Denise Simon has coached actors who appeared in Stranger Things, worked alongside Academy Award winners, and spent 30+ years building a reputation as one of NYC's most trusted acting coaches. Her students included Judy Reyes, Noah Schnapp, Scarlett Johansson, Caleb McLaughlin, and Rooney Mara.
As NYC's competitive acting coaching market shifted online, younger coaches with strong social media presences were capturing students Denise should have been booking. Traditional word-of-mouth wasn't enough anymore. She needed to translate decades of in-person credibility into digital authority, but she was tech-hesitant, unfamiliar with social platforms, and worried about losing her authentic voice in the process.
The choice: adapt to the digital landscape or get left behind.
We gradually built her social media presence and cohesive branding that honored her 30-year reputation while positioning her for the modern market. After years of partnership and proven results, she trusted us with a complete website redesign that finally matched the caliber of her work.
By working at her pace across digital and print touchpoints, we achieved 190% reach growth and 167% engagement increase. Now her social media is a strength, not a struggle, and her digital presence reflects the quality of a coach who's trained actors appearing in Stranger Things and working alongside Academy Award winners.
"My little business now has a big brand. Everyone comments on my social media... how professional it looks, how engaging the content is! The website redesign transformed how people perceive my coaching practice. I'll be honest, managing it all still wasn't my favorite part of running the business, but I'm so grateful for the visual presence they've created. It represents the level of work I do with my students."
— Denise Simon, Acting Coach & Founder
We needed to modernize her presence without compromising the authenticity that built her legacy.
Over five years of partnership, we focused on meeting Denise where she was, gradually introducing social media best practices while ensuring she felt confident and authentic online. We created diverse content appealing to both seasoned actors and newcomers: behind-the-scenes coaching insights, student success stories, educational industry knowledge, and innovative ways to showcase actor reels within platform constraints. We also extended her brand offline with an audition journal for students, branded bags, and an informative brochure for her intensive program.
After years of proven results and trust-building, Denise felt confident enough to let us tackle her website, resulting in a complete redesign that finally reflected her 30+ years of industry credibility. The transformation created a cohesive experience that elevated her business into an eye-catching brand across every touchpoint.
Gradual Tech Adoption Ensures Authenticity
Pacing the introduction of digital tools allowed Denise to maintain her authentic voice and coaching philosophy online. Rather than forcing her into trends that didn't fit, we found ways to translate her strengths (deep industry knowledge, genuine mentorship) into formats that worked for her comfort level. The result: content that felt like her, not like every other acting coach trying to go viral.
Legacy Can Compete with Novelty (When Positioned Right)
Students trained by someone who managed Scarlett Johansson's early career carry weight, but only if people know about it. By strategically showcasing her roster of successful students (without being name-droppy) and her decades of industry insight, we positioned her experience as the differentiator in a market flooded with newer coaches. Credibility beats clout when marketed correctly.
Innovative Content Drives Engagement Without Selling Out
Creative repackaging of student reels into trend-based formats and featuring students in coaching videos significantly boosted engagement, proving you can leverage platform trends without compromising your methodology. We didn't change what Denise taught; we changed how people discovered it.
Educational FOMO Positions Expertise
Content focused on essential industry knowledge created a genuine fear of missing out among aspiring actors. When you demonstrate what students are learning in your sessions, industry secrets, technique breakdowns, and career navigation, you're proving competence. That converts skeptics into students.
