Tell a better story.

Without a compelling story, you’re working too hard to make people listen. We help entrepreneurs build story-driven brands that hook their customers and don't let go.

story.doc
[Spoiler Alert] Most great stories follow the same proven framework. Does yours?

A hero has a problem and meets a guide who gives them a plan and calls them to action to achieve success and avoid failure.

Build Loyalty

Rally Your Staff

Attract Eyeballs

Does your brand story feel more like an amusing anecdote?

Every successful business has a great story of how they were built. In fact, we are inundated with movies about businesses and their founders. The problem is, nobody uses Google because they started in a garage. Nobody goes to McDonalds because they have a best places to work metric (which they surprisingly do).

When we talk about our business as the hero in the story, our customers tune us out.

Don't be a hero.

Start telling a better story.

For thousands of years, people have been sharing stories. To entertain, to learn, to warn the next generation to not go into that bush because of the crocodiles. To put it in marketing speak: to capture the attention of their audience.

Story works because it makes us care. It makes us connect with the storyteller and transports us to a world different than our own. It’s why we can sit through 9 hours of someone walking to throw a ring in a mountain.

Without a compelling story, you’re working too hard to make people listen. We guide entrepreneurs through the StoryBrand framework to build brands that grab their audience, and don’t let go.

Understand Your Hero

Your customer is the hero. We will help you understand who they are, what motivates them, and what compels them to buy from you.

Become the Guide

Find your voice as the Guide in your customer's story, and give them the tools they need to win the day. Can Frodo do it without Gandalf?

Master Your Story

Understanding your story is about more than helping your customers. Rally your staff, attract investors, and so much more.

From Luke to Yoda in 12 parsecs*.

Getting your story straight is easy.

Book your Guide call.

Hop on a quick call with a certified StoryBrand Guide to see where you are, and how we can help tell your story.

Get your story straight.

We will craft your brand story using the proven StoryBrand framework so you can know exactly what to say and why.

Bring your story to life.

Once you have your story in hand, we will help you bring it to life with your customers, staff, and anyone else you need.

Get to work.

When you aren't running around trying to sell a story that doesn't quite work, you'll be able to focus on growing your business. If you're into that kind of thing.

That's the face you'll probably see on Zoom.

Swimming upstream.

Most studios like us are chasing big fish. The Fortune 500 clients and multi-million dollar contracts that will make them the next award winning, fancy pants, agency of the year.

We've spent the last decade working with those clients, winning the awards, and slowly chasing the smaller fish. The little guys. The small businesses. The people who are so passionate about their business they are willing to take risks and make big moves to succeed. We love those people, because we are them. Too excited about too many ideas. And never enough time.

We founded Dado Creative to put those big fish in the rearview mirror and bring everything we know to the small businesses and entrepreneurs who need it most.

Certified StoryBrand Guide badgeA headshot of Zach Wardlaw, the founder of Dado Creative.
“I'll admit I was at a loss when figuring out the brand story for a few of our products. I needed help. Then I met Zach at Dado Creative, and he has been a breeze to work with. We now have a road map to keep clients engaged when marketing our top offerings. Not only does he hold the expertise to deliver a product that will get you your ROI, but his accessibility, speed in communication, and delivery of a beautiful product are second to none."
A portrait of Tom Wright, VP at ODL Ortho.

Tom Wright

VP & Partner, ODL Orthodontic Lab

Whatever works for you.

We are flexible to work with your team at whatever scale you need. Need something you don't see here? Just let us know and we're happy to help you find the right guide to help.

Marketing Coaching

Get a Certified StoryBrand Guide in your corner.

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Certified guidance in the 7-Part StoryBrand framework
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Weekly coaching for your team
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Action-oriented coaching recaps
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Review your existing marketing
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Free copy of Building a StoryBrand
Get Marketing Coaching
VIP Story Facilitation

Supercharge your marketing in one day.

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Your complete StoryBrand strategy
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Customer profiles
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Creative brand concepts
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Visual brand identity review & alignment recommendations
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Brand language recommendations
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Lead Generator concepts
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Nurturing Emails concepts
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Website review & recommendations
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Story-driven social media strategy
Get Your Story
Brand Story Implementation

9 sessions in 90 days to get kick ass marketing.

1
Certified guidance in the 7-part StoryBrand framework
2
Customer profile deep dive
3
Brand positioning and archetypes
4
Inbound & outbound marketing overhaul
5
Internal marketing overhaul
6
Website and social media update
7
Sales framework & lead generation sprint
8
Brand positioning & identity review
9
Inbound marketing overhaul
Get a Better Website
Just launching your business? Check out our Minimum Viable Brand package to get your organization aligned and ready for growth.
We say sorry the old fashioned way.

The Old Fo guarantee.

As Louisvillians, we say sorry with a bottle of Kentucky's finest. If, for any reason, you don't feel that your story is clearer after working with us, we will give you your money back, and send you a bottle of Old Forester to take the edge off.

Two bottles of Old Forester Whiskey and a cocktail.

Ready to tell a better story?

Hop on a quick call with our team and see if we can help you tell your story better. If we aren't the right fit, we are more than happy to connect you to our extensive network of guides, coaches, and experts to help you with anything you need.

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