About Fran
What I help you do (beyond “make things pretty”)
Most of my clients come to me because:
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Their brand and messaging feel scattered
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Their website doesn’t reflect how good they really are
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Their marketing is inconsistent and reactive
My job is to fix that.
I help you:
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Get clear on who you are, who you serve and what you stand for
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Build a brand and website that feel aligned and professional
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Create a simple, realistic marketing system you can sustain
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Show up consistently online, so people trust you enough to work with you.
Why clients choose Black Wood instead of a big agency
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You get senior-level thinking, not a rotating junior team.
You work directly with me. When we need extra hands, I bring in trusted specialists, but strategy and quality stay in my hands.
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I care about results, not just deliverables.
I’m not here to “do a logo” or “post some content.” I’m here to help your brand show up like it deserves to and support your goals, bookings, ticket sales, sign-ups, whatever you desire.
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I’ve been doing this for years, across different sectors.
From event brands like The Concert Chorale of Harlem to service-based experts, I’ve handled branding, websites and marketing in the real world, not just on paper. -
I’m direct, clear and easy to work with.
I’ll guide you, ask the hard questions and tell you what you actually need, not just what’s trendy or easy to sell.
How working with me works
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1. Discovery & fit
We start with a discovery call to understand your goals, budget and timeline, and to see if we’re actually a good fit.
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2. Strategy first
Whether it’s brand, website or ongoing marketing, we always start with strategy: who you’re serving, what you’re offering and how we’ll measure success.
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3. Build & implement
Then we create what you need - brand identity, website, campaigns, content, and roll it out in a focused, structured way.
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4. Ongoing support (if you want it)
If you’re ready for ongoing support, we move into a Growth or Marketing Department retainer where I act as your fractional in-house team and keep things moving month after month.
The Black Wood Team
Trusted collaborators, not a faceless agency
Neil Buckle
Julia Muir
Operations & Client Support - USA
Duane Francis
Black Wood Design & Marketing is led by me, Fran. When projects need extra hands, I bring in a small, trusted group of collaborators I’ve worked with for years, covering admin support and additional design and web development. We work together as needed so you get the benefits of a team, without dealing with a big, messy agency.
You’ll see the core team featured on this page so you know exactly who may be involved in your project.
Born in Jamaica. Built for this.
I was born and raised in Jamaica, trained in Florida, and built a career helping experts and entrepreneurs stop being invisible online. Grounded, direct, and not afraid to tell you what you actually need — that's the thread running through everything I do.
I've spent years turning scattered brands into focused ones, cleaning up online presences that don't match the caliber of the person behind them, and building marketing systems that keep working month after month.
When I'm not deep in a client's brand, you'll find me dancing in my living room, mentoring young local designers, or helping women over 50 heal their guts. Yes, really. Recharging looks different for everyone.
