We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kris Jones. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kris below.

Kris, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

When I was 7, a neighborhood friend came over to play. I think she assumed we’d play dolls or watch a little Mister Rogers — normal kid stuff. But I had other plans. I talked her into making a trifold vacation brochure. We pulled out my mom’s stack of National Geographic magazines and cut out photos of exotic cheetahs, jungles, and beaches, collaged them onto paper, folded it into three perfect panels, and voila! Looking back, it makes perfect sense. I’ve always been a visual storyteller.

Fast-forward to adulthood. It’s no wonder I became a designer, working for companies like Nike and Adidas and clients like Jeff Bezos. Eventually, I started my own business because I was tired of working for the “big guys.” I craved more freedom — the luxury of sneaking off to yoga mid-day or making an impromptu Bed Bath & Beyond run (You know, the glamorous life of a solopreneur!). I loved that my clients weren’t big corporations anymore but small business owners just like me.

Back then, in the early days of the internet, a beautiful website was all you needed to thrive as a business. Just having a website meant you were legit! But over the years, the online landscape evolved, and what had worked before started falling flat. Beautiful design just wasn’t enough anymore. The hard truth? Even my own website wasn’t bringing in enough leads. I was completely dependent on referrals, and the unpredictability was stressing. Me. Out.

Then came the wake-up call. A client named Alyse, with a background in publishing, hired me to design her website. She was confident about writing her own copy. We set the due date for her copy to April 12th. That way I could start the design process on April 13th, and we could launch the website on time. The morning of the 12th, I got a phone call: “I’m paralyzed,” she confessed. “I’m a good writer. I should be able to do this. But there’s so much information in my brain, I can’t get it organized in a way that’s simple and clear. Can you help me?”

Oof. Her confession hit hard because I knew exactly what she meant. I could tell a visual story all day long, but the words? That was different territory. We tried everything — using templates, hiring copywriters, interviewing her clients. Nothing worked because she couldn’t outsource her own voice and still have it feel authentic. And here’s the thing: Alyse wasn’t alone. I was seeing this same struggle with many of my clients.

I knew there had to be a better way. Thanks to Alyse, I made it my mission to crack the code on combining compelling copy with beautiful design. I dove DEEP into storytelling. I traveled across the country to workshops, devoured every book I could find, and became one of the very first certified StoryBrand Coaches. I had the honor of studying directly with Donald Miller and his groundbreaking work in “Building a StoryBrand.”

But I didn’t stop at learning. With 23 years of industry experience under my belt, I developed a unique approach, adapting storytelling principles specifically for client-based businesses. I integrated these strategies into my own business and my clients’ websites.

Before long, something remarkable happened. My website became a silent salesperson, filling my calendar with ideal clients who felt instantly connected to my story. Even better? My clients began calling me to share incredible news like:

• “Our revenue has gone up 300%!”
• “I’m finally hitting consistent six-figure months!”
• “I’m charging 6x more and no longer on the verge of burnout!”

That’s when I discovered the true power of story. When your ideal clients see themselves in your narrative, something magical happens—they don’t just hear your message, they feel it. The connection becomes so real that choosing to work with you is inevitable.

I used to help entrepreneurs build beautiful websites. Now, I help them uncover their most powerful marketing tool: their authentic story. Because when your website truly speaks for you, you’re free to do the work that transforms lives and serve those who need you most.

Kris, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I provide a comprehensive Signature Story-Selling System that helps entrepreneurs transform their marketing through strategic storytelling. My core service focuses on extracting and crafting your authentic story, then implementing it across all marketing platforms to create consistent, compelling messaging that converts.

The primary challenges I solve center around marketing inefficiency and inconsistent revenue. Many entrepreneurs struggle with unclear messaging, over-reliance on referrals, and marketing that feels inauthentic or overwhelming. Through my system, we replace scattered marketing efforts with one powerful story that serves as your 24/7 sales tool.

What distinguishes my approach is the combination of deep storytelling expertise with practical implementation. As one of the first certified StoryBrand Coaches and with 23 years of industry experience, I’ve developed a unique methodology that goes beyond templates or formulas. I personally mine your story and craft it to resonate with your ideal clients, ensuring it feels authentic while driving results.

I’m most proud of the transformative impact this work has on businesses. My clients consistently report significant growth – from 300% revenue increases to achieving sustainable six-figure months. More importantly, they gain the freedom to focus on their expertise while their story does the heavy lifting of attracting and converting clients.

The essential takeaway I want potential clients to understand is that effective marketing doesn’t require complex strategies or constant content creation. With the right story, thoughtfully implemented, you can create a simple, profitable business that authentically represents your value and consistently attracts ideal clients.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

My most effective growth strategy has been practicing what I teach: letting one powerful story do the heavy lifting. By implementing my own Signature Story across all marketing touchpoints, I’ve created a system where potential clients arrive already connected to my message and ready to work together.

The key has been consistency and simplicity. Rather than spreading myself thin across multiple marketing channels, I focus on using my story strategically – from my website and social profiles to sales conversations and speaking engagements. This approach builds trust before the first conversation and naturally attracts ideal clients who resonate with my methodology.

What’s particularly powerful about this strategy is its compound effect. When clients see the success of this approach in their own businesses – achieving 300% revenue increases or reaching consistent six-figure months – they become advocates who share their transformations with others. This creates a natural ripple effect of referrals who already understand the value of story-driven marketing.

Ultimately, my growth stems from demonstrating the effectiveness of my own system. When potential clients see how a well-crafted story can replace almost all their marketing efforts, they’re drawn to that same possibility for their business.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The book that fundamentally transformed my approach to business is “Building a StoryBrand” by Donald Miller. Having the opportunity to study directly with Donald as one of the first certified StoryBrand Coaches was a pivotal moment in my entrepreneurial journey. His framework revealed how powerful storytelling principles could be adapted specifically for business – fundamentally changing how I approach marketing and client communication.

What resonated most was the focus on clarity and simplicity. The book’s principles helped me understand why even beautifully designed websites weren’t converting effectively, and how to bridge that gap through strategic storytelling. This insight led me to develop my own methodology that combines these storytelling principles with my 23 years of industry experience.

The direct mentorship experience with Donald Miller was particularly impactful, allowing me to see these principles in action and understand how to adapt them specifically for client-based businesses. This combination of theoretical understanding and practical application has been instrumental in developing the Signature Story-Selling System I use today with clients. These components revolutionized how I approach business growth, leading to the simplified, story-driven marketing approach that’s now the foundation of both my business and my clients’ success.

I’d also like to recommend my own book titled, “From Click to Client” — How to Easily Create a Story-Driven Website that Turns Visitors into Clients. You can check it out at www.reddoordesigns.com/book. It’s a quick read that will make your website more effective and fundamentally change the way you talk about your business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.reddoordesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reddoordesign/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reddoorportland/?ref=ts
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reddoordesigns/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@reddoordesign

Image Credits

https://www.instagram.com/bmacstudio/