Amplifying Authenticity
How a Virtual Assistant Helped a Ranch Owner Elevate Storytelling and Strengthen Brand Presence
Brendan O’Donnell, co-owner of MoonCrest Valley Ranch in Half Moon Bay, California, is on a mission to steward the land and share its beauty with others. As a Marine Corps veteran and small business owner, Brendan juggles the demands of ranch life, family, and a growing need to connect with his audience online. While his property offered rich stories and visuals, managing consistent, high-quality social media content became a growing challenge.
Recognizing the need for a trusted, creative partner who could bring structure and strategy to his online presence, Brendan turned to Freedom Makers, hoping to find a virtual assistant who could translate the heart of his family business into a compelling digital voice.
"We looked to Freedom Makers for support with our social media accounts. This would include taking content and improving the quality of our storytelling through videos, pictures, and audio tracks. The desired end state was for a Freedom Maker to run with minimal guidance and to be able to capture our authentic voice as a family and a business."
The Challenge:
MoonCrest Valley Ranch was rich with authentic stories featuring family traditions, the daily work of ranch life, and a mission to improve the land and share it with others. Yet translating that authenticity into a consistent and engaging online presence was difficult.
Brendan often found himself stretched thin between managing the ranch, supporting his family, and maintaining the digital side of the business. Social media updates were irregular, storytelling felt disjointed, and opportunities to connect with a wider audience were slipping by.
He needed more than just someone to schedule posts.
Brendan was searching for a creative partner. The ideal Freedom Maker virtual assistant would be someone who could take raw content and transform it into meaningful narratives that reflected the heart of the ranch while requiring minimal oversight.
The Solution:
After a deliberate selection process, Brendan brought Allison onto the Mooncrest Valley Ranch team. Allison is a Marine Corps spouse living in Quantico, VA, with a background in content creation, onboarding, social media strategy, and marketing systems. The match was immediate and powerful.
Brendan quickly felt confident in Allison’s ability to translate their offline presence into a compelling and cohesive digital voice.
"Allison has been an invaluable virtual addition to our team. Her depth of knowledge with social media has increased the reach of our account, but more importantly, she is capturing the authentic stories we want to tell about our ranch and business."
Allison's collaborative style and proactive mindset allowed her to integrate seamlessly into the Ranch’s rhythm. From weekly strategy calls to intuitive execution, she quickly became an extension of their family brand.
Impact:
Allison took over the Ranch’s social media with a focus on Instagram and Facebook, using the content Brendan provided to tell visual, heartfelt stories about the ranch's mission and daily life.
"The goal is to share a glimpse of their family ranch and life in Half Moon Bay. Their mission is to improve the land and share it with others. We have weekly phone calls to discuss any upcoming events or happenings on the ranch and brainstorm the best content to share."
— Allison, Freedom Maker
Under Allison’s care,
social engagement and awareness increased. More importantly, the digital presence aligned with the Ranch's mission, values, and personality.
"She clearly communicates timelines and meets them without fail. More times than not, her work outpaces expectations, and we find ourselves trying to keep up with her great ideas!"
— Brendan O’Donnell, Mooncrest Valley Ranch Owner
With Allison's help, Today, MoonCrest Valley Ranch enjoys a growing online presence and a virtual teammate who not only understands the business but helps drive it forward. Their collaboration is more than a marketing success - it's a value-driven partnership, built on mutual respect, clear communication and aligned purpose. As Brendan explains, "Matching high-quality professionals that are moving around the world every 2–3 years with meaningful virtual work is a mission I always want to support. The values listed on their website aren't just words; they are a lifestyle and commitment. We are proud to be associated with them as a family."
Getting Started with a
Freedom Maker
1.
Discovery
We learn about your business and your goals and help you craft a unique opportunity description before we send it out to our community of Freedom Makers.
2.
Selections
We identify potential matches based on skills, personality fit, and experience. You'll meet up to four "finalists" who have expressed interest in your opportunity. The final choice is yours!
3.
Onboarding & Kick Off
You are onboarded into our system and we host a Kick Off Call where we help you and your Freedom Maker build your task roadmap, categorize your priorities, and set clear expectations.
