Strategic Branding that Builds Relationships and Drives Equity.
We help your audience connect with your brand — and become an integral part of your journey for lasting success.
You’ve built something amazing — better than what the competition offers.
But somehow, you’re not getting the recognition, the loyalty, or the success you deserve.
We Can Help You Change That!
At Spotlight Monkey, we humanize and strategically focus your brand identity with messaging that connects emotionally and builds lasting relationships — the foundation of enduring success.
People communicate and connect through stories. We help your audience see themselves in your story — and stick with you.
Who We Help
Some Branding Firms Stay in Their Industry Lane.
Not Us.
We believe fresh eyes ask sharper questions, hear what others miss, and spot opportunities hiding in plain sight. Curiosity drives everything — so we dig deep, then deliver messaging that hits the heart and the mark.
Business Brands
Your company has something valuable to offer. We help shape a brand that reflects your purpose and fuels long-term growth.
Startups creating a brand foundation that’s built to grow.
Small businesses ready to scale with strategy, clarity, and heart.
Growth-stage companies seeking consistent messaging across teams and channels.
Established brands evolving to stay relevant in a changing market.
Founder-led companies looking to connect the personal and professional story.
Mission-driven organizations ready to align their voice with their values.
Personal Brands
For individuals ready to build credibility, influence, and opportunity — all grounded in a clear, authentic identity.
Entrepreneurs, thought leaders & consultants who are ready to promote themselves with confidence.
Creatives, coaches & freelancers tired of vague messaging that doesn’t reflect their value.
Speakers, influencers & authors with meaningful stories to share — and grow from.
Artists, performers & public figures seeking clarity, consistency, and authenticity.
Career pivoters, job seekers & students who want to stand out and get noticed.
Academics & nonprofit leaders ready to own their voice and amplify their mission.
How We Build Memorable Brands
Brand Strategy Services Rooted in Story, Driven by Results.
The Most Valuable Branding Real Estate is Your Customer’s Memory. Here’s How Spotlight Monkey Helps You Land There.
🔹 Brand Discovery
Brand narrative strategy
Voice and tone development
Positioning statements
🔹 Messaging & Identity
Taglines, mission, vision
Website & bio copy
Story arcs that foster loyalty
🔹 Content & Campaigns
Sales decks, pitch coaching, videos
Social campaigns
Email & blog storytelling
Relationships are the Real Currency of Every Brand
Storytelling That Creates Brand Relationships.
Joan O’Connor is an Emmy Award–winning storyteller turned brand relationship strategist—founder of Spotlight Monkey. Her signature “brand therapy” approach digs deep into your brand’s psyche to uncover the connective story tissue that builds real emotional bonds and lasting loyalty.
Joan blends creative instinct with strategic insight, crafting copy that moves across decks, websites, and pitches. She’s known for writing with precision, flow, and power—not fluff. She asks the right questions, spots what others miss, and guides brands to express themselves with clarity and conviction—turning emotion into measurable results.
Joan and chimpanzee pal circa 2000
“What you have to do is get into their heart. And how do you get into the heart? With stories.”
Client Experiences
“Joan O'Connor (aka Spotlight Monkey) is a creative genius, talented and effective storyteller, and one of the kindest people in business you'll ever meet.
She sees things other people don't and understands that everyone is unique and nuanced and that the brand needs to resonate in that same way. Joan pushed me to look into the emotional and psychological reasons why people would buy our product, and the story we tell today does that job better than I ever could have on my own.
I am so grateful for Joan's voice and expertise and will use her for all upcoming business endeavors and encourage you to do the same!
Erica Bethe Levin, Founder of Globowl
“Joan and her team truly captured the heart of my brand. She asked thoughtful, unexpected questions that brought the deeper meaning and impact of my story into focus. The final messaging feels like me — because Joan truly understood me.
On top of that, Joan is an absolute pleasure to work with: no ego, just smart collaboration. She rose to every challenge we encountered, always coming back with something more creative. I couldn’t be happier with the experience — or the results.”
Lakesha Rose, Founder, L. Rose Designs
“I was using AI to create my branding, website copy, and packaging — and it was a mess. I thought a company was all about the product and functionality. Joan changed everything. She brought Rooted Promise to life, giving it a voice and personality more beautiful than I ever imagined.
Since launching the new brand and story, we've seen a 125% increase in sales. But more importantly, we finally have a strong foundation to grow from. Before Joan, our brand was like a house built on sand. Now, it’s concrete — solid, purposeful, and ready to scale. I’m so grateful our paths crossed and plan to continue relying on Joan’s brilliance as Rooted Promise grows.”
Robert Ghobrial, Founder of Rooted Promise
With our company Blogstorm.AI being in the tech arena, it was VERY difficult being able to translate from a technical mindset to a creative, clear, and communicative message that not only explains our company and product but also to make it shine! Spotlight Monkey made our complicated tech messaging clear, relatable, and effective. Joan’s process is unique and extremely effective. She coaches, guides and asks the right questions to get you to EXACTLY where you need to go for both your company AND your customers.
Our customers love our product BECAUSE of the way the branding communicates with them. Joan’s service is an investment INTO your company and not an expense. If you look at the value, content, and message, it pays back 100-fold!”
Peter Sedrak, Co-founder of blogstorm.ai
