

Avista helped us to incorporate our newly designed brand image with a complete website and social media refresh that aligned with our vision for the future. They have a true knack for zeroing in on the crisp, concise messaging that aligns with our brand identity and organizational culture.”